Lady Blue by Helen A Rosburg Read Free Book Online Page A

the fuzziness beginning to cloud her thoughts. What would he do if she really wanted to leave? His behavior was so gentlemanly, she found it difficult to believe he might actually try to physically restrain her, or harm her in any way. He would probably, she mused, apologize for the inconvenience and offer to take her home.
    Harmony felt a smile touch her lips. To her horror, she giggled, then raised her glass in response to his toast.
    “Thank you,” she whispered, and drank.

    The fire had burned low and the chill of the late summer’s evening had crept into the room. But Harmony felt warm. She stared into the dying flames and tried to concentrate on their hiss and crackle. It wasn’t easy.
    It was becoming increasingly difficult to remember that she was, indeed, a captive. Anthony, no matter how charming, was a robber and a kidnapper. He was going to extort money from her sister. Moreover, she was, for the first time in her life, alone with a man. In a room at an inn. Drinking spirits. And, apparently, becoming affected by them.
    The warmth deepened to a flush Harmony felt rise from her breast to her cheeks. She was in a situation too racy even for the dime novels she read. And she was enjoying every moment.
    Again unable to look in Anthony’s direction, Harmony stared into the dregs of her glass. She tilted it to watch the last golden drop run from the bottom to the side. Anthony, alert to her every need, misinterpreted her action.
    “You’ve run dry. A fine host I am,” he drawled as he unslung his legs from the arm of the chair. He stood and reached for the decanter.
    “Oh, no, no,” Harmony protested. “I’ve had quite enough, thank you.”
    “A few more drops,” Anthony urged. “To make one more toast.” “Well …”
    Anthony poured a finger into each of their glasses. “With these last drops, I make my final toast.” He touched his glass to Harmony’s. “To a very lucky encounter.”
    Harmony watched Anthony over the rim of her glass and wondered if he meant that the luck was in meeting her, or in the prospect of obtaining some of her sister’s money. Perhaps it was only the brandy, but she wanted very badly for it to be her.
    “Why did you really do this?” The words were out before she could stop them, her tongue loosened, no doubt, by how much she had had to drink. Her parents had warned her about such things.
    Grief and guilt momentarily threatened to overwhelm her. Then she remembered her sister, and what Agatha would have to say about the situation. The thought was abruptly sobering.
    “You mean, why did I kidnap you?” Anthony said, pulling Harmony from her reverie. He looked faintly surprised. “I told you. Because, for one night’s work, I’m going to make enough money to retire. For a few weeks, at least.”
    Harmony made a valiant effort to keep the disappointment from showing on her face as her spirits plummeted to her feet. She felt a welcome spark of irritation as well.
    “But why do you have to steal at all to make a living? Surely you could find some better, easier way. An
honest
way.”
    “My dear, this
is
an easy way for a man like me to make money.” Anthony turned from Harmony to stand in front of the fire. “Or were you expecting me to tell you that I do this because I am a pitiful child of poverty, stealing only to feed my aged mother and starving brothers and sisters?” He uttered a short laugh. “Sorry, but I’m afraid I steal because I am simply too lazy to make a living any other way. And the … adventure … shall we say, appeals to me.”
    “Yet you … you’re obviously an educated man!” Harmony protested, though not entirely sure why.
    “Why, thank you, my dear.” Anthony bowed low from the waist. Long, dark, shining hair fell forward, as if in a caress, across his shoulders. He straightened and brushed it back nonchalantly. “But I see no reason why the educated, as well as the ignorant, shouldn’t be allowed to steal. Do you?”
    It occurred