False Pretences by Coulter Catherine

Author:Coulter, Catherine [Catherine, Coulter,]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-09-11T04:00:00+00:00

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

Laurette studied her granddaughter. She seemed less jumpy, less gaunt. There was a new purpose about her, but Laurette knew it wasn’t a healthy purpose.

She said without preamble, “Why are you seeing Dr. Christian Hunter?”

Catherine’s jaw dropped. “H-how do you know about that?”

“I’ve been worried about you, my dear, and—”

“Ha! You’re afraid I’ll try to buy coke, aren’t you? My God, you’ve had me followed.”

Laurette was unruffled. “That’s right. It’s for your own good. Now, tell me why you’re seeing Christian Hunter, and in a black wig.”

Catherine’s chin went up. “I need professional help and he’s one of the best in the city.”

“You’re a terrible liar, my dear. Leave it, Catherine. Keep away from the man. He’s not stupid. He will reveal nothing to you. Surely you must realize that?”

Catherine rose from her chair and walked to the fireplace. There were only glowing embers now and she felt the mild warmth flush her face. It was thirty degrees outside, the sky full of snow. She leaned down and added more logs.

“Catherine?”

She rose, dusted off her hands, then turned slowly to face her grandmother. “I’ll find out the truth from him, Grandmother. He may not be stupid, but then again, neither am I.”

“Of course you know that he is now seeing Elizabeth?”

“I do read the society page.”

“That is the answer, of course. He’s in love with her, and that’s the reason he lied for her in court.”

“Then he’s a fool,” Catherine said, her voice shrill.

“Hush, my dear. Ah, here are Jennifer and Brad. Come in. We’ll have tea now.”

Jennifer felt shy and tongue-tied around the Carleton matriarch, as her father called Mrs. Carleton. Nonetheless, she walked forward and planted a kiss on the old lady’s parchment cheek.

“You’re looking lovely, Jennifer. My grandson still amuses you?”

“Oh, yes,” Jenny blurted out. She looked at Brad, flushing.

“Hello, brother,” Catherine said.

“Catherine.”

“How’s your father, Jenny?” Catherine asked to fill the silence. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

Brad’s eyes flew to his grandmother’s face, but her expression of benign affection never wavered.

“He’s fine, just fine. Very busy, of course.”

“Senator Henkle is a very intelligent man,” said Laurette.

If Jenny noticed the oddness of Mrs. Carleton’s remark, she didn’t show it. Indeed, she was too eager to please this awesome old lady. She slipped her hand into Brad’s and sighed with relief when he squeezed her fingers.

“Jenny and I are off to the Nelsons’,” Brad said with ill-disguised boredom. “A party, of course.”

“If you’d rather not go, Brad . . .” Jenny said, her voice tentative, and Catherine wanted to snort in disgust. Jennifer Henkle was a damned wimp. Brad was already walking all over her.

“No, we must go, Jenny.”

“Whatever you wish, Brad,” she said, her glowing eyes resting on his face. Lord, it was nauseating, Catherine thought. Brad and Jenny left soon and she was once again alone with her grandmother.

“The girl will be a fine addition to the family,” Laurette said complacently.

“She’s a weak-willed bore.”

Laurette briefly thought of those photographs of Jenny and Brad in bed, then unconsciously shook her head to clear away the images.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.