Read Forever Betrothed, Never the Bride for Free Online

“Yes, by God, Lord Drake will notice me whether he likes it or not. There will be no more opera singers, ballet dancers, young widows, none of it. His days of carefree debauchery are officially at an end. He just doesn’t know it yet, but he will , beginning tonight. If your mother will have me, I will be joining your family in their box this evening.”
    A laugh bubbled up from Sophie’s throat. “Mother will be thrilled to have the Duke of Mallen’s sister.” It was no secret Sophie’s mother, Viscountess Redbrooke, all but drooled like a pug in summer with any mention of the Mallen title.
    Just then, there was only one gentleman whose marital status Emmaline cared about…and it most definitely was not her brother’s.
    Sophie nodded. “I will let Mother know upon my return.”
    Emmaline’s jaw hardened in anticipation of seeing Drake’s face that evening.
    Lord Drake, I hope you haven’t put away your uniform, for you, sir, are headed back into battle.

 
    Chapter 5
    My Dearest Lord Drake,
    For the first time in my life, I am grateful you are not here. I spent hours in the gardens and am bright as a beet. I am not a sight fit for good company. At least that is what my brother said.
    Ever Yours,
    Emmaline
    Signora Valentina Nicolleli, an accomplished mezzo-soprano, had a voice with a deep, rich sultry tone that twined around each note she sang like a sea nymph clinging to the hull of a ship. The sensual quality could be felt from her soaring E sharp to her A flat, which resonated off the theatre walls. The Italian opera sensation’s musical talents, however, had not been what had attracted Drake’s notice.
    Studying her from his theatre box, Drake recalled how they’d spent last evening, and his gaze narrowed. Valentina was an inventive, nubile woman, endowed in all the places a man hoped his woman would be generously curved.  And yet, he watched disinterestedly as she pranced about the stage.
    “I still don’t see why we have to sit through the blasted show,” Sin muttered. He occupied the seat next to Drake. “It hardly seems fair you’re the one who gets to bed the creature and I’m the one who has to sit through her infernal caterwauling.” His bored gaze surveyed the crowd, then paused, and narrowed ever so imperceptibly.
    Drake didn’t bother looking to see what drew his friend’s attention. “Come, come, Sin, you’d have me believe you’d rather be escorting your mother and dear sister to some other infernal event?”
    Sin gave a visible shudder. “No, no, you have the right of it. At least when this blasted opera is over I can head to the tables. Will you be joining me later this evening?”
    Drake gave a short nod. What else was there to do? Lord knew he didn’t want to return to the damned townhouse and deal with his father. Or the nightmares. Restful sleep did not await him at the Duke of Hawkridge’s townhouse. Peaceful nights had eluded him since…
    He shook his head, willing thoughts of war into the deep corners in which they refused to stay banished. When he’d been a young man, war had seemed like the logical escape from the stringent expectations placed on him by the Duke of Hawkridge. Drake’s life had been planned out for him since the moment of his birth. It had been ordained by his father where he would attend school, who he would wed, and Drake had chafed at the rigid order imposed upon him.
    His time fighting Boney had proven there was nothing logical about war. The day he’d left the Peninsula, he’d longed to return to normalcy. He’d returned to England with a desperate urgency to slip back into the life he’d been familiar with. Consequently, he’d never given much thought to the impossibility of such a feat.
    Three years ago, he’d come back from battle, a returned hero , greeted with parades and lavish balls; the recipient of public praise and countless honors. All of it had meant nothing to him. All the fanfare had served to do was emphasize his despair.