Lady Blue by Helen A Rosburg Read Free Book Online

cure for what ails you,” Anthony went on mildly. He pulled a stopper from a crystal decanter and poured a deep amber liquid into two petite crystal glasses sitting side by side on a silver tray.
    The subtle symbolism was not lost on Harmony, but she could not keep herself from looking up through lowered lashes to watch what Anthony was doing. The obviously expensive tray, decanter, and glasses seemed somewhat incongruous in a place like the inn. But perhaps the proprietress kept such things around for her more special guests.
    An instant later Harmony caught herself with an inward gasp. She was speculating on niceties when she’d been kidnapped for ransom by a stranger and was alone with him in his private chambers?
    “Here you are.” Anthony handed one of the glasses to Harmony. “It’ll do you good. Help you to relax.” Following his own advice, Anthony sipped delicately from his glass and sprawled in the chair opposite the sofa. “There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be as comfortable as possible for as long as you’re here.”
    Still reluctant to look Anthony in the eye, or think again about her situation, Harmony decided to stall by tasting the liquor. Feeling no guilt whatsoever—how could she when drinking an alcoholic beverage seemed like the least of her worries?—she brought the glass to her lips.
    “Go on,” Anthony urged. “It’ll make you feel better about all this. Also, I promise that if you get a little tipsy, I won’t take advantage of you.”
    Did he mock her? A spark of indignation ignited in Harmony’s breast. She threw her head back and tossed half the contents of the glass down her throat. An instant later Anthony was on his feet, pounding her on the back while she choked.
    “What … what
is
this?” Harmony managed to ask when the coughing had subsided to a mere sputtering.
    “A rather fine brandy, actually,” Anthony replied as he returned to his chair. “I apologize if you didn’t find it to your liking.”
    “No, I … I do like it, as a matter of fact.” Harmony stared into the depths of her glass and felt a welcome warmth spread through her midsection, loosening the grip of her anxiety. The burning on her tongue turned into a pleasant aftertaste. She took another sip.
    “That’s it. After you’ve had dinner and some wine, you’ll feel even better.”
    Anthony rose and refilled their glasses, and Harmony found herself in an increased state of wonder and disbelief. She had been kidnapped, and was now being served an excellent brandy from the hand of her kidnapper. They were going to have dinner and a bottle of wine. It wasn’t real. Couldn’t be happening. She was definitely asleep.
    Right. Like she had fallen asleep in the coach, and with her back against the tree.
    But it seemed better to treat the situation as if it were a dream. Reality was simply too much to contemplate at the moment. If she forced herself to dwell on the details of her current circumstances, she might very well do what she should have done in the woods and run away screaming at the top of her lungs.
    Then Anthony’s fingers brushed hers as he held the bottle over her glass and Harmony had a whole new problem to worry about.
    The sensation at the origin of the touch was like the first taste of the brandy on her tongue. It burned. Then it went on a flaming journey through her body. She tried to take a deep breath without appearing obvious. It was impossible. Instead she took another sip of brandy.
    No,
she silently and adamantly protested. A stranger’s touch simply could not have such power over her body. And yet she could not take her eyes from his.
    He moves as gracefully as a cat,
Harmony thought to herself as she watched Anthony return to his chair. He hung both legs over a padded arm and raised his glass to her in salute.
    “Here’s to you, lovely Harmony. To the time you’ll spend as my hostage, as well.”
    Was she really a hostage? The thought came to her with sudden clarity despite