Read Punish Me With Roses - a Victorian Historical Romance for Free Online

forward on her toes and smiled, admiring his coat and the sandy-blond hair that peeked out from beneath his hat. The hair looked bleached by the sun, but he certainly didn't seem the type to sit outside without anything covering his head. Her first impression was one of affable friendliness.
    "I walk past the Fyn place nearly every day," he said, "though it is heavily secluded."
    "Are you a friend of his?"
    "You might say that." He started to walk away, but gestured for her to follow him. "Then again, you might not."
    It certainly wasn't an illuminating answer. Friendly, but a little wary. That wasn't necessarily bad. Didn't such a description describe her as well?
    "And you?"
    "Yes, I am a friend." She took a deep breath. "Actually, I'm his niece."
    She might have been mistaken, but at that moment he looked as though he'd almost choked on his own breath. "Niece?"
    "Yes. He's my father's brother."
    "That's a shame."
    "You mean because he's ill?"
    His pace slowed considerably at this question. She wondered if he was taking her the long way. She had to admit that she didn't mind if he was. "I haven't been to visit Fyn in some time. I didn't know of his illness, but I'm sure you'll make him feel infinitely better."
    "Well, I got the impression from his letter that there wasn't much hope."
    He threw his head back and laughed heartily as he picked a leisurely pace along the path. Then he saw the shocked look on Victoria's face. "Oh dear, I apologize for that. It's just that John has always been one to exaggerate."
    She was starting to change her mind about being comfortable taking the long path. Weren't first impressions supposed to be correct?
    "It's a shame we weren't properly introduced, but you must understand that we're not as strict down here. I'm Rafe Randel."
    "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Randel." She offered her hand, which he took with alacrity. "Victoria Clavering."
    "Where have you traveled from?" he asked once he'd released her hand.
    "London." It was a good, general place to have hailed from.
    "Shouldn't you be going to balls, rather than visiting secluded uncles?"
    They came upon a house, very much obscured by the surrounding vegetation. As she'd expected, her uncle wasn't a wealthy man. She hoped he was a kind one.
    Victoria thought of all the imaginary parties that she'd never been invited to and said, "My family is very important to me, Mr. Randel."
    "And so it is to us all."
    He had hardly gotten the words out of his mouth when she saw a middle-aged man running out of the two-story manor, a man that looked very much like her father. But he appeared far too hale to be the man who'd written the letter.
    As he came closer, the similarities were even more striking. There was no doubt that they were related. She was almost brought to tears to see the same life-loving expression on this man's face that she'd always thrilled to see on her father's.
    "Victoria?" His tone was questioning and he waited for final confirmation.
    "Uncle?" she said and couldn't stand still any longer. He nodded and she rushed to him.
    He picked her up and gave her a strong hug. "I can't believe I'm finally meeting you," he said with emotion in his voice.
    She found it hard to retain her composure. "I cannot believe it either."
    When they parted, her uncle looked behind her and she realized that it was the first time he was seeing Rafe. "What are you doing here?"
    "I just love reunions." He smirked like it was some kind of private joke.
    Her uncle frowned. "Then perhaps you'll want to reunite with your friends back at the pub."
    The man nodded, the implication not lost on him. He tipped his hat and disappeared into the trees.
    "Who was that man?" she asked, even though she already knew his name. She was more interested in discovering where the hostility between them had originated.
    "He's not important, dear. Not in the least."
    "But why did you ask him to leave so quickly? He was rather nice to me on the way over."
    This question he didn't even