Zinnia Read Free Page B

family connections at all.”
    â€œGood grief.”
    There was no need to say anything more on the subject, Nick thought. They both knew that the stigma of being a bastard was a serious handicap for anyone searching for a spouse from a decent family at any level of society. It was a nearly insurmountable obstacle for a man who hoped to marry into the highest circles.
    But being a bastard was also highly motivating, Nick thought grimly. No one could appreciate the value of respectability as much as someone who did not have it. He was determined that his future children would never face the subtle as well as not so subtle barriers that society placed in the way of those who could not claim a respectable family lineage. His offspring would have all the advantages he could give them and those advantages started with a suitable marriage.
    Nick smiled faintly. “You see why I require your professional expertise, Mr. Batt.”
    â€œWhat you ask of me is impossible, Mr. Chastain. How can I possibly find you a nice young woman from one of the better families?”
    â€œI’m sure you’ll manage. I have complete confidence in you and my money.”
    â€œYou think you can buy your way into high society?” Hobart sputtered.
    â€œYes, that is exactly what I think. It will no doubt cheer you to know that I don’t plan to occupy mypresent low-class niche for long. I have a plan, you see. I won’t go into all of the details, but, trust me, within five years I will be so damned respectable that it will take your breath away.”
    â€œA plan,” Hobart repeated cautiously.
    â€œYes. And you, Hobart, have a very important role to play in my plan.”

Chapter
2
    * * * * * * * * * *
    Zinnia Spring leaned heavily against the door marked LADIES and staggered into the women’s room. One glance told her that the facility was as tasteless and garish as the rest of the casino. This particular room had apparently been designed to resemble some man’s fantasy notion of the boudoir of an expensive but extremely tacky mistress.
    A row of gilded stall doors saluted her. Inside the cubicles she could see pink and white marble commodes. On one side of a mirrored wall, fluted gold sinks and faucets in the shape of exotic birds were set in pink and white marble counters. A thick fuchsia carpet covered the floor of the sitting area which was dominated by a gilded pink velvet sofa.
    It was enough to make any self-respecting interior designer wince in horror, Zinnia thought. But she was feeling too traumatized at that moment to waste too much energy condemning the decor.
    She was relieved to see that she had the restroom to herself.
    Her head was still throbbing from the paranormalassault she had just undergone. Her pulse raced. She could feel the back of her blouse sticking to her perspiration-dampened skin. But at least she was no longer focus-linked to the bastard, whoever he was.
    She was still not certain whether he had deliberately released her or if she had managed to break free on her own when she had tried to skew the focus. Everything had been so chaotic during those few seconds of contact that she could not recall them in a coherent fashion.
    She gripped the edge of one of the fluted gold sinks and studied herself in the mirror. Aside from the residue of panic in her eyes, she looked amazingly normal. She felt as if she had been caught in a hurricane, but her hair wasn’t even mussed. Her trademark flame-red suit still looked crisp and professional. The scarf around her throat was as stylishly knotted as it had been before she arrived at the casino.
    She closed her eyes and took a series of deep breaths. Whoever he was, he was powerful. Definitely a matrix. She could recognize one anywhere.
    But matrix-talents were not supposed to be that strong. She ought to know. She was something of an expert on the subject. The ones she had encountered in the course of her part-time job at Psynergy,