Wronged (The Cuvier Widows Book 1) by Sylvia McDaniel Read Free Book Online

you up in the carriage.”
    Marian smiled. “I’m not sixteen anymore. You
know I’ll be careful.”
    “I don’t know why I waste my breath on you
sometimes. You’ll do whatever you’ve set your mind to.” Claire
shook her head. “You will have to tell me all about how your first
day goes with the handsome Mr. Fournet”
    “Yes, well Mr. Fournet left here today very
annoyed when I told him I would be at the office on Monday. Somehow
his reactions made me wonder if he was hiding something.”
    “Like what? I thought he came by to discuss
the shipping company?”
    “Yes, but he also recommended that I sell the
business. Somehow I don’t know if I trust my new partner. He’s
handsome to look at he’s charming, he’s smooth, but there’s
something about him that makes me want to be cautious.”
    “That’s only because of Jean. If he hadn’t
been Jean’s partner, then you would have more confidence.”
    “I don’t think so. In some ways, Mr. Fournet
reminds me of Jean. He’s a charmer, a flirt, someone who makes you
feel like he has everything under control. And maybe that’s what
frightens me the most Jean obviously could control very little in
his life. Now I wonder about the handsome Mr. Fournet. Is he any
different from Jean?”
     

Chapter Three
     
    F rom her carriage
window, Marian saw the docks were teeming with activity. The sun
shone bright in the early morning sky and the sounds of shouting as
the men loaded the boats reverberated through the air. Before she
was ready, the carriage came to a halt and Marian wanted to tell
Edward, her driver, to turn the vehicle around and take her back
home. But she refused to give in to her cowardice.
    With her knees trembling beneath her black
skirt she picked up her reticule and stepped out of the carriage.
Edward helped her to alight as she gazed up at the brick building
wondering what she could expect inside.
    “What time shall I return madam?” Edward
asked.
    “Five o’clock will be fine,” she said, and
walked up the steps to enter the building where her husband had
conducted his business.
    The sound of the carriage pulling away
wrenched at her, but she didn’t call him back. With trembling hands
she opened the door. She could do this, she reminded herself and
stepped into the shipping office.
    Inside the reception area a counter ran eight
feet across the room, with desks scattered throughout the airy
space behind the bar. Men glanced up from their work, staring at
her, their eyes questioning as she entered the room. What was
she doing here ?
    A large scruffy man with a week’s beard and a
worn cap on his head stood at the counter, leaning against it. His
dark eyes gleamed at her, a wrinkle appearing between his
brows.
    “A little early in the morning to be gettin
lost?” he taunted her, his accent heavy.
    “Excuse me?” she said. “I’m not lost I’m
looking for Mr. Fournet”
    He laughed. “Now I understand, darlin’. He’s
gone to the back for a moment, but don’t fret. He’ll soon
return.”
    She frowned, feeling uncertain as to the
man’s reaction.
    “Tell me darlin’, what do women see in Mr.
Fournet that they don’t see in me? I may not have his fancy looks,
but I know how to treat a lady decent” he said, his eyes raking
over her. “And you in mourning, too. Shame on you.”
    Feeling more vulnerable than she cared for
she took a steadying breath. She glanced at the river man in his
rugged waterproof boots, his worn cap, and sleeveless shirt that
revealed his deeply tanned arms. Though normally she would have
ignored him, maybe it would be better to attempt to be polite, but
curt. He could be a customer or even an employee.
    “Yes, I am in mourning,” she said, in a short
clipped tone, resisting the urge to run for the door. “Mr. Fournet
and I are business acquaintances.”
    “Now don’t be gettin’ yourself all riled up.
I just thought you might have been one of Mr. Fournet’s lady
friends since you’re pretty