AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why don’twe oblige them, darling?” Janice Whittingham suggested with atwinkle in her hazel eyes.
“Why not?”With one smooth, lithe movement, he pushed back his chair and pulledout hers. Excusing themselves, they left the room.
“Upstairs?”She asked archly when they stopped inside the passageway.
“The library. Ido recall how much you love to read.” he parried.
Laughing softly atthe alternate suggestion, she followed him into the lofty book-linedroom.
“I used to hideunder the table.” She mused, turning a circle in the middle ofthe room.
“And I used to pretend I did not know you werethere.” Shoving his hands into his pockets, he watched as shewalked over to the first edition section and picked out a copy ofYeats.
She was charming- anattractive combination of auburn hair and creamy complexion. And heliked her. She had been part of his life since he was a child. But hefelt nothing for her, not now, except friendship. They had had sex,of course, and had some sort of relationship that had lasted severalmonths.
But things aredifferent now.
“You do knowwhat is happening. What our parents are hoping will happen.”She peeked at him beneath her lashes.
“I do, yes.”
“And you arenot amenable.”
“No.” Hewalked into the room and went to stand by the window. It had snowedearlier, and he found himself wondering when the winter was going toend.
“We havehistory-”
He turned then, asmile touching his lips. “As I have with several others. We arenot in love with each other.”
“And you thinkthat is an important requirement?”
“You don’t?”His blonde brows lifted.
“We like eachother and have been acquainted all our lives. We belong to the samesociety-”
“And that isimportant to you.”
“Daddy wants tosee me well-matched. And your mother wants you to be with someonesuitable.”
“Suitable.”He shook his head at that. “I want more. My parents never had arelationship; it was just an arrangement, and I will not spend therest of my life living with someone I can tolerate.”
The hurt lookcame and went on her lovely face as she put the book back into theslot. “Ouch.”
“I apologize,”He told her perfunctorily. “I am just expressing how I feel.”
“And you havemade yourself clear.” She turned to face him with a brightsmile, her expression quizzical. “Is she someone I know?”
He gave her astartled look. “Why do you assume there is someone?”
“Darling, Iam a woman; my instinct is finely honed. You have the look of a mancaught between something heavy. Are you in love with her?”
“I am,yes.”
“Then youshould tell your mother.” She suggested.
“We are - sheis not there yet.”
“She doesn’tknow how fortunate she is?”
