THE CRY FOR FREEDOM (Winds of Betrayal) Read Free

only took a small payment for saving you from a most embarrassing situation.”
    “Let go of me this instant! I’ll tell.…”
    “Tell your brothers, your father? You want one of them to deal with me? I don’t believe that would be a wise move, Hannah Corbett .”
    She recoiled slightly. “How do you know my name?”
    “Pray, let me introduce myself,” he said with a tinge of arrogance and a slight bow. “Marcus Durham. I’m here with your uncle, Richard Wick. Your grandparents have asked me to see what I can do to retrieve you and bring you back to New York with us.”
    Hannah’s pride scorched; her eyes flared. She  could feel his gaze, watching, waiting for her reaction. The impudence! She uttered under her breath, “I wish only that I could call you out!”
    He laughed with a playful lightness that only served to  irritate her further. He said, “I don’t mean to annoy, you, Miss Corbett. I would have thought you’d be happy not to have been discovered in that tree!”
    “Please let go of me!” she insisted, jerking her hand.
    He didn't. “In truth, Miss Corbett,” he said. “I’d been looking for a dance with you when I saw you walk out onto the veranda. But if you’ll give me but a few moments to explain, your grandmother has asked me to perform a small favor.”
    “My grandmother?” her voice softened at the mention. “Do you know her? And what—”
    “Come,” he said, relaxing his grip. “Let’s find a more conventional place to hold our conversation.” He glanced around and added, “I’d hate for us to be found in a compromising situation.”
    His hand reached for her elbow. Not willing to call attention to herself, she allowed his touch. He escorted her up the wide steps of the veranda. Thankful no one seemed to take much notice of her sudden appearance, her confidence returned.
    She turned, facing the stranger. She pushed him back harshly and uttered under her breath. “Don’t hover over me!”
    “Temper, temper,”“ he said lightly. “It would be well to learn to hold it—”
    “Don’t lecture me, Mr. Durham. You have no right. I don’t know you, nor do I care to know you. I find you exceedingly pompous and presumptuous.”
    “Is being impetuous and impulsive any improvement?” he countered. “Doesn’t it  occur to you that your rash actions may lead to certain…consequences?”
    “My actions and their consequences are no concern of yours,” she seethed. “I don’t like you or the way you’re doubtless thinking you’re intimidating me! I don’t care if you are here with my uncle. Which, I might add, doesn’t in the least endear you to me.”
    “I might grant that, Miss Corbett,” he shrugged, “but I mentioned earlier, I have a request of you, from your grandmother in New York.”
    “So you mentioned before. What does it concern?”
    “I also know your cousins, Camilla and Susanna,” he went on. “They all send their regards—but your grandmother has sent an invitation to you to visit her in New York, if you choose. You could even return with your uncle and myself.”
    Her eyebrows rose slightly, and she forced a laugh. “I don’t think so. I have other plans. I’ll visit my family in New York in my own time.”
    He took her chin firmly in his hand and tilted her face up to his. For an instant, he stared deep into her eyes. Then he uttered under his breath, “You have the most beautiful, unusual blue eyes.”
    Shock vibrated through her, and she drew back. When she had collected herself she said, “Mr. Durham, for someone I don’t know, you’re taking far too many liberties….”
    “Please, my name is Marcus,” he broke in with a grin.
    “Marcus, then,” she conceded, but added bluntly, “I have no intention of going to my grandparents’ at this time.”
    “Does it not interest you that they could give you many advantages you don’t have here? They have considerable wealth…” His tone changed to a more serious in nature. He