Hart's Passion (Pirates & Petticoats Book 2) by Chloe Flowers Read Free Book Online Page A

faint and soon all she heard was the silence of the room. She expected to break down and weep, but strangely, no tears came. Landon Hart had seduced her with his kisses and caresses. She’d fallen in love with him. And he had broken her heart.  
    She was a fool.  
    A few minutes later, she heard the key scrape in the lock once more.  
    “Miss Keelan?” Simon spoke through the door.
      A tear broke free and crept down her cheek. She quickly brushed it away. “Come in.”
    Simon stepped across the threshold and paused. His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, and she had to strain to hear him. “If there’s anythin’ I can do to help you…” He toyed with the keyring he held. “I mean anythin ’, Miss Keelan. You saved my boy’s life, and I’ll never forget dat. An’ you helped the others runnin’ for their freedom after the storm.”
    At her questioning look, he whispered, “Mister Pratt never caught them, they free now.” The servant leaned in. “Well, you jus’ say the word, Miss Keelan.” He quietly swung the door wide and stepped back, waiting.
    Her heart jumped. The slave offered her freedom, but she couldn’t bring herself to take it.  
    Simon would be whipped for sure.  
    “Thank you, Simon but I will not jeopardize your position in this house.”  
    The slave started to argue, but she silenced him with her hand. “There is one thing you can do for me. Find Daniel," she said. “If we require your assistance, he will tell you when and how.”
    “Yes’m. I can do dat. I’ll be happy to do dat.” Simon gave her a firm nod and retreated, closing the door behind him.  
    Barely a moment passed before the door opened again.
    Keelan clenched her teeth together as her cousin, Doreen, bounced into the room.  
    “Daddy is sending a letter to Mr. Pratt, I hear.”
    “I have nothing to say to you, Doreen.”  
    Doreen laughed coldly. “This is no less than you deserve for trying to take Everett from me.”
    She stared at the girl and held her tongue. Doreen began to saunter about the room. “Thank goodness Mr. Pratt is available to take you.” Her cousin gave a dramatic shudder. “Although I have heard he is quite heavy-handed with his slave girls. With you as his bride, they might suffer a reprieve.”
      Keelan’s dug her fingernails into her palms to keep them from trembling.
    Fear. It was something she kept pushing frantically to the far recesses of her mind when the topic of a marriage to Pratt arose. It was a dark, ragged monster invading her brain, forcing her to writhe and flail under its cold, contemptuous shadow. Only her anger at Landon Hart kept her from covering her ears, collapsing into the corner, and becoming nothing more than a limp pile of terrified mush.
    Doreen had sensed her fear and strove to feed it. Keelan’s shoulders tightened as her cousin walked up and stopped in front of her.   Doreen studied her intently. “This might be the last time I view your face unmarred.” She whirled and skipped from the room.
    Her cousin was trying to crumble her pride and throw her into hysterics. Still, it was a long time before her body stopped quaking. The uncertainty of her future mauled her mind and spirit.  
    The only ship bound for Boston in the Charleston harbor was set to sail tomorrow at sunrise. It was still her intention, and now the sole purpose of her life, to be aboard.

CHAPTER FIVE

    “I’ll not leave without ye!” Slaney crossed her arms. She stood in the middle of Keelan’s chamber.  
    “Neither will I,” argued Daniel. He stepped away from the doorway where he and Simon were keeping watch for Jared or Doreen. “I made a promise to Lord Grey, and I don’t intend to break it.” He walked over to the maid. “Slaney, you must go.”
    “I will not!” Slaney countered. Her eyes flashed in defiance. “I need to take care of me mistress!”
    Daniel sighed softly, taking Slaney’s work-toughened hands in his own. He rubbed his thumbs over the top