My Dangerous Rogue by Paula Wong (e reader .txt) 📖

thinking. We are just worried about you. All of us,” Jane put a hand on her shoulder. “I am sorry that we are over protective, but we care for you, deeply.”
Loretta nodded but kept her gaze on the ground.
“Now do you mind telling us why you are here?” she asked softly. Will remained quiet as Jane asked him to sit down on the chair next to the table.
She nodded and sat down as well, taking a deep breath. “Well you see, I kind of came here for a favor. You see, Anne Paisley, was abducted and I wanted to see if you have any information on where she was last scene. I mean considering you are the king and queen of course. Anne is just a little girl. I care for her safety and want to bring her back home with her parents,”
“What makes you so sure she did not run away?” William asked, considering everything she had said. She stiffened in response. She had considered that possibility but if she knew Anne, then she would have never run away. It is not like her. “I have considered that possibility,” she replied with just as the same expression. “I assure you, she would have never done a reckless move such as that. She had loved her family very much; she would never have taken such an action,”
“I will see what I can do,” William muttered but still kept quiet, his gaze tearing away from hers, settling it on the carpeted floor.
Loretta did it as well; she searched for the words, anything she needs this moment, but she has nothing. Nothing to say. She gave a smile at Jane and stood up, her skirts falling in place yet again. “That would be all, thank you for helping me.”
Jane stood up as well, her smile masking away the troubles in her life. “It is of no problem. I see what I can do as well. I will ask other friends of Anne and their family while my husband looks up possible criminals with the authorities,”
She nodded in understanding, as she picked up her skirts and headed for the door. “Thank you Jane, you do not know how much I am grateful for your help.”
She shook her head in response. “It is of no problem, I assure you. I am just sorry for William’s behavior, he cares for you dearly, and you should know that. I only ask that you forgive him,”
Loretta didn’t answer in response; she hesitated and looked at the ground. She knew that William only cared for her, which is why he had acted like that. He only cares for her health and well-being, it may not sound pleasant to the ear but he means no harm by it. And she knew that.
“I know,” she whispered looking over to the rest of the club members. They looked like they were enjoying themselves, laughing and jesting around. “When can things resume back to the way it was? Before I had made that appearance in the O’Conner Estate?”
Jane smiled, now understanding what was troubling her. “Come,” she said taking her overcoat and shawl with her, tugging her satin white gloves on.
She nodded in a daze and followed as they exited out the club door. People scurrying past, holding on to their belongings, carriages passing by with fast haste. They must be hurrying to get home, after all Christmas is almost near. They had need to work to buy presents for their children and partners. What must be like to have a family? She shook her head. No, she shouldn’t be thinking things such as that. She does not need any family. She is completely fine being alone.
Jane leading them across the street and walked by the trail, passing the gates to the James’s Park. They walked towards the trail, or at least that was what she had presumed, the original ash fault disappearing beneath the snow. She watched in amazement as the scene before looked so peaceful and dazzling. She cannot disagree that James’s Park is a breathtaking place in the winter. Artists gathered along the front of the gate, some inside the park to paint the vast scenery.
“I now see what is bothering you,” she chuckled and headed along the same path the original trail had gone. “It is because of Lord Richard O’Conner is it not?”
Loretta looked down at her skirts as it swished between her ankles as they walked, their heels leaving footprints in the snow. Jane had always seen through her barriers, no matter how high or hard they were. It is futile to lie around her, she will always see through it.
When the silence continued to grow, she glanced back at Loretta. The expression on her face proved that her suspicions were correct. “I have no need to pry in your business Loretta but earlier, you had asked a question. A question that I have an answer to,”
She nodded, trying to predict what it is in her mind. What could her assumptions be heading to?
Jane chuckled in response. “You know I do not know why people think I can read them as well as they can read themselves. I just do not get that. You see, the reason why I am good at telling what their intentions are is because of the emotions they show. Or not show if that makes sense,” In Loretta’s blank face, she continued. “You see, it is what they do not show is how I know. People that are distant and remain expressionless wants to hide their true emotions because they do not want to let anyone know how they are feeling, It might because, they are scared of letting it show themselves. Tell me, does this remind you of anyone?”
Loretta thought about her question, then with a flash, suddenly it was there. “Richard,” she whispered looking up at Jane.
She nodded and looked ahead of them as they continued walking, the winter breeze blowing through both of their hair. “Yes you are correct.”
“But…why would you assume that?”
Jane continued walking, her pace slow and patient. “I have a feeling; I will let him tell you that. I will not speak of his business. He will tell you when he is ready to accept. But just keep in mind, be patient with him. He had grown in a family with tough supervision and lectures. You on the other hand had a different life, you played with your friends, had fun, and did everything you wanted with a chaperone. His brother had passed away just recently. He has not yet adjusted to that scenario. With his eldest brother gone, he had to take role of the family responsibility. He has needed to find a wife who will help manage that household. Produce an heir so he can be able to have a successor. Now do you not think that that is too much responsibility for a man alone to handle?”
Loretta nodded in response of her question. She has a point, imagine if someone in her family dies and leaves her with all the responsibility of the house and money. That particular scenario is something she is not looking forward to. Is that why he needed a wife? To help him take care of his family?
Jane looked back at her, suddenly being able to read her expression. “I take it Lord O’Conner
had decided to respond to one of his responsibility as a gentleman. He had proposed?”
She nodded and let a sigh, wrapping the shawl and overcoat even tighter around her arms and
body, thankful for the heat its giving. The sky was still covered with white clouds, signaling for snow to fall down yet again. Puffs of smoke escaped their mouth as they continued to walk along the path, ending slightly only to turn toward the fountain, whose waters are frozen due to the freezing temperature. They stopped and took time to take in the view.
“Did you give him an answer?”
Loretta nodded.
“You said no,”
A nod was the answer.
“Loretta, I am going to give you a piece of my opinion of Lord O’Conner,”
“Oh please Jane, there is no need for you to tell me this. I am perfectly fine with-.”
“But you will listen as what I am going to say anyway,”
Loretta nodded and kept silent.
“Richard O’Conner is a man with an arrogance, that no woman can ever tolerate. But you see, that is what makes him unique.” At her blank expression, Jane hurriedly continued. “As you may have heard before, and I have mentioned it just a while ago, he had a very painful childhood. He grew up without a family who would take care of him. He had been alone all of his life. No one there to support him when he is sick, help him when he stumbles, and catch him if he falls. He had grown up without trusting anyone around him. Not even his siblings,” Jane paused for breath. “The reason why I had known this is because I asked the police about his report and profile. I know it was wrong for me to do so. But I always wanted to look up the people who needed to be looked up, the point is. He has a hard time letting people in his life,” She stopped and made their way up the carriage, closing the door behind them, shivering slightly.
“I know,” she replied awkwardly at Jane. “That is why I cannot marry him. He is a troubled man. A marriage would not suit him as of the moment. It will only make things worse for him,”
As the carriage stopped in front of the O’Conner Estate, Loretta thanked Jane one last time before hopping off of the carriage and enters the gate. Just as the gate closed behind her, she was not sure, but she heard Jane say something before the carriage lurched forward disappearing into the night.
That is when you are wrong. Chapter 11

Richard watched outside of his study window. After she had left, he went ahead and studied the possible places Anne could have been abducted in. So far there were no possible reports from his hired henchman. All the trace leading to the girl was that she had ran away with nothing but a note on her bed.
If he was any other man, he would have just ruled it out and declare that she was a run away. But something about the determination in Loretta’s bright green eyes made him think twice. For the last hour or two, his desk was filled with files about Anne’s disappearance. And so far, the same information was repeated. Nothing of help.
He sent for the tray and one of his maid’s, Georgiana, entered with his dinner. “Here is ye dinner me lord,” she said politely, stopping, bowing in courtesy before exiting out of the room, leaving him