His Wicked Embrace by Adrienne Basso Read Free Book Online

life. But she had foolishly hoped it would be different this time.
    Isabella sighed. For a brief moment, she thought she might have persuaded Mr. Braun to take her side. She rose regally to her feet and faced the Brauns. There was a hint of tension in the way she held her shoulders, and the hurt in her eyes was evident.
    â€œAre you absolutely certain you wish to terminate my employment?”
    Mr. Braun had the grace to look embarrassed. Before he could reply, his wife intervened. “We believe it is best for all concerned if you leave,” she insisted.
    â€œI’ll go upstairs and pack my things immediately.” Isabella turned and walked slowly toward the drawing room doors. It was over. She had just lost her fourth position. What would she do now? She felt dazed and a little sick to her stomach.
    When her hand touched the door latch, the earl spoke. “I will await you in the front hall, Emmeline.”
    At the sound of his voice, Isabella’s knuckles went white around the brass handle, but she forced herself to remain calm. She tried to reply, but her throat was too dry. She had to swallow a few times before answering.
    â€œAs you wish, my lord,” Isabella replied in a wry tone. She shut the door quickly behind her and hurried up the stairs to her room, silently vowing she would beg on the streets before accompanying that dreadful man anywhere.

Chapter Four
    Isabella wrenched a plain brown dress off its hook and flung it onto her bed. She swore vehemently and reached into the wardrobe for another gown. She yanked out the remaining three garments and cursed again. Then she pulled out her worn satchel from the bottom of the empty oak cabinet.
    Growing up in an all-male household did have its advantages, Isabella decided, repeating a favorite curse of her eldest brother, the exact meaning of which she did not fully understand.
    She kept her anger fueled by alternating her cursing and throwing, and within minutes all her clothing was scattered on the bed. After all her meager belongings were assembled, Isabella quickly gathered them up and stuffed them into the satchel.
    Normally she would have carefully and methodically folded each and every garment before packing it, but Isabella was not about to take the time to pack neatly. It was imperative she vacate the house quickly, and neatness would be a deterrent to that goal.
    Isabella embraced her anger, knowing it was buffering her from the true reality of her situation. If her anger left, it would be replaced by fear. Cold, unmitigated terror at the prospect of once again being without a job, without a home, without any security at all. And worst of all, the maniacal earl, the cause of all her recent distress, awaited her downstairs. Above all else he must be avoided.
    Shuddering with emotion, Isabella jammed her straw bonnet on her head and hastily threw on her coat. She pulled too hard on a button and it went flying, but she did not take the time to search for it. Better to lose a button than lose a chance at escape.
    You must hurry, you must hurry, Isabella repeated methodically to herself as she lifted her satchel. She paused briefly in the hallway outside her door, toying with the notion of saying good-bye to the children but rapidly discarded the notion. She could not afford to waste the time it would take to walk to the schoolroom at the opposite side of the house. Let the Brauns explain to their children why their governess had left so suddenly.
    Quietly, efficiently, Isabella strode down the hallway to the servants’ staircase. When she reached the first floor, she cautiously edged her way across the short hallway toward the kitchen at the back end of the house. She strongly suspected the earl had positioned himself at the bottom of the grand staircase in the front of the house, but if he moved to the side of the foyer, there was a slight chance he might see her at the back entrance.
    Thankfully, Isabella reached the kitchen without