Read Online Andrea Kane by Echoes in the Mist - Free Book Online Page A

her life Ariana had refused both Theresa’s comfort and company, dismissing her the instant they reached the bedroom door. Overcome with emotion, she’d then flung herself across the bed, sobbing violently into her pillow. Shock, outrage, hurt, humiliation: all the emotions she had anticipated and held at bay poured out in a rush. She wept for the act of vengeance that had decided her fate, for her helplessness to alter the outcome, for Baxter’s indifference to her plight. She wept for every reason she had expected to weep.
    Harder still for the one she hadn’t expected.
    She could deny it no longer: She was drawn to Trenton Kingsley.
    Pondering the silent admission, Ariana’s hands balled into fists of self-loathing, pressing heavily into the soft feather pillow. How could she? cried her conscience, immediately providing her with every heinous act the man had committed.
    But she was.
    She could label it curiosity, fascination, bewilderment; but whatever name she gave it, the pull was there. She felt it. Worse still, so did he.
    Her traitorous heart thudded as she recalled the explicit, knowing look in the duke’s probing eyes. She might be a total innocent when it came to men, but her body understood his message nonetheless—and responded with a will of its own, caring nothing for the dictates of her conscience.
    Coupled with her disturbing physical reaction was the small but insistent voice of some deeply submerged instinct, which refused to be silenced, negating all the evidence her reason presented, reminding her instead of the glimpses of compassion she’d seen beyond the duke’s iron mask, both today and when he’d rescued her from the Covington maze.
    And yet the final emotion she’d seen gleaming in his eyes just before she’d fled was vengeance and triumph, telling her that she was no more than a pawn in some sick attempt at retribution.
    Or was it resurrection?
    Was it Vanessa the duke saw when he scrutinized Ariana so thoroughly? Did he wish it were Vanessa he was punishing, breaking …
    Possessing as his wife?
    If all the stories Baxter had told Ariana were true, it was irrational jealousy over Vanessa that had driven Trenton Kingsley to madness, to torment … to murder.
    Ariana shuddered at the thought.
    For two hours her conflicting impulses warred, tearing her apart. Numbness was her body’s method of self-protection, her message that she could no longer sustain this heightened level of emotional turmoil. Besides, the issue was a moot one. No matter which emerged victorious—be it her reason, her conscience, her instincts, or her attraction—the end result was the same. The Queen had issued a decree. So, like it or not, on the 5th of August, Ariana would become Mrs. Trenton Kingsley.
    The bedroom door eased open, and then closed just as quietly. “You’re ready for me now, my lady.” It was a statement, rather than a question, and Theresa crossed the room to sit beside Ariana on the bed.
    Ariana turned slowly to face her. “You knew.”
    “Yes.” Theresa smoothed tousled wisps of coppery hair from Ariana’s flushed cheeks. “You’ve been alone long enough. I knew you were ready to share your thoughts with me.”
    “That’s not what I meant.” This time Ariana was giving her friend no quarter. “You knew about the Queen’s edict.”
    Theresa paused. “No.”
    “But you knew Trenton Kingsley was her messenger?”
    “I knew he was your future.”
    Ariana gripped Theresa’s hands. “But you told me yourself he was a murderer!”
    “No,” Theresa countered again. “I only said that it appeared that way. And that appearances—”
    “Are often wrong,” Ariana finished for her. “He didn’t kill Vanessa?”
    “I wasn’t there that night, my lady.” Theresa’s fingers tightened around Ariana’s. “What do you think?”
    Their eyes met.
    “I think and feel too many things to recount,” Ariana whispered. “Anger, betrayal, hurt, humiliation …” A small