Desire and Destiny by Linda Lael Miller

Author:Linda Lael Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Books

Chapter Ten

CORRINE TEMPLE PACED THE SIMPLY FURNISHED PARLOR of Joshua’s Tacoma house in unfettered annoyance. Where was that man, anyway? He’d promised to come back from Port Propensity as soon as he’d dealt with Drew and “a few other problems” and already he’d been gone for nine days!

If that wasn’t bad enough, the arrogant bastard hadn’t even taken the trouble to send a wire or write a letter explaining the delay.

Simmering, Corrine collapsed inelegantly into a chair facing the ivory fireplace. If only she dared contact Joshua herself, if only she could board a steamer for that precious town of his and confront him. She’d tell that damned Indian a thing or two.

A rueful laugh rose in her throat. Who are you trying to fool, Corrine Temple? she asked herself. If Joshua Tanner gave you the nod, you’d crawl to Port Propensity and wrap yourself around his ankles.

Abruptly, Corrine bounded out of the chair and studied her reflection in the glistening mirror over the mantlepiece. She was beautiful, damn it, with her lush mane of auburn hair and her wide, blue-green eyes. Unlike most redheads, she wasn’t plagued by freckles; her alabaster skin was flawless, glowing. Her teeth were as white and even as the Half-Breed’s own, and she knew how to please a man, any man.

And in addition to all this, she was patient with Joshua’s endless business dealings. Didn’t she wait, without complaint, while he met with officers of the Tacoma branch of his bank? Did she say so much as a word when they missed a dinner or a party because he insisted on actually working in the shipyard on Commencement Bay, instead of simply overseeing the operation? So why the hell was he treating her this way?

The possibility that had dogged Corrine ever since the man had brought her to this small but elegant house, that had probably dogged the half dozen women who had preceded her, rose in her mercurial mind and demanded to be recognized.

Joshua might not be in Port Propensity at all. He never dallied with the women in that town or even permitted whatever mistress he happened to be keeping to venture there. He could well be in Seattle, beginning a new romantic alliance.

If that was the case, Corrine’s days were numbered. Everybody knew that the Half-Breed kept one mistress at a time.

“Damn!” she spat.

“Miss Temple?”

Corrine whirled, startled, to see the elderly housekeeper standing near the windows. The drapes were open and, through the glass, she could see a crimson and gold sunset rioting on the busy waters of Commencement Bay. “Yes?”

“This came for you,” said the even-tempered old woman, who had reigned in the pleasant house, year after year, while the likes of Corrine Temple came and went. Implacable in her long tenure, she held out a letter.

Corrine snatched the missive and ripped it open, letting the envelope waft, forgotten, to the floor. The handwriting was Joshua’s and the message, scrawled in bold, slanted letters, was singularly wounding.

I’m sorry. It’s over. Good-bye.

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