Read Online Escapade (9781301744510) by Susan Carroll - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Susan Carroll
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banshee was, but he
tried to soothe her, "Shh. Forget about it. You're awake now."
"Yes, but it was so strange. When I peeked
beneath the hood, it wasn't the banshee at all." Here she tipped
back her head to peer up at him with troubled eyes. "It was your
friend, Mrs. Van Hallsburg."
That startled Zeke a little. He had never
thought Mrs. Van H. to be the stuff of nightmares, but he conceded,
"I guess she must have come off seeming like a shrew to you,
but—"
"No! She's an evil woman."
"Sure. Sure she is." Zeke patted Aurora on
the shoulder. "But you don't have to worry about her. She's gone
now and so are the police."
This assurance calmed her a little. She
relaxed, resting her head against him once more. She was every bit
as soft and warm as he had imagined. Her womanly curves molded
against him as though she were made to be in his arms. Once again
he felt his blood quicken. It had been a long time since he had
embraced a girl like this one, smelling of springtime and fresh
Sunday mornings.
He was beginning to enjoy holding her,
consoling her, a shade too much. Perhaps she sensed that because
she tensed and pulled free. She bolted off the bed, clutching the
robe tightly about her.
She eyed Zeke in a wary manner, which annoyed
him. After all, he wasn't making any effort to come after her. He
was no masher, and she was the one who'd been caught snuggled up on
his bed.
"How long have I been asleep?" she asked.
"What time is it?"
"Nearly seven."
She winced and stole a look toward the
windows, the pool of darkness beyond. "And Tony hasn't come
yet?"
"Your assistant? I'm afraid there has been no
sign of him. But I am sure I can make other arrangements for you "
Zeke started to rise from the bed, but she seemed so skittish, he
remained where he was, leaning back, propping his weight against
his elbows.
She nervously fingered the edge of the robe.
"Your maids haven't brought my clothes back yet."
"No, I guess they haven't. How's your
ankle?"
"It's fine. You don't need to look at it,"
she said in a rush as she retreated another step. "I'm just still a
little groggy. I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"I'm glad you found my bed so
comfortable."
"Your bed! This is your room?"
"Yep."
She appeared ready to bolt for sure, either
that or grab up the poker from the fireplace to defend herself.
Zeke didn't know whether to be amused or
irritated. "I have only been trying to show you a little
hospitality after your accident." He levered himself to his feet.
"So I would appreciate it if you would stop looking as though you
thought I was about to rape you."
"I'm sorry. But this is all a little
embarrassing. I usually don't hug strange men."
"Or steal into their beds?"
His teasing comment only added to her
discomfort.
"I never meant to cause you such trouble,"
she continued. "You have been really nice, letting me use your
bathtub and not turning me over to the police and all." She fretted
her lower lip. "And I'm sorry that I shouted at you earlier."
"If it comes to that, I guess I wasn't
exactly speaking in dulcet tones either. It's refreshing for a
change to meet a woman who bellows back at me instead of bursting
into tears."
This coaxed a smile from her. Zeke thought
that he might be able to risk moving a step closer. "We got off to
a bad start with this acquaintance, didn't we, Miss Aurora Rose
Kavanaugh? Maybe we could just start over again."
"Sure," she said, but she ignored his
outstretched hand and took care to keep the dressing table chair in
between them. Zeke didn't know what to make of her. She seemed as
shy and innocent as his stepsisters had been, all those good girls
who trooped off to mass, carrying their missals and rosary beads.
And yet as a circus performer, Miss Kavanaugh could hardly be that
naive, lacking in experience of the world.
Before Zeke could say anything more, a knock
sounded at the bedchamber door. He opened it to find Wellington on
the other side, bearing Miss Kavanaugh's gown. The butler's
tried to soothe her, "Shh. Forget about it. You're awake now."
"Yes, but it was so strange. When I peeked
beneath the hood, it wasn't the banshee at all." Here she tipped
back her head to peer up at him with troubled eyes. "It was your
friend, Mrs. Van Hallsburg."
That startled Zeke a little. He had never
thought Mrs. Van H. to be the stuff of nightmares, but he conceded,
"I guess she must have come off seeming like a shrew to you,
but—"
"No! She's an evil woman."
"Sure. Sure she is." Zeke patted Aurora on
the shoulder. "But you don't have to worry about her. She's gone
now and so are the police."
This assurance calmed her a little. She
relaxed, resting her head against him once more. She was every bit
as soft and warm as he had imagined. Her womanly curves molded
against him as though she were made to be in his arms. Once again
he felt his blood quicken. It had been a long time since he had
embraced a girl like this one, smelling of springtime and fresh
Sunday mornings.
He was beginning to enjoy holding her,
consoling her, a shade too much. Perhaps she sensed that because
she tensed and pulled free. She bolted off the bed, clutching the
robe tightly about her.
She eyed Zeke in a wary manner, which annoyed
him. After all, he wasn't making any effort to come after her. He
was no masher, and she was the one who'd been caught snuggled up on
his bed.
"How long have I been asleep?" she asked.
"What time is it?"
"Nearly seven."
She winced and stole a look toward the
windows, the pool of darkness beyond. "And Tony hasn't come
yet?"
"Your assistant? I'm afraid there has been no
sign of him. But I am sure I can make other arrangements for you "
Zeke started to rise from the bed, but she seemed so skittish, he
remained where he was, leaning back, propping his weight against
his elbows.
She nervously fingered the edge of the robe.
"Your maids haven't brought my clothes back yet."
"No, I guess they haven't. How's your
ankle?"
"It's fine. You don't need to look at it,"
she said in a rush as she retreated another step. "I'm just still a
little groggy. I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"I'm glad you found my bed so
comfortable."
"Your bed! This is your room?"
"Yep."
She appeared ready to bolt for sure, either
that or grab up the poker from the fireplace to defend herself.
Zeke didn't know whether to be amused or
irritated. "I have only been trying to show you a little
hospitality after your accident." He levered himself to his feet.
"So I would appreciate it if you would stop looking as though you
thought I was about to rape you."
"I'm sorry. But this is all a little
embarrassing. I usually don't hug strange men."
"Or steal into their beds?"
His teasing comment only added to her
discomfort.
"I never meant to cause you such trouble,"
she continued. "You have been really nice, letting me use your
bathtub and not turning me over to the police and all." She fretted
her lower lip. "And I'm sorry that I shouted at you earlier."
"If it comes to that, I guess I wasn't
exactly speaking in dulcet tones either. It's refreshing for a
change to meet a woman who bellows back at me instead of bursting
into tears."
This coaxed a smile from her. Zeke thought
that he might be able to risk moving a step closer. "We got off to
a bad start with this acquaintance, didn't we, Miss Aurora Rose
Kavanaugh? Maybe we could just start over again."
"Sure," she said, but she ignored his
outstretched hand and took care to keep the dressing table chair in
between them. Zeke didn't know what to make of her. She seemed as
shy and innocent as his stepsisters had been, all those good girls
who trooped off to mass, carrying their missals and rosary beads.
And yet as a circus performer, Miss Kavanaugh could hardly be that
naive, lacking in experience of the world.
Before Zeke could say anything more, a knock
sounded at the bedchamber door. He opened it to find Wellington on
the other side, bearing Miss Kavanaugh's gown. The butler's
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