Nine Buck's Row by Jennifer Wilde Read Free Book Online Page B

I’m the son of your mother’s first cousin. Aunt Margaret is my father’s aunt, so you’re not related to her at all. It’s all terribly complicated. Let’s just say I’m your legal guardian and forget all about the tenuous blood lines. Shall we? Are you ready to leave? The porters will come for your trunks later on.”
    I turned to Millie. She was finding it hard to control herself. Both of us were silent for a moment, and then she gave a cry and threw herself into my arms. We rocked together, both caught up in the emotional tide. My new guardian thrust his hands in the pockets of his trousers and waited for the moment to pass.
    â€œSuzy!” Millie cried. “This is terrible —”
    â€œI’ve got to leave—”
    â€œI don’t want you to go!”
    â€œWe’ll see each other almost every day. Buck’s Row is only a few streets away.”
    â€œIt won’t be the same! You know it won’t.”
    â€œCome, come,” Nicholas Craig said. “There’s no need for this display. I have no intentions of locking her away in a dungeon.”
    Millie shot him a look of pure venom and dried her tears. She followed us downstairs to the waiting cab, and we kissed each other on the cheek before I climbed in. Millie looked wretched, and I was finding it difficult to contain my own tears. Nicholas Craig watched with sardonic amusement. I realized I was acting exactly like a skittish schoolgirl, but I didn’t care. Millie was right. It wouldn’t be the same, no matter how often we might be able to see each other.
    â€œYour little friend seems quite emotional,” Nicholas Craig said as the carriage started down the street.
    â€œMillie’s like that. She flits from one mood to another at a moment’s notice.”
    â€œI’m not sure that I approve of her,” he said.
    â€œWhat do you mean by that?”
    â€œIt should be obvious, Susannah. Your little Millie is hardly a suitable companion for a young lady of breeding.”
    â€œWe’ve been like sisters these past two years—and besides, you don’t know anything about her!” His manner was infuriating.
    â€œOn the contrary, I know everything I need to know about her. London is full of girls like her, bright, clever little things who glitter with vivacity. The glitter soon tarnishes, and they end up─”
    â€œI won’t hear anything bad about Millie!”
    â€œMy dear Susannah, you’ll hear anything I chose to say. And you’ll do anything I chose to tell you to do. Whether we like it or not, I’m your legal guardian for the next two and a half years. During that time, you’ll obey me to the letter.”
    â€œYou’re quite sure of that?”
    â€œI want to make that quite clear from the beginning. I’ll try to make this as painless as possible for both of us, but I’ll tolerate no disobedience, no back talk.”
    We stared at each other in stony silence. I was livid, hating this man with every fiber of my being. He folded his arms across his chest and tilted his chin down, eyes raised to watch me. I had a sudden impulse to leap from the carriage and go rushing down the street, but I knew that would be needless melodrama. He would only come after me and bring me back in that lazy, arrogant manner of his.
    â€œI assume the court is paying you for taking me,” I said hatefully.
    â€œThere’s a nominal fee involved, naturally.”
    â€œI think you’re perfectly vile, Mr. Craig.”
    â€œAnd you’re rather charming when you’re angry, but don’t go too far. I have a pretty fair temper of my own. You wouldn’t want to see me lose it. I might justify your opinion of me.”
    â€œPlease let me go,” I said quietly. “Let them send me to an orphanage. Please, I—I don’t want to stay with you.”
    â€œYou’re acting like a child,