Titanic Affair by Amanda P Grange Read Free Book Online Page B

if you’ve any sense you’ll let him have you with a ring on your finger instead of making him take you without it. If he does that, you’ll end up in the gutter, so why not come quietly, and take him for everything he’s got?’
    He reached out a hand and she dodged to the side, but in a whip-like movement he caught her wrist.
    ‘You and I are going to spend the next few days together,’ he said gloatingly, ‘and when Mr Montmerency meets us in Ireland there’ll be a tidy sum coming my way.’
    ‘Let go of me,’ she said, struggling to break free.
    But he only laughed, catching her round the waist and pinning her arms to her side.
    With only her legs free, Emilia stamped hard on his foot. It was enough to make him loosen his grip and she ran . . . but saw too late that she was running straight towards the railings at the back of the ship, beyond which was nothing but the ocean.
    She heard his laughter behind her and her pulse started to race. She was trapped.
    She looked round desperately for help but the cold wind had driven the rest of the third-class passengers below and the deck was empty.
    Barker walked toward her menacingly.
    ‘Seems you’ve nowhere to go,’ he said. ‘Unless you fancy a jump into the blue yonder.’
    She waited with heart hammering as he approached her, knowing she had only one chance of escape.
    She waited until he was almost upon her, then darted past him, picking up her skirts as she ran across the poop deck, opening the gate that protected the top of the steps leading down to the aft deck and sprinting down them, then across the aft deck . . .
    . . . and straight into the arms of Carl Latimer.

Chapter Four
     
     
    She had never been so pleased to see anyone in her life. Arrogant Mr Latimer might be, but his strong, powerful body offered her protection, and she gave a sigh of gratitude for his presence.
    His arms closed around her, and to her surprise she felt a tingling sensation starting from her shoulders and rippling right down to her feet. It was not unpleasant but it was unsettling, and it made her step back. She looked up, and met his eye. Just for a moment it was though there was a connection between them. She felt powerfully drawn to him. So much so that she almost stepped forward, into his arms again.
    Fortunately, she stopped herself just in time.
    ‘There’s no need to be in such a hurry,’ he said, his eyes searching her face as he took her by the shoulders, steadying her, for she had not quite found her balance after running into him.
    ‘No. Of course not.’
    Only now did she realize how strange she must have looked, running along the deck as though the devil himself were after her. Which was not so very far from the truth . . . But still, it was no way to behave on an ocean liner.
    She glanced instinctively over her shoulder to reassure herself, and was relieved when she could see no sign of Barker. The smoke from the funnels, blown by the wind, still obscured much of the poop deck, but in the ribbons of clean air in between she could see only empty deck.
    He must have gone below. He would not want to provoke an open confrontation in front of witnesses, and as long as she could avoid him until she left the ship she should be safe.
    She turned back to Mr Latimer . . . only to find that his eyes had followed hers and were now sweeping the deck.
    ‘Has someone been bothering you?’ he asked, turning to look at her in concern.
    ‘No.’ Her voice wobbled slightly, but she hoped he would not notice it. ‘Why do you ask?’ she asked, with what she believed was an expression of unconcern.
    He looked at her searchingly, then said, ‘No reason.’
    She was relieved. She did not feel up to explaining the situation to Mr Latimer. She did not know him well enough to trust him. He continued to hold her gaze, however, and she began to feel uncomfortable, but fortunately he seemed to accept her word and offered her his arm.
    She took it gratefully. She was still a little