Nan Ryan Read Free

said, “But I want you, and—”
    “Don’t. Don’t do this.”
    “I must. Allow me to come inside, dearest. Just for a moment. Let me say all the things I’ve been wanting to say since we first—”
    “Bill, we’ve been over this before,” Temple cut in anxiously. “I’m sorry if you—”
    “Darling, darling,” he interrupted, “you know how I feel about you. I love you, Temple,” he said, impatiently putting his arms around her and drawing her to him. He bent his head and murmured raggedly against her left ear, “Please don’t go. Stay here in London. Marry me, darling. Marry me now, tonight! I’ll give you everything you want. I’ll take good care of you and—”
    “I take good care of myself, thank you very much,” Temple cut in, struggling to free herself from his smothering embrace. Reluctantly he released her and looked at her with baleful blue eyes when she stated flatly, “I’ve told you repeatedly how much I value my independence. You know, as does everyone, exactly what kind of woman I am. I neither need nor want to be married, Bill. You knew that. You swore to me you understood perfectly. You said you admired me for being frank and that you respected my position since you yourself felt much the same way. Remember?”
    Half sheepishly he admitted that he did. “But that was long ago, old girl. Since then I’ve come to—”
    “It was less than ten days ago. We met only two weeks ago.”
    “Two weeks, two years, what does it matter? Our families go back forever,” said he. “I could make you happy if only you’d give me the opportunity. Let me come in now and—”
    “No. No, I’m sorry,” she said, finality in her tone. “My key, please.” She held out her hand, palm up.
    Beaten, Sir William nodded sadly, unlocked the door, and handed her the key. But before she could slip inside, he said again, “I love you, Temple,” and his usually well-modulated voice lifted and there was a hint of a whine to his tone. “I love you madly. I can’t live without you. How can you be so cruel? How can you do this to me?”
    “Shhh,” she scolded, anger replacing any sympathy she might have felt toward him. “Do want to wake the entire hotel?”
    “I don’t care if I do,” he pressed on. “I only care about you. About the two of us. Give me a chance to show you how much I love you. Is that asking too much? Won’t you at least—”
    He was literally begging now, and Temple was repelled. She had so hoped it wouldn’t come to this, had counted on his breeding to make him behave better. Had supposed he would maintain his dignity.
    Well, she had been wrong.
    “Stop it, Bill!” she interrupted none too sweetly. “Get hold of yourself, for heaven sake! I never led you to believe there was anything between us because there wasn’t. I like my life exactly as it is and have no intention of changing it. I’ve made no secret of that fact. Have I?”
    A long moment passed.
    “No,” he finally admitted, dejected. “No, you haven’t.”
    Her expression softened. She smiled and put out her hand. He took it in both of his, crushing the slim fingers as if he would never let her go.
    She said, “Thank you for making my stay in London a pleasant one.”
    “A good-bye kiss?” Sir William implored hopefully.
    And didn’t wait for a reply. Gripping her hand, he eagerly leaned down and kissed her fully on the lips. When the kiss ended, he was half dazed. Temple was not.
    Seizing the opportunity of his temporary stupor, she mumbled one last quick “Good night,” slipped inside, and closed the door.
    She was glad to be rid of him. Glad she was leaving London with the dawn. Glad she wouldn’t be seeing him again.
    Sir William Perry had turned out to be most tiresome. In two short weeks he had fallen in love with her, had begged for her hand in marriage. How disappointing. He had been such an urbane, entertaining companion that first evening they’d met.
    As soon as she and Cousin Rupert had