Read Online Heart of the Storm by Mary Burton - Free Book Online

anywhere to be found.”
    How dare she.
    The maid added quickly, “The butler has had runners at the docks and inns searching discreetly for her. She’s vanished without a trace.”
    “Everyone leaves clues,” he said, jerking off his gloves.
    And he’d find the ones Rachel had left.
    He remembered the way she’d spoken to that man at the party last week. The bitch had likely run off with a lover.
    He would do whatever it took to find his wife. And when he did, Rachel was going to pay.

Chapter Six
    L ater that afternoon Rachel put on Timothy’s baggy clothes. She rolled the pant cuffs up four times, shoved back the black cotton shirtsleeves and cinched the waistband with a length of rope.
    Timothy was a head shorter than Ben, and still the clothes swallowed her. Her black eye had all but faded but she still looked as rough as the sailors she’d seen on the docks. No matter how many times she fussed with the shirt and pants, there seemed no way to make herself look presentable.
    She ran her fingers through her waist-length hair, trying her best to work out the knots. Without a comb, the task was impossible. In the end, she settled for a loose braid tied with a strand of twine.
    She felt self-conscious. Since she’d been in the nursery, she’d always been expected to presentherself as a well-dressed lady. Peter had been particularly adamant that she dress well at all times. Logically she understood that she was enduring extenuating circumstances. Runaway, shipwrecked with no clothes to her name, it was a miracle she’d survived. She should be grateful for what she had. But years of conditioning had her worrying about breaches of etiquette. Peter would be furious if he saw her.
    Fear gathered tight in her throat. Breaking the rules had always meant consequences. Peter had seen to that. Rachel unrolled her right sleeve.
    Rachel stopped. “No, I won’t play that game anymore. I am free of him.”
    “Rachel,” Ben called from the hallway. “Lunch is getting cold. Come now or I’ll feed your food to the dogs.”
    Annoyed, she glanced at the closed door. “I’m coming.”
    “That’s what you said five minutes ago.”
    She gave her anger and frustration full rein. “I’m hurrying!”
    “Lord help us if you take your time.”
    Exasperated, she quickly folded her sleeve back up. “Just another minute.”
    “I’m coming in.”
    He was bluffing.
    The door opened. Ben stood on the threshold, his broad shoulders blocking her view of the hallway. “No more minutes. You need to eat.”
    Despite her best intention, she hesitated. “But I’m not presentable.”
    His gaze trailed up her body, lingering on her full breasts that not even her baggy clothes could hide. “You look good to me.”
    His deep male tone had her blushing. “I look like a boy.”
    “Not even close.” He took a step back, as if he needed distance. “You are a woman in need of clothes, which is why we’re headed to town after we eat. The sooner you get your fanny out of this room and eat, the sooner you’ll have a dress.”
    He was right, of course. She was being unreasonable. “I just ate broth an hour ago.”
    “Doesn’t count.” He turned and, taking her arm, started toward the kitchen.
    “I’m not hungry.”
    “Humor me.”
    She followed him down the hallway. The kitchen was simple, furnished only with a large table and six chairs around it. On the west wall stood a cast-iron stove. Above it hung shelves filled with neatly arranged canned goods and tins. A fine coating of dust covered everything, andthere wasn’t a curtain or a carpet to warm the wide-paneled pine floor.
    A man’s domain, she thought. Simple and practical.
    The smell of eggs and bacon filled the room and to her surprise her stomach rumbled.
    “Sit,” he said.
    Having a man wait on her felt awkward. There’d been servants in her home but when one wasn’t available it was understood that she fetched the coffee, muffins or whatever needed getting. Her father