Adam's Promise Read Free Page B

I!”
    He did not accept her declaration of innocence; he merely continued to pace back and forth in front of her. “Whether you knew the truth or not, you played a part in it. Diana was the obvious choice. Lord in heaven, what were you thinking?”
    What was she to tell him? That she had been thinking with her foolish, lovesick heart? That she had dreamed of marrying him since she was a child and had spent the past six weeks fantasizing about a wedding night in his arms? A lifetime in his heart? That she’d believed he wanted to marry her, too, because she’d wanted to believe it?
    What a fantasy it had been! The man in her dreams had been full of mirth and adoration. This bitter, belligerent man was nothing like the young man she remembered.
    â€œMy father assured me you had asked for my hand. I had no reason to question the truth of it.”
    Someone nearby split a log with an ax. The sharp crack made Madeline jump. She felt as if someone were taking an ax to her heart as well.
    Adam’s chest heaved with a sigh. “No reason to question it? Do you not have a mind of your own?”
    Oh, this was too much. “To tell you the truth, Mr. Coates, I do have a mind of my own—a mind to pokemy father with a knitting needle, and if I may say so, you could use a poke yourself.”
    His dark eyes narrowed. She wasn’t certain if he was furious with her, or just plain shocked out of his shiny black boots.
    The man with the ax swung again and the sound of splitting wood cut through the silence. Madeline kept her eyes on Adam.
    â€œWhat are we to do, then?” he asked, his tone finally softening a bit.
    â€œI don’t know, Mr. Coates. As you said earlier, this is indeed awkward.”
    â€œWell, I can’t just leave you here.”
    Good God, if he thought he was going to make her feel like a helpless orphan who had been flung upon him against his will, he was mistaken. She was a grown woman and she was innocent in all this. She had not asked him to write that letter to her father and she would find her own way out of this. With or without his help.
    â€œYour father trusted me with your safety,” he added, “and I know for a fact that this schooner isn’t returning to England. It’s going to Boston, and God knows when the next ship will arrive.” She heard him whisper, “What a bloody mess.”
    Madeline took a deep breath and counted to ten, fighting the urge to poke Adam not just with a knitting needle, but with anything she could get her hands on.
    â€œYou needn’t worry about me, Mr. Coates. I’m sure the Ripleys would be pleased to have me staywith them. I’ve been teaching their children to read the past few weeks.”
    He considered that a moment. “Do they have land yet?”
    â€œNo, but Mr. Ripley plans to purchase something as soon as he finds a—”
    â€œIt’ll take the man some time to familiarize himself with the area. A few weeks at least before he finds what he’s looking for.”
    A tattered-looking tradesman walked by, the barrel of his musket resting on his shoulder. He tipped his hat and smiled admiringly at Madeline. Adam watched the man’s back as he crossed the courtyard.
    â€œWell, you can’t stay here,” he said flatly, turning to face her again.
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause you’re practically a child and you’re alone and it would be unthinkable for me to leave you here.”
    â€œI’m not a child,” she reminded him again.
    He sighed and shook his head at her argument, and once more, she felt like a burden. An insolent one, too, this time around. She had thought, when she’d said goodbye to her father, that she was finally escaping those wretched feelings.
    â€œYou’ll stay in my home until we decide what to do. You’ll be good company for my daughter-in-law. She’s nearing the end of her confinement.”
    All this was