Maniscalco, Kerri - Stalking Jack The Ripper 035 - Becoming the Dark Prince by Maniscalco Kerri

Author:Maniscalco, Kerri [Maniscalco, Kerri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young Adult, Mystery, Romance
ISBN: 9780316428705
Google: HPydDwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B07T2Y12GK
Barnesnoble: B07T2Y12GK
Goodreads: 46184206
Publisher: jimmy patterson
Published: 2019-07-15T05:00:00+00:00

Dragon knob

Five

FIRST CLASS PROMENADE

RMS ETRURIA

9 JANUARY 1889

I gripped the railing, ignoring the bite from the near-freezing temperature of the metal, and concentrated on counting each passenger that disembarked. I’d gotten to fifty-two before stealing a glance at Audrey Rose. Her attention was stubbornly fixed on the crowd below, the muscle in her jaw as tense as her stance. I wanted to wrap her in my arms, to press myself against her, inhaling her floral scent and kissing her until she returned to me from that cold and distant place she’d retreated to. But I wanted her to choose her path—Mephisto or me—without interference.

Even if it killed me.

Her breath caught and my resolve to give her space broke. “I’ll be with you again soon enough, Wadsworth. You won’t even know I’m gone.”

I held still, waiting for her to deny it. To call me foolish. To demand I stay. She didn’t. Instead, “That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”

“The fact remains I am needed here, in New York, as your uncle’s representative.” I inhaled deeply and forced myself to keep staring at the passengers. I needed to let go. “I will join you as soon as I can.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a tear streak over her cheek.

My resolve slipped.

She angrily swiped it away, leaving me to guess her exact emotions.

“Aren’t you supposed to say something like ‘I’ll miss you terribly, Wadsworth. These next few weeks shall be a slow sort of torture, I’m sure.’ Or some other Cresswell witticism?”

The battle I’d been fighting ceased. I faced her, doing my best to keep my emotions in check. “Of course, I will miss you. It will feel like my heart is being surgically forced from my chest against my will.” I took another deep breath. “I’d rather be run through with every sword in Jian’s arsenal. But this is the best for the case.”

If I repeated it often enough, I might soon believe it. The hopeful expression on her face vanished. I wasn’t sure if it was the imagery of a knife so soon after her injury or if mention of the case had annoyed her.

“Then I wish you well, Mr. Cresswell.” Her voice was clipped. The sharpness sliced at my aching heart. “You’re right. Being upset is silly when we shall meet again soon.”

I wanted to reach for her. To draw her into my arms and fight for her love. But to do that would go against everything I’d promised her before. I would not manipulate her in any way. A strange sensation coiled in my center, though, striking at my conscience. Something wasn’t sitting well about this—I couldn’t escape from the worry I’d missed a valid point.

I hesitated, replaying the last few moments in my mind, trying to decipher each nuance of expression, each shift in tone. I had to be missing something—

“Mr. Cresswell?” A detective politely cleared his throat, destroying the last of our time together. I couldn’t help but feel like I’d been close to figuring out an important point and hid my irritation.

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