Her Every Wish by Courtney Milan Read Free Book Online Page A

never did believe me, Daisy. No matter what you think of the other times we disagreed, this time I am simply right. The velocipede is a simple application of the principles of natural law. You’ve spent your entire life learning lessons. Stupid lessons. Keep quiet if a man pinches your bum. Don’t speak loudly, or you’ll turn heads. Express yourself in the mildest possible terms, so that no one can have any objection. There are reasons you have to act that way on a daily basis. But if you want one damned chance at success at this competition you’ve entered, you’re going to have to forget them all. You can’t forget some rules and hope for the best.”
    She swallowed. She looked at the machine leaning peacefully against the bench. “But I could die.”
    He didn’t call her overly dramatic. He didn’t roll his eyes.
    Instead, he raised an eyebrow. “Daisy,” he said slowly, “I assume you entered the competition to establish yourself. Because you wanted lasting financial security. At present, your future rests entirely on other people continuing to provide you with gainful employment. What do you think would happen if that stopped?”
    He didn’t need to ask her to imagine what would happen if she had no money. If she were tossed from her rooms, if she couldn’t afford bread, if her mother…
    Daisy didn’t want to think of her mother. She swallowed. “I’m…I’m not going to win.”
    â€œAh, ah.” He held up a finger. “None of that. My only point is that there’s no way around risk.” He gestured her forward. “That is precisely why you’re learning to ride a velocipede. If you’re going to risk your life, you had best risk it properly.”
    She frowned. She was fairly certain there was a flaw in his logic. He’d always been able to convince her of anything and everything. Wagers? They were harmless, so long as nobody bet money they couldn’t afford to lose. His prior liaisons with men and women? Well, so long as he was honest about what happened, and hadn’t lied to anyone, who was hurt by it? She’d been so turned around that she’d accepted it all. Even now, she was certain that he had been wrong. She just wasn’t sure how.
    â€œOne more thing.” His eyes met hers. “It’s called a velocipede . Or a bicycle. You’re not stupid, so use its proper name. Call the product I will be selling a velocitastrophe one more time, and I will…”
    They watched each other for a long moment.
    â€œYou’ll what?” she asked. “Push me over?”
    His lip curled in distaste. “I’ll make polite conversation. Like this: How is your fiancé, Daisy? When did you last hear about him? Was his last letter everything you hoped for?”
    His eyes were dark and narrowed, looking down at her, and Daisy felt a little crinkle slide up her spine.
    She swallowed. It was an excellent threat. “Him?” She hadn’t even given him a name. “Why would that bother me? I would gladly talk about…Edwin.”
    â€œI’m sure you would. He sounds like quite the stick-in-the-mud. The two of you no doubt get along splendidly.”

Chapter Four
    F or a second , Crash thought Daisy would turn away. Instead, her chin went up. Her fingers, clothed in dark gray wool gloves, clenched at her side. Her eyes glittered like shards of blue glass.
    â€œGo ahead,” she said. “I’m not afraid of you or your threats or your velossacre.”
    â€œVelossacre?”
    â€œI’m making this up as I go along.” She glowered at him defiantly. “It’s derived from massacre. If you kill me with that thing, at least you’ll hang for my death. I take what scant satisfaction I can find in this cruel world.”
    Damn it all. He didn’t want to remember why he’d once liked her.
    He simply tsked instead. “Daisy, you