Tempting a Devil Read Free

“Templeton. He said Templeton. My God, Roger, is that you?”
    “Hello, Harry,” he said softly. “And now we are all grown up.”

Chapter Two
    Fifteen Years Earlier
    “Roger!” Harry Stanley ran alongside the road, waving madly at the small group of riders going past. She’d snuck out of the house wearing nothing over her dress but a thin, fashionable spencer and raced down the hill just so she could see Roger before he left for school. She could see her breath in the cold winter air as she ran.
    He looked older than fifteen astride his beast of a horse, wearing a greatcoat and hat like a gentleman. She thought she looked older than ten as she was quite tall for her age, though he’d called her child the last time she’d seen him. He’d still been angry over the concussion that had kept him from starting university. Although why he blamed her for it was a mystery. She hadn’t made him try to jump the fence to flatten Tommy Mayfair for shoving her and calling her a disgusting little brat. Too bad she hadn’t broken Tommy’s leg when she kicked him in the shin. At least he’d limped for a week.
    Roger pulled back on the reins and turned to see who was calling. She kept running, praying he didn’t ride on when he saw her. To her vast relief he walked his horse over to the side of the road to wait for her and motioned the wagon carrying his trunks to go on.
    “What do you want, brat?” he called out affectionately when she was almost beside him.
    “I thought you wanted to hit Tommy for calling me that,” she said with a pout.
    “I did,” he replied, “but only because I’m the only one who can call you that.” Hisblue eyes sparkled in the weak winter sun.
    “That is illogical,” she said. “You’ll get nowhere in school with logic like that.”
    He laughed, his beloved dimples making him even more handsome. “Have you come to say goodbye? Hurry up then, before your nurse catches you out here without a bonnet.”
    She sniffed and willed her tears away. “Is it goodbye? Surely you’ll be back at school break?”
    He shook his head. “I doubt it. Too much to do, too much to see.” He looked over his shoulder in the direction of Cross Creek Farm, his family’s home. “I never really belonged here, anyway. Davey is the heir. He’s a farmer at heart.”
    “Don’t you want to come back and see me, Roger?” Her heart was breaking at his words.
    He gave her a lopsided grin. “I’d surely love to see what happens to you when you grow up. And perhaps I will someday.”
    “But who will rescue me if I get into trouble?” she argued. “You know it follows me wherever I go.”
    His sigh spoke volumes. “True enough,” he agreed. “Just be quiet and do as you’re told, Harry, and trouble will pass you by.” He leaned over and laid a gloved finger on her cheek. “It’s too bad, really, that you’re so young. And a girl.” He laughed at the face she made. “We would have made a good team at university, Harry,” he said as he straightened and tugged his horse back onto the road. “I shall look for your name in the papers, all about the brilliant match you will make.”
    “It will be brilliant!” she called out angrily. “My father will sell me to the richestman he can find.”
    Roger looked over his shoulder with a frown. “You mustn’t say that, Harry.”
    She began to walk quickly along the side of the road, swiping the traitorous tears from her cheeks, trying to keep pace with his horse. “Why not? You know it’s true. Eleanor says we are nothing more than chattel to him, to be traded off in a good business deal.”
    “Your sister is too smart for her own good,” Roger muttered loudly. He pointed at her. “Don’t listen to Eleanor. Your father will find you a good husband. One with prospects, of which I have none.” He grinned again. “That, of course, means I have no responsibilities, which is a pleasant sort of future, I think.”
    “Please don’t go, Roger,” she