My Dangerous Rogue - Paula Wong (bts book recommendations TXT) 📗

down on her table, going over some files with Anne. He seemed focused and serious, his brow knitted together. She smiled. He always looked adorable when he do this. Ever since she was little she had already known.
“Good morning,” She greeted stretching from the bed, aware now that she was still in her evening dress. Startled, she looked around finally sinking in that she was on the bed. The last memory she had remembered was in the carriage, they were heading home from encountering Sir Brock. How in the world did she get in the bed without remembering it? And her dress?
At the realization, she looked over across the room and toward the closet. Frowning slightly as she saw the door was closed. Maybe HE had brought her here, carried her from the carriage and laid her down on the bed.
Had he taken any advantage of her when she was at rest? She looked down at her dress, it was still intact. Though there was nothing on her dress that was oddly in place other than her wrinkled dress and hair that was mostly out of its pins. A failure indeed. Normally a woman would feel the aftermath of the passion, or if she had been touched but ironically, she had felt the complete opposite. She knew she should be grateful that he did not touch her. But there was something about the fact that he didn’t touch her made her feel… disappointed.
She shook her head. There is no way that made her feel disappointed. She is not a desperate of a woman to just feel disappointed.
“Well good morning,” He greeted politely, looking away from the files, to her. A smile forming across his lips. She realized that he was nothing but a simple ruffled shirt and light brown trouser, his black dark boots now on. He noticed her stare. “Oh I am sorry. I know it is cold out there but it is awfully hot in here. I took off my jacket and overcoat, if that is alright with you.”
Loretta nodded smiling. “That is alright. I understand. It is rather hot in here. You are back. I had thought you will not be back until the day after tomorrow,”
Alden smiled and shook his head. “When I had heard the news from my estate, I hurriedly finished my business and immediately came here to see how you are doing.”
“So you had heard the news?”
“How could I not? The gossip had spread like pollen in the flowers on a windy day.”
She chuckled. “I understand so well,”
“How are you doing?”
Loretta frowned and looked down at her lap. “I had been doing well. Though the loss was not really me. The loss was more likely to Richard-,”
“I had heard,” He interrupted kindly, leaning against the chair, a leg over the other. “Though he had informed me that the loss was not his either,”
She nodded in understanding. “It maybe not..”
Alden studied her for a moment. “What is it you see from Kent?” He had used Richard’s titled name. That is understandable.
“I do not know what you mean,”
He smirked. “Alright, well the breakfast is ready for you on the dinner table. I had called the servant’s maid to ready a hot bath for you. I will be out shortly when she arrives.”
Loretta nodded in understanding, then her gaze flew to the closed closet door.
“He’s not here.” He mumbled looking over to her, meeting her gaze with his own.
She looked over at him urgently. “What do you mean he is not here? He should be in his bed, sleeping. He told me he was going to talk with me about our plans for Anne and-,”
“I meant sweetheart that he is not here in the moment. He had business elsewhere.”
“I see,” She mumbled her gaze turning into solid for pure ice cold. So he had left her here? Alone? Why had he not told her anything of his departing? Of his business. Why had he not informed her of this in the moment? A sense of anger washed through her. Does he think that she is only here for the case? Before they had started this together she had informed him that she does not need his help in any kind. “Where did he go?” She asked meeting Alden’s gaze slightly, his eyes filled amusement, and at the same time concern at her sudden change of tone.
“I have no idea. That man tends to be too secretive. If you ask me,”
She nodded. She knows that feeling well. It seems that whatever she had tried to get closer to him. He tends not to pay attention and dismiss it. She had tried to be part of his life. But he will not tell her anything. As if he does not wish for her to be part of his life. Shaking her head, she looked at the ground. She can never be part of his life. They are from two different words. Complete opposites.
Loretta looked over to her future husband. To the man she will spent the rest of her life with. Yes, this is her destiny. She cannot be with Richard. She is a lady. He, a rogue.
One chocolate cannot blend in with a caramel. They create different tastes that will be foul to the mouth.
Alden is her salvation. Not Richard.
He would be her redemption.
But he cannot know that.
No matter what, he cannot know that she had developed feelings for him. Feelings that are not meant to be.
Feelings she must kept hidden. No matter what the consequence. Even if she lives to regret this for the rest of her life.


Chapter 16

Alden stepped out of the room as the servant girl announced Loretta’s bath. She was glad to be alone for once, alone with her thoughts. Her body sank down the small bathroom’s copper tub. Haley, the servant girl bowed in farewell. “When you are done, please ring the bell so I can be able to redress you.”

Loretta nodded. “Thank you,” Haley had gladly helped her out of her too elegant dress. She had asked for a dress that will make her blend in with the others here in this inn so she wouldn’t be such an outcast. And because of this, their investigation might end into something not as pleasant as to bring Anne back with her family. The servant girl nodded and left, closing the door behind her, hearing the lock from the front door. Sighing, she leaned against the tub, the gray water covering the cleavage of her breast and down her body. Her brown curly hair was splayed down her back.

She loves Richard, she realized. How could she have fallen for him? She cannot love him. She just can’t.

But it seemed her heart has other plans. Closing her eyes, she willed herself to relax against the tub. He was a complete rogue. He is arrogant, selfish, and completely insolent. Not any man in the ton would ever be.

That is the reason she had fallen for him.

The way he carried himself whenever he is with someone. Always so confident and calm, always having that barrier to be built. He was not like any man in Seasons she had attended to. He was different. His arrogant ways drawn her, his selfishness amused her, his insolent ways fascinated her. Then suddenly something clicked.

On the night of the ball, when she finally decided that the masked man was the one who would bring her freedom, she had willed for it to be him. She was too caught up with her hatred of him that she didn’t realize that she had fallen in love with him, ever since she had met him. How could she not? He is handsome, very handsome. But from the time they had been together, she had noticed something. He was not like what the morning papers said. He had a side that is kind and caring. Who cared about other people.

The way he had dressed Matilda’s wounds. The way he took charge of the situation smoothly.
Every love making they had made, she realized that he had been a different person. He had showed her his other side. A blush crept up her face. He had been so gentle, teasing yes, but mostly gentle. He had touched her skin as if it was made out of soft silk. He had held on her hips on every thrust as if his life depended on it.

A sob escaped her lips and suddenly tears escaped her eyes. She loves him. So much. She loved everything about him. No matter of what anyone says. No matter what past he holds secrets in. There is nothing more she wants than to bury herself in his masculine strong arms.

But you will be married to Alden. The thought suddenly appeared in her mind. That was correct.
She will be married to Alden. She is striving for something that can never be.

That can never was.


Richard settled himself on the sofa, sitting across the table with Harriet and her husband, Justin. “I have heard about you’re investigation Lord Kent. Please ask whatever it is you wish to know, me and my husband would gladly answer the questions.” Justin nodded, leaning on the sofa with a hand on his wife’s shoulder.

“I do wish for you to find my sister. I believe that she is still alive. She cannot be dead,”
“Why do you presume she is not dead?” He asked nodding over to the footman who brought him a cup of tea, happily drinking.

“Anne is strong. She cannot just die easily. She will never go down without a fight. I do believe that.”

Richard nodded. “Have there been threats that would prove Anne’s disappearance?”
“I told the detectives what they wished to know but if you insist… Because of my husband naming my parents’ the Duke and Duchess of Bakewell, a great scandal has been bestowed on my family. Many of them want my mother and father to rot in prison because of what they have done. No commoner can just absently become a duke and duchess. We have no family royal bloodline so you can understand,”

He nodded in understanding. “Have you received threat letters that was specifically addressed to Anne herself?”

Harriet hesitated. “Well there was not any threat letter but there has been this…,” She stood up and made her way toward the desk, opening the cabinet, revealing stacks of letters, then going through them one at a time before she found what she was looking for, heading back toward the lounger again, sitting down handing him the letter.

Richard took it from her, unfolding the envelope taking out the piece of wrinkled paper.
“It is not a threat letter but it was from an admirer. Anne has been through lots of balls. I thought that this one was just from the others. Not any different. But when Anne had read it, she was so scared she had told me to burn the