Diane T. Ashley Read Free

out there would jump at the chance I’m offering you. I thought you were a man of ambition. Do you really want to become a manager here, or are you satisfied working small cases in remote areas?”
    When his supervisor laid out the options, David realized he didn’t have much choice. “I’ll do it.”
    “Good.” Mr. Bastrup handed him the folder. “Here’s all the information we gathered in Chicago. Maybe you’ll see something we missed. And you should probably check out that bank that was robbed in Vidalia. They might have some new lead. If nothing else, it’ll give you an opportunity to visit your family in Natchez before you continue on to New Orleans.”
    David started to correct him about his family situation, but he simply said, “Thank you for trusting me.” He stood and tucked the folder under his arm. “I’ll do my best.”
    Bastrup grunted. “I expect good things from you. If you want more responsibility, you’ll have to earn it. Mr. Pinkerton demands it from himself and from his agents.”
    As he walked from the room, David wondered at the irony. He had thought he could break free of his past. Unresolved questions returned to his mind. Would the people in Natchez treat him differently now that he was a full-fledged detective? His life had taken so many turns that it made him dizzy to consider all the twists and turns. Where would this venture take him?

Chapter Two
Natchez, Mississippi
    M y dance card is full.” Jasmine Anderson snapped together the spines of her fan so David wouldn’t see that several of them had no partner written on them. Why had Camellia decided to order fans instead of using the traditional dance cards that could be more easily hidden? Dangling from her wrist, its weight seemed to chide her for being untruthful. She wished she could use the silly thing to cool her cheeks. Why was the room so warm when the month of May had barely begun?
    Jasmine set her jaw and glared up at him. She would not yield to temptation. David had no right to expect her to swoon with excitement because he had shown up at the last minute. At one time she might have considered a proposal from him—a temporary bout of madness, no doubt. She had been foolish enough to listen to his plans and dream of a future together. But no more. She was done pining for him.
    A slight smile emerged from the corner of his lips but did not continue up to his eyes, eyes as green as maidenhair ferns. Eyes that held a hint of sadness. Why should he be sad? He was the one who had gone adventuring and left her to molder here in the backwaters.
    Something had changed in him since he decided to move to Chicago and become a detective. And she didn’t like it at all. In spite of her determination to remain at arm’s length from him, she wished David could remain the staunch friend and ally he’d been. She was the same, after all. What had happened to the boy who had known her better than anyone else? Was he still inside there somewhere? Or had he ceased to be her David the moment he left town?
    No matter the answers to all those questions, he should not have appeared so suddenly tonight. He should have had the decency to call on her yesterday or at least earlier this afternoon—before the ball started—like her other dance partners. Did he think he should get special consideration because of a handful of empty promises?
    If that’s what he thought, she would disabuse him of the notion right now. “I’m sorry, David. If I’d known you would be here …” She let the words trail off.
    “Of course. I understand.” His voice was steady and his smile widened, but his green eyes stayed sober. He bowed briefly. “I apologize for my presumption.”
    She was saved from further conversation with him by the appearance of William Smalley, her next dance partner. She welcomed his arrival with a determined smile. She refused to compare him to David. A proper gentleman, Mr. Smalley had called on her several days ago and secured her