Second Chances by Tess St. John

Author:Tess St. John [John, Tess St.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780983390510
Google: hSGqZwEACAAJ
Publisher: Tess Saint John
Published: 2011-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Emma woke late the next morning with the memory of Drake walking her back to her room. His eyes had not been their normal brilliant blue in the shadows of the corridor, but it was the look in them, the care, the concern, that touched her.

He said he’d think of something to thwart her father’s plans. If it were anything less than a miracle, she’d be in her father’s control by tomorrow night.

She tried to understand her father’s greed. Where had it come from? He was not of meager means. He’d always kept his home finely stocked and the staff well paid. Why would he need to sell her? Had he spent all his money? Was he wishing to become more powerful with the added funds?

It was futile to try and understand her father.

She rose from the bed. She’d done as Drake suggested last night and locked her door. Afterward, the oddest sense of safety washed over her. Amazing how one’s perception changed drastically in mere minutes. Her frantic screaming at wanting to be released had changed to a safe calm…all from her turning the lock.

Again, Drake was helping her, as had become his way. Did he realize how much she’d come to depend on him and his comfort?

Emma dressed and unlocked her door, slipping the key into her dress pocket.

The sun was bright, lighting every nook and cranny in the sometimes dreary corridors. And even with the sunshine, a chill haunted the hallways. It promised to be another bitterly cold day.

She thought her idea of escaping on horseback might work, but since Drake discouraged it, she must trust him. When she passed the guard in front of her father’s room, he stood.

“Are you to follow me everywhere I go?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you always do as my father asks?”

The man didn’t answer. His hair and eyes were so dark, they appeared black.

“I do hope he pays you well. Wardens are usually a stingy lot.”

His voice was deep, and the words sounded like a growl. “My compensation is not open for discussion.”

“Even if I can pay you more?”

A flash sparked in his eyes. Was he insulted or interested?

She would never know, because her father opened his door just then. “Emma.”

Without a glance at him, she passed the two men and continued down the hallway.

“Emma!” her father’s voice slashed through the air again.

In a battle with herself, she considered her options. He couldn’t lock her in her room, she had the key. If he hit her, the sting would only last a short time.

She ignored him and hurried to the stairway.

“Emma,” he said in his this-is-a-warning voice. The voice he’d used every time he’d painfully seized her arm and led her to the attics.

She quickly descended the steps, as rapidly as her feet would move. Her father was bigger and faster. Damn her skirts.

Hard, digging fingers wrapped around her shoulder and yanked her around, almost tipping her off balance. “When I address you, you will answer. You are making this much harder than it has to be.

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.