Brenda Joyce - [Francesca Cahil 03] by Deadly Affairs Read Free Book Online Page B

passionately so. They admired one another and were friends. Francesca turned to Andrew. “Papa? He did not know. I did not tell him where I was going, and if I had, he would not have let me go. Mama? That is the truth.”
    Julia shook her head. “I am going to lunch. I will be home tonight, and we shall have supper together,” she said. She gave Francesca a look and she had a feeling her mother intended to stay in order to supervise her.
    Francesca watched her leave the room. When she was alone, she faced her father. “So you did know, didn’t you?”
    He started. “I knew what, Francesca?”
    “You knew that Bragg was married.” It was hard to keep her feelings from showing.
    “He told you?”
    “Yes, he did.” She remained calm, poised.
    His gaze slipped over her features with some concern. “I met his wife once when they were first married, up in Boston. So I knew he was married, yes.”
    She closed her eyes, recalling the moment Bragg had told her about his wife, a woman he had not seen in over four years, a woman he despised. In that moment, all of her hopes and dreams had been shattered. It was a moment she would carry with her in her heart forever. She pulled herself together, and looked at her father, with a small smile. “Why didn’t you tell me, Papa?” she asked lightly.
    He stared, apparently surprised. “Should I have said something? The two of you have only just met. I do not know why his wife is not here in the city with him. I do not know why there has been no mention of her in all of the stories the press has written about him. A man is entitled to his privacy, and I never asked Rick what was amiss. I assumed he would treat you with respect, as you are my daughter. What has happened here?” he asked cautiously.
    Francesca knew she must tread with extreme caution, now and in the future. “Over the course of the Burton Affair, we became friends. We have so much in common. I cannot recall exactly why, or when, he mentioned Leigh Anne to me, but it is a tragic story, and I, too, believe a man is entitled to his privacy, so I shall say no more.” There, she thought on bated breath, she had done it.
    “Yes, you do have a lot in common with him. And it is too bad he is not single himself. He would be a great match for you.” Andrew looked at his pocketwatch. “I have a luncheon as well. Business. I must be off.” He smiled now at her, and kissed her cheek. “Please behave sensibly, Francesca.”
    She knew he referred to her sleuthing. “I promise to try very hard to stay out of danger in the future. And I mean it, Papa.” And that was the truth, pure and simple. “Papa, you aren’t going to rush to marry me off, are you? Surely that was only your anger speaking?”
    He hesitated. “I want you to be happy, Francesca. You know that. So, no, I will not rush you into marriage, but I agree with Julia, it is time to think seriously of marriage for you, and that means seeking a suitable man.”
    Francesca inhaled, hard. At least she had bought herself some time, at least Andrew was coming around to her point of view. “Thank you, Papa,” she said.
    “Have a good day,” he returned.
    Francesca watched him leave the room. Andrew would soon be on her side of the fence again, but Julia was another matter, indeed. Now that Evan was affianced, she would sink her teeth into finding Francesca a suitor—and a husband. Francesca sighed.
    If ever the day came, she would have to be dragged kicking and screaming to the altar, she decided firmly.
    With that unpleasant image in her head, Francesca left the room.
    Francesca was in her bedroom at her desk, her biology notes in front of her, when Connie walked in. Fortunately, she was not able to concentrate, as she kept thinking about the young woman whom she had found dead in the snow. The guilt had lessened a bit, but her resolve to find the killer had grown. Her new client was also on her mind. Therefore, her sister’s appearance was hardly an