Read Love Me Always for Free Online Page B

way to make me happy.” Her voice was low.
    Nick turned to the older woman. “And your chamber is through here.” He walked out of Catherine’s room and across the hall, opening another pair of doors for Catherine’s companion. Although not as lavish, Mrs. Berkley was still treated well.
    The older woman thanked him and he left. With each step away from the rooms, his chest tightened, as did his fists. It wasn’t proper, but he needed to speak to Catherine alone. He needed to find out what had almost happened downstairs. Had she tried to flee and would she do it again? They’d made a bargain in the coach yesterday, and Nick was going to make certain she stuck to it.
    Turning sharply, he retraced his footsteps until he reached Catherine’s room. He knocked softly as to not alert Mrs. Berkley. Catherine opened the door and her eyes widened. He put his finger to her lips to hush her, stepped inside the room and closed the door.
    He grabbed her arm and she gasped. “I seriously hope you won’t take leave of your senses again and try to run. I saw the fear in your eyes earlier, and I’m relieved I was able to stop you from escaping. I’m also thankful my uncle didn’t see your panic. Do not let it happen again.”
    Her bottom lip quivered, and her eyes swam with tears. “Do you think this is easy for me? I can assure you it’s not. I’m truly sorry I had a moment of weakness, but the truth is I’m frightened to death. I have no idea what to expect from this whole situation, but what scares me is the thought of sharing ––” she paused and shivered, “—married life with a man who is as old as my father.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “When your uncle first kissed me at age fourteen, I was disgusted by the feeling of his lips on mine, and I’m scared when he kisses me again, it will provoke the same feelings I once had. I know I promised to make him happy, but I’m just so terrified of everything.” She sniffed. “I really don’t know why I tell you this.” Sobs poured from her as she covered her face with her hands. “What does it matter to you? It’s not as if you care.”
    Nick stood frozen. The control he’d seen her exert during their trip home had completely abandoned her. He really should give her a good talking to, but right now as she cried, the poor frightened girl inside the lovely woman touched him in an odd way. Without knowing why, he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her, holding her against his chest. Warmth spread through him, bringing back feelings from long ago.
    “Y—y—you don’t understand.” She hiccupped and struck her fists against his chest.
    “Yes, I do.”
    Through her struggles, he stroked her stiff back and within seconds she stopped, her arms snaked around his waist and she pressed herself next to him. Automatically, he tightened his hold. What am I doing? This was torture plain and simple. He’d never been one to comfort another, but within moments, the strange feeling soothed him. As he held her in his arms and rocked slowly back and forth, an ache in his chest grew and nearly suffocated him.
    He bent his head closer to her ear and whispered, “It’s all right, Catherine. I’m here.”
    Now why did I say that? He really didn’t want to be here for her. Didn’t want to be the person she turned to for comfort whenever she had a problem, but he couldn’t stop himself. The longer he held her, the more he wanted to bring some kind of solace. “It’s all right...Kitty.”
    Her crying stopped and her face lifted and he gazed into her wide blue eyes. The nearness made his heart hammer, and the warmth expanded in his chest.
    “Why did you call me Kitty?”
    As he stared at her full, heart-shaped lips, he battled with the urge to kiss her. But he couldn’t. She would never be his.
    Forcing himself to pull away, he took two steps back. “I—I—I don’t know. Perhaps it’s because you are cuddly as a kitten. Cat fits you, but not when your eyes