Undone Read Free Page B

definitely needed sleep. He was not himself at all.
    He wasn’t going to allow the women to become a problem. He had enough problems already. He’d see that they were reunited with some long-forgotten cousin or friend, offer them some funds to aid them. And be done with it.
    Besides, a beautiful woman had never caused him grief in the past. Or problems.
    Why should this one be any different?

Chapter Two

    Angelica moaned softly. A terrible ache pounded inside her skull.
    Little by little, the darkness dissolved until she could detect rays of light. Objects took on recognizable shapes, yet nothing looked familiar. No resemblance to any room she’d ever seen at the convent. The chamber she was in was decorated with colors of light green and gold. A costly green velvet chair sat before the hearth across from the foot of the bed. The furnishings were too fine. Too ornate.
    Where am I?
    She moved her gaze to the right. Sunlight cascaded from the window. With a groan, she shut her eyes tightly and turned away from the assailing light. The sudden movement sent a stabbing pain directly to her temples.
    She remained still, eyes closed, until the pain subsided. Thoughts came to her slowly, scrambled, as she attempted to recall her last memories. The chapel. Madre. The horrible incident with the stick…
    Without moving her head, she opened her eyes once more.
    A woman sat near the bed, chin down and fast asleep. A woman she didn’t recognize. A woman not in gray, the required dress at the convent. The silver-haired woman’s modest clothing was a distinct contrast to the richness of the room.
    Unease seeped into her system; her pulse quickened.
    The woman beside her stirred, and her eyes fluttered open. She looked straight at Angelica and came to her feet.
    “ Dieu, you’re awake! ” she exclaimed and rushed from the room.
    Angelica’s heart jumped to her throat.
    Had the woman just spoken French ? Though she hadn’t spoken the language in years, she’d understood every word.
    Dear God. Where was she!
    *****
    Exhausted, Simon strode toward the dining hall of the Château Arles.
    Located by the sea, the isolated château belonged to the recently retired Commodore of the King’s Navy—Robert d’Arles. Simon had spent much of his youth here with Robert, when they weren’t at sea, at war.
    It was an ideal place for Simon to rendezvous with his ships.
    Robert had returned from Paris during Simon’s brief trip to the Republic of Genoa and was waiting to break fast with him. Normally, Simon would be delighted to spend time with the man who’d saved his life, had raised him as his own and taught him everything he knew about ships and battle.
    But not today.
    Today there was something he needed to say to Robert. It was a conversation he never thought he’d have. The words he had to voice to his mentor weighed heavily on him.
    Dieu , everything was in shambles. Even his good judgment was askew. Last night’s events further emphasized that. Never had he pursued a beautiful woman without first giving cautious consideration beforehand to any possible reprisals. He’d always prided himself on his self-control, on his acumen. Yet, last eve he’d done something completely impetuous and chased a pretty face into a convent .
    Thank God, the two women weren’t from noble families.
    Having sailed the short distance back to France, his ship had arrived well before dawn. He’d carried the beauty, still trapped in slumber, to one of the second-floor bedchambers and managed to coax her friend to retire to a separate chamber for rest.
    He could still feel the heated effects of having Angelica’s soft, sweet form against him, desire still humming in his veins. In fact, each time he gazed upon the captivating face that had provoked his uncharacteristic behavior, raw lust licked up his spine. His physical reactions to her were confounding in the extreme.
    Anxious to speak to the moonlight angel, he’d given orders to inform him the moment