Read Online Embrace of the Enemy (Winds of Betrayal) by Jerri Hines - Free Book Online
Authors: Jerri Hines
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her they would arrest Gannon and he would receive the fate he deserved? Now he stood calmly within her world.
She bit her bottom lip. His revelations would do no damage in her eyes as she had time to think. Her actions could be well explained. Why would she want the knowledge of her father and brother’s death to become common? She had fended the need of a new beginning from the start. She hadn’t proclaimed her fervor for the cause, although she hadn’t denounced it either. But women’s opinions held little weight.
No, she could recover from his outburst. She wasn’t certain about his revelation about Gabriel. Although she wanted to cry he lied, within her she knew he spoke the truth. Something about the last time Gabriel held her. No, Gabriel had said good-bye, leaving her to fend for herself without a thought to his promise or their proclamation of love.
Engrossed within her thoughts, she didn’t hear the footsteps that came behind her. Arms wrapped around her. Startled, she jumped and whirled around, only to come face to face with Marcus. He had returned.
“Are you not happy to see me?” he asked.
She backed away. Of all people this night, she didn’t need his appearance. Panic surged within her. She said nothing. Ignoring Marcus, she turned and rushed back into the house. Frantically, she glanced around for her escort. She had no knowledge of where Lieutenant Fletcher had gone to, but she knew she needed to leave. She well sensed the danger now upon her.
Luck shone down on Hannah when she entered the foyer. Immediately, she caught sight of Aunt Leona staggering down the corridor.
“I tell you, Richard, I do not feel the urge to leave. I am fine!” Aunt Leona declared, stumbling into a table, sending a vase crashing onto the floor. Her aunt fell to her knees and began to pick up the pieces. “Ssh. I will fix this. I will.”
Hannah watched her uncle direct a footman to clean up his wife’s mess. Then he took hold of his wife’s shoulders and pulled her back to her feet. Aunt Leona’s overindulgence seemed to have her uncle out of sorts. To Hannah it seemed quite evident the whole of the scene wore on his nerves.
Recognizing her uncle had no desire to be distracted by his wife further, Hannah used it to her advantage. She felt certain her uncle held only contempt for his wife, but hid it well because of his father-in-law. Although at the moment he seemed at wit’s end. Hannah could have cared less. It allowed her the opportunity to leave. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she stepped forward.
“Uncle,” Hannah expeditiously offered. “Would you like for me to withdraw with Aunt Leona. I will look after her. I myself feel under the weather.”
“It would be greatly appreciated.” Relief flooded his face. Richard wasted no time in relinquishing his wife’s care to his niece. “I will call for a carriage.”
Walking out of the entrance, a burst of cold wind hit Hannah hard. She twisted back, clinging to her cloak. Without warning, the weather had taken a turn for the worse. A wintry storm ensued. Snow began to descend rapidly making the steps slippery. Hannah found it difficult to direct her aunt. Her uncle gave no thought to the change in the weather. His intent lay solely upon his wife’s departure. He stood at the foot of the stairs, holding the carriage door open.
Her aunt stumbled and grabbed at Hannah, almost sending both of them spiraling down the stairs. Strong hands caught her. Hannah looked up none too surprised to find Marcus held them both. Regaining her footing, she surrendered her aunt to Marcus and followed him down the stairs. After seeing her aunt into the carriage, Marcus extended his hand to her. Sitting beside her aunt, Hannah turned to give her thanks, but to her consternation Marcus held back the door from closing.
“I will help them both home, Mr. Wick, if you would like,” Marcus offered. “I find myself ready to depart myself. I will see the women safely
She bit her bottom lip. His revelations would do no damage in her eyes as she had time to think. Her actions could be well explained. Why would she want the knowledge of her father and brother’s death to become common? She had fended the need of a new beginning from the start. She hadn’t proclaimed her fervor for the cause, although she hadn’t denounced it either. But women’s opinions held little weight.
No, she could recover from his outburst. She wasn’t certain about his revelation about Gabriel. Although she wanted to cry he lied, within her she knew he spoke the truth. Something about the last time Gabriel held her. No, Gabriel had said good-bye, leaving her to fend for herself without a thought to his promise or their proclamation of love.
Engrossed within her thoughts, she didn’t hear the footsteps that came behind her. Arms wrapped around her. Startled, she jumped and whirled around, only to come face to face with Marcus. He had returned.
“Are you not happy to see me?” he asked.
She backed away. Of all people this night, she didn’t need his appearance. Panic surged within her. She said nothing. Ignoring Marcus, she turned and rushed back into the house. Frantically, she glanced around for her escort. She had no knowledge of where Lieutenant Fletcher had gone to, but she knew she needed to leave. She well sensed the danger now upon her.
Luck shone down on Hannah when she entered the foyer. Immediately, she caught sight of Aunt Leona staggering down the corridor.
“I tell you, Richard, I do not feel the urge to leave. I am fine!” Aunt Leona declared, stumbling into a table, sending a vase crashing onto the floor. Her aunt fell to her knees and began to pick up the pieces. “Ssh. I will fix this. I will.”
Hannah watched her uncle direct a footman to clean up his wife’s mess. Then he took hold of his wife’s shoulders and pulled her back to her feet. Aunt Leona’s overindulgence seemed to have her uncle out of sorts. To Hannah it seemed quite evident the whole of the scene wore on his nerves.
Recognizing her uncle had no desire to be distracted by his wife further, Hannah used it to her advantage. She felt certain her uncle held only contempt for his wife, but hid it well because of his father-in-law. Although at the moment he seemed at wit’s end. Hannah could have cared less. It allowed her the opportunity to leave. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she stepped forward.
“Uncle,” Hannah expeditiously offered. “Would you like for me to withdraw with Aunt Leona. I will look after her. I myself feel under the weather.”
“It would be greatly appreciated.” Relief flooded his face. Richard wasted no time in relinquishing his wife’s care to his niece. “I will call for a carriage.”
Walking out of the entrance, a burst of cold wind hit Hannah hard. She twisted back, clinging to her cloak. Without warning, the weather had taken a turn for the worse. A wintry storm ensued. Snow began to descend rapidly making the steps slippery. Hannah found it difficult to direct her aunt. Her uncle gave no thought to the change in the weather. His intent lay solely upon his wife’s departure. He stood at the foot of the stairs, holding the carriage door open.
Her aunt stumbled and grabbed at Hannah, almost sending both of them spiraling down the stairs. Strong hands caught her. Hannah looked up none too surprised to find Marcus held them both. Regaining her footing, she surrendered her aunt to Marcus and followed him down the stairs. After seeing her aunt into the carriage, Marcus extended his hand to her. Sitting beside her aunt, Hannah turned to give her thanks, but to her consternation Marcus held back the door from closing.
“I will help them both home, Mr. Wick, if you would like,” Marcus offered. “I find myself ready to depart myself. I will see the women safely
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