counterfeit lady by Jude Deveraux

Author:Jude Deveraux [Deveraux, Jude]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Three days later, Gerard sat across from Bianca in a secluded area of the Armstrong plantation. Between

them were, the remains of a feast. It had taken Janie all morning to prepare such a meal. Gerard frowned as he remembered the way Janie had refused at first to obey his commands and pack the picnic. Nicole's interference had made her obey. He didn't like a woman overstepping his rule.

"He's trying to starve me;" Bianca said, her mouth full of caramel cream and almond cookies. "This morning for breakfast, I was only allowed two poached eggs and three biscuits. And he canceled my orders for some new dresses. I don't know what he expects me to wear. These stupid Americans can't even sew properly.

The dresses constantly tear at the seams."

Gerard watched with interest the massive quantity of food that Bianca was devouring so rapidly. He'd

requested enough food for six people, yet now he wasn't sure if it was enough. "Tell me," he said quietly, "have you been careful lately? Have you watched for danger?"

His statement was enough to make Bianca put down her fork. She buried her face in her hands. "He hates me. Everywhere, I see signs of his hatred. Ever since the rains, he's changed. He won't let me eat. He's hired women to clean the house, yet when I give them orders, they won't listen to me. It's almost as if I weren't the mistress of the plantation."

Gerard unwrapped a tiny chocolate-coated cheesecake. He touched her arm and held it out to her. Her

eyes were brilliant, shining through her tears as she grabbed the little cake. "If you and I owned the plantation, everything would be different."

"We? How could we own it?" She'd already eaten the cake and watched as Gerard unwrapped another

one.

"If Armstrong were dead, you would inherit the place."

"He is as disgustingly healthy, as one of his mules. I thought maybe he'd drink himself to death, but he hasn't touched anything since the rains."

"How many people know that? It's common knowledge that he's been drinking heavily for a year or more.

What if he had an . . . accident while he was drunk?"

Bianca leaned back and stared at the remaining food. There wasn't much left, and she hated to leave it, but she honestly could hold no more. "I told you, he doesn't drink anymore," she said absently.

Gerard gritted his teeth at her denseness. "Don't you think we could arrange one last time?"

Slowly, Bianca lifted her head and looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Clayton Armstrong is an evil man. He brought you here under false pretenses. Then, when he got you to this horrible country, he used you, mistreated you."

"Yes," Bianca whispered. "Yes."

"There isn't any justice in the world that allows something like that to continue. You are his wife, yet he treats you like dirt. For God's sake, he won't even allow you to eat!"

Bianca caressed her enormous stomach. "You're right, but what can I do?"

"Get rid of him." He smiled at Bianca's gasp. "Yes, you know what I mean.

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