Brenda Joyce - [Francesca Cahill 06] by Deadly Promise Read Free Book Online Page A

a rush, “Calder, I didn’t know what to write! I should have spoken with you before leaving.”
    “Please don’t ever lie to me again,” he said simply. “I have never lied to you, and I expect to be repaid in kind.”
    She nodded, somehow undone and very flustered now.
    He smiled a little at her and turned away. They were traveling up Fourth Avenue now, alongside the excavation for a new railroad tunnel. She seized the opportunity to stare at him, enjoying his strong profile. And finally, the events of the entire evening washed over her. Her arrival at the ball, her brief exchange with Bragg, her encounter with Hart in the servants’ hall, and his ensuing announcement of their engagement. Tension stabbed her. An image of Bragg’s shocked expression assailed her mind. All sense of well-being vanished.
    She had hurt him. She hadn’t meant to. How could they have made the announcement in such an untimely manner?
    He continued to gaze out at the passing buildings. Traffic on the avenue was less than light—a lone hansom accompanied them, the bay’s hooves clopping loudly in unison with Hart’s team in the night. He was more than dangerously seductive—he was dangerous, period. Hart had been the one to make the announcement. It had been his decision—the timing had been his and his alone.
    He glanced languidly at her. “I would be careful with those reward posters.”
    She felt ill now. “Why?”
    “Every Tom, Dick, and Harry will claim to have seensomething. You will have a hundred supposed witnesses to Emily’s disappearance, I think.”
    She hadn’t considered that possibility. “You are right. Well, we will have to carefully winnow through all the false claims. I really believe that someone had to have seen what happened to Emily. Someone is out there with information that I need.”
    “You are probably right. What’s wrong?”
    She looked up and met his midnight gaze. “What we have just done has finally sunk in.”
    “And that is?” He watched her carefully now, like a hawk.
    She held up her hand. Even in the cab, the big diamond glittered, catching the light. “I think our timing might have been better.”
    His jaw seemed to flex. The interior of the coach was softly lit, so it was hard to say. “Let me guess. You are worried about my poor half brother’s feelings.”
    “Yes, I am.” She sat up straighter, defensively. “It wasn’t right. I saw his face. He was disbelieving. And he was hurt.”
    Hart leaned toward her, his eyes black now. “He has no right to be hurt, Francesca, and we both know it—only you will never admit it.”
    She inhaled, mentally preparing for an unpleasant battle. “Calder, I know he is married. I know he loves Leigh Anne, even if he refuses to admit it to anyone and not even to himself. But he is very fond of me. And you know that! His feelings are genuine, and he has every right to be hurt.”
    “Not in my opinion. In my opinion, he only seeks to keep you from allowing yourself to care genuinely for me.”
    “That is nonsense!” she cried, flushing.
    “If he truly wanted you, Francesca, he would have slammed his front door—and his bedroom door—in little Leigh Anne’s face.”
    How cruel he could be. She turned blindly away, trying not to think about Bragg and Leigh Anne sharing a bed together. And while she knew Hart was right, she said, “Iencouraged him to stay with her. I begged him not to throw away his political future. With Leigh Anne at his side, I feel certain he will one day win the Senate seat. But if he were divorced, no such outcome is assured.”
    A dark silence greeted her words.
    She dared to look his way.
    His smile was twisted. “Darling, has it ever occurred to you that you encouraged him to continue his marriage for the sake of politics, when really you had another, ulterior, motive?”
    She knew his blow was about to come. “What other motive could I possibly have?”
    “His marriage has allowed you to be where you desperately