Read Online Independent Brake (The Dominion Falls Series) by Sarah Cass - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sarah Cass
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isn’t remaining acquaintances.”
“I believe we gave that up when you, Delphine, and I went to the Madam Levine’s Burlesque three weeks ago.”
Right though he may be, she didn’t dare enter that discussion. Not yet.
“Go on and eat. We’ll enjoy lunch together and discuss things then.”
Rather than answer, she sipped her tea. “I should be off. I don’t have time to eat.”
“You do. Eat.” He left the washroom with little more than another squeeze to her shoulder.
Kat did as instructed and scarfed down the eggs on her plate. On her way out of the room and downstairs she was still eating bacon. Luckily, she saw no sign of Patrick, but his carriage waited for her outside.
She made it to work with minutes to spare, and dove into work gratefully. For some reason the memories were painfully prevalent, almost as much as they had been when she’d first left home.
There were few things in her current life she was discontented about, but the occasional bouts of melancholy and homesickness were at the top of the list. Maybe she just needed more to do, to occupy her time, and to keep her free from these bouts.
Just when she’d determined to ask Delphie if there was something more to do with the suffrage league, her friend strode into the bank. For a woman never late, Delphie seemed appropriately uncomfortable with her current state.
Kat had never seen her friend so downtrodden. Delphie’s head hung, and she slipped into her seat at her desk without even a wave in Kat’s direction.
When Delphie finally lifted her head, Kat saw why. Powders didn’t completely cover the bruise around Delphine’s eye. Kat’s stomach churned in disgust for her friend. Without a doubt, she knew just how the bruise had happened.
Katherine stood with papers in her hand and carried them to Delphine’s desk. She set down the blank papers and whispered, “Charles?”
Delphine’s lips tightened and she sucked them between her teeth. When Kat didn’t move, Delphie finally nodded.
“Join Patrick and I for lunch.” Kat didn’t give her time to protest, only squeezed her friends hand before rushing back to her own desk.
At least now she had something else to focus on.
* * * *
“D on’t think I’ve forgotten what the original plan was,” Patrick muttered in her ear when he held out her chair for her.
Kat had the decency to duck her head in embarrassment she didn’t wholly feel. After a moment she nodded. “I know. However, Delphie’s matter is more pressing.”
Patrick took the seat beside her, his attention effectively turned to the other woman at the table. “Delphine. I’m glad you could join us.”
“No you aren’t.” Though her wit was not as biting as usual, Delphine sat with her back straight, her pride evident. “Though I appreciate the attempt.”
Patrick set his hand on hers. “Would it offend you if I asked why you remain?”
“Where would I go?” Delphine sipped her water delicately. “Besides, Charles has never done this before. It’s an unprecedented event. I have no reason to believe it’s going to occur again. He much prefers gambling and whores to violence.”
Kat frowned. “Delphie. I don’t like this. What if he does beat you again?”
“He won’t.” She sighed and leaned closer. “If you must know, he was upset that I’d been hiding money from him so he wouldn’t drink it away. He’s gone and cleaned out one of my secret accounts, using his status as my husband to do so. I’ve not got enough of my newest account to leave.”
“I could help you.” Katherine set her hand on Delphie’s. “I would miss you terribly if you left, but sometimes you must. You just must.”
“It won’t happen again. I’ll be more careful.” Delphie shook her head, stubborn as ever. “If I leave it will not be under debt to others.”
“That is a foolish choice. Men like Charles Finney don’t change.” Patrick leaned back in his chair. “And when you have offers of assistance from
“I believe we gave that up when you, Delphine, and I went to the Madam Levine’s Burlesque three weeks ago.”
Right though he may be, she didn’t dare enter that discussion. Not yet.
“Go on and eat. We’ll enjoy lunch together and discuss things then.”
Rather than answer, she sipped her tea. “I should be off. I don’t have time to eat.”
“You do. Eat.” He left the washroom with little more than another squeeze to her shoulder.
Kat did as instructed and scarfed down the eggs on her plate. On her way out of the room and downstairs she was still eating bacon. Luckily, she saw no sign of Patrick, but his carriage waited for her outside.
She made it to work with minutes to spare, and dove into work gratefully. For some reason the memories were painfully prevalent, almost as much as they had been when she’d first left home.
There were few things in her current life she was discontented about, but the occasional bouts of melancholy and homesickness were at the top of the list. Maybe she just needed more to do, to occupy her time, and to keep her free from these bouts.
Just when she’d determined to ask Delphie if there was something more to do with the suffrage league, her friend strode into the bank. For a woman never late, Delphie seemed appropriately uncomfortable with her current state.
Kat had never seen her friend so downtrodden. Delphie’s head hung, and she slipped into her seat at her desk without even a wave in Kat’s direction.
When Delphie finally lifted her head, Kat saw why. Powders didn’t completely cover the bruise around Delphine’s eye. Kat’s stomach churned in disgust for her friend. Without a doubt, she knew just how the bruise had happened.
Katherine stood with papers in her hand and carried them to Delphine’s desk. She set down the blank papers and whispered, “Charles?”
Delphine’s lips tightened and she sucked them between her teeth. When Kat didn’t move, Delphie finally nodded.
“Join Patrick and I for lunch.” Kat didn’t give her time to protest, only squeezed her friends hand before rushing back to her own desk.
At least now she had something else to focus on.
* * * *
“D on’t think I’ve forgotten what the original plan was,” Patrick muttered in her ear when he held out her chair for her.
Kat had the decency to duck her head in embarrassment she didn’t wholly feel. After a moment she nodded. “I know. However, Delphie’s matter is more pressing.”
Patrick took the seat beside her, his attention effectively turned to the other woman at the table. “Delphine. I’m glad you could join us.”
“No you aren’t.” Though her wit was not as biting as usual, Delphine sat with her back straight, her pride evident. “Though I appreciate the attempt.”
Patrick set his hand on hers. “Would it offend you if I asked why you remain?”
“Where would I go?” Delphine sipped her water delicately. “Besides, Charles has never done this before. It’s an unprecedented event. I have no reason to believe it’s going to occur again. He much prefers gambling and whores to violence.”
Kat frowned. “Delphie. I don’t like this. What if he does beat you again?”
“He won’t.” She sighed and leaned closer. “If you must know, he was upset that I’d been hiding money from him so he wouldn’t drink it away. He’s gone and cleaned out one of my secret accounts, using his status as my husband to do so. I’ve not got enough of my newest account to leave.”
“I could help you.” Katherine set her hand on Delphie’s. “I would miss you terribly if you left, but sometimes you must. You just must.”
“It won’t happen again. I’ll be more careful.” Delphie shook her head, stubborn as ever. “If I leave it will not be under debt to others.”
“That is a foolish choice. Men like Charles Finney don’t change.” Patrick leaned back in his chair. “And when you have offers of assistance from
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