Love's Revenge (Entangled Scandalous) Read Free Page A

terrible burden.”
    “On the contrary, Miss Barker, it is one of the great pleasures of life, and tonight it is exceptionally pleasant.”
    His palm on the small of her back was solid, warm and reassuring. She placed her hand in his and she was swept away, not just by the music but by something magical in the air. She barely noticed the admiring glances of the crowd. She was aware only of this man who dominated her thoughts without effort.
    He was the kind of man she and Lizzie had whispered about in their adolescent dreams. The kind of man she, forever practical, had warned Lizzie did not exist.
    At least he had never existed for her. Lizzie claimed to have found him in her husband, Stephen Worth, but Lizzie had been mistaken. And it had cost Lizzie her life.
    What if Katherine was mistaken as well? What price would she pay?
    The music stopped and her hand went to the gold, heart-shaped locket around her throat. It was all she still had of Lizzie’s. Perhaps, just for tonight, she would approach life as Lizzie always had, with exuberance and trust.
    “Would you care for a glass of punch, Miss Barker? You look flushed.”
    “Yes, that would be lovely.”
    He kept his touch light, but his long fingers pressed an intimacy to her upper arm that was as unfamiliar as it was exciting. She saw the glances of the other guests and could understand their speculation. What was happening surprised her as much as it did them.
    He offered her a drink and fell silent, studying her. She felt her color rising.
    “You make a breathtaking angel.”
    “You’re too kind, my lord.”
    “Kindness, I assure you, has nothing to do with reality, Miss Barker.”
    It was a strange comment.
    “I am supposed to be a fairy. At least my son was convinced, but then two-year-olds have much more faith than adults.”
    “You have a child?”
    “Yes, his name is Andy.”
    “I’m sorry, I was mistaken. I thought you were unmarried.”
    Her heart dropped. She did not want him to think her married. She hurried to explain. “Really, he’s my sister’s child. My sister died shortly after he was born.” Then she caught herself guiltily. “But he is my son and I am his mother as surely as a natural mother and child would be.”
    “He is lucky to have such devotion.” He reached up and smoothed a strand of her hair away from her flushed face. The intimacy startled her.
    “Is the child’s father also dead?”
    “I don’t know, nor do I care. We heard nothing from him after my sister’s death. He was a Remittance Man, a fortune hunter. He only married my sister for her money.”
    “You are quite sure about him. You’ve never met him?”
    “No.”
    “You made no effort to find him after your sister’s death?”
    “No. I did what I thought was best for Andy, my lord. And I have no doubts about my actions.”
    “I admire your conviction, Miss Barker. I find that I myself am not always as pure in my motivations.”
    When he spoke again, his smile was gone. “I have always wanted a son.” A darkness shadowed his face. It was a fleeting thing and yet it was as clear to her as if the pain had been written in bold letters. It touched her deeply.
    “Perhaps someday you will have one.”
    He only smiled. “I have heard much of your new bridge over the Mississippi. Designed by Mr. Eads, I believe. Will you show it to me?”
    She would show him her soul if he asked.
    “It would be my pleasure.”
    He took her arm once more, this time by the elbow, and together they passed through the front doors of the Exchange Hall. He stopped on the top step that led from the entrance down to Pine Street. It was a limbo of sorts between the ball and the parade celebrations.
    He turned her slowly toward him and lifted her shawl that had slipped down. His warm hands glided over her bare arms as he slowly returned it to her shoulders. It was more than a kindness. It was a caress.
    They stood scant inches away from each other. The festivities tumbled loudly around