Read Online Independent Brake (The Dominion Falls Series) by Sarah Cass - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sarah Cass
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friends such as Kat and I, than you should accept it.”
“You as well? You hardly know me, Mr. Warner.” Delphine adjusted the napkin on her lap. Pink hues darkened her cheeks and she shook her head. “It would be inappropriate. Besides, I am my own woman, and I make my own choices, and my own way.”
“I know enough.” Patrick sat back in his chair, his hands folded on the table. “You are a strong and independent woman, who encourages Kat to be the same. You are both women I’m proud to call friends. You are more the type of woman I’d ever entertain marrying than any of the obedient meek women I court.”
Kat and Delphine snorted at the same time, and Kat kicked Patrick’s shin under the table. “You’d best be careful. Someone might think you were thinking of marriage as a viable option if you continue talk like that.”
“You understand my meaning, and that’s all that matters. I respect women such as the two of you, and I’d hate for Delphine to lose my respect. I do rather enjoy her company on the occasion I’ve been in it.” Patrick winked at Delphine.
Delphine pursed her lips. “All flattery aside, I will make my own way. Charles will not strike me again; if he does I swear that I will accept your offer of assistance. I promise I will not remain.”
“That’s the best we can hope for, isn’t it?” Kat sighed when Delphine nodded. “You are a stubborn woman.”
“So are you,” Delphine chuckled. “It’s why we like each other.”
Patrick leaned forward again, this time his focus returned to Kat. “Your turn.”
“No. There’s no need,” Kat protested. “It was a moment.”
“It was twenty minutes.” Patrick quirked a brow. At Delphine’s obvious confusion, he whispered an aside, “Kat locked herself in my washroom this morning, and when she was gone for twenty minutes I found her melancholy and the pain of loss, missing someone, etched into her features like tears.”
“Your eloquent and overly dramatic poetic rendering of my state of mind is inaccurate and embarrassing.” Kat tried to focus on the soup in front of her, but Delphine ruined any hope of changing the subject.
“I’ve seen that once or twice myself. Plus, she seemed quite adamant about needing to get away sometimes.” Delphine leaned her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her hand. Clearly glad to have the focus off her, she wagged her brows. “I’ve known you for months and don’t know your story.”
“Thank you for not helping,” Kat muttered.
“Even Delphie has been kept in the dark. It must be scandalous, indeed.” Patrick grinned. “Gossip is good for the soul.”
“It is not. You’re just nosy.” Kat pushed her soup around her bowl with her spoon. “Can’t we just enjoy the rest of our meal in peace?”
“That wouldn’t be any fun.” Delphine tapped Kat’s arm. “Out with it.”
“There isn’t much to tell. My parents wanted me to marry up. I was fifteen and quite ferociously opposed.” Kat chewed her lip, unsure how much to divulge. “So I, with the help of a...”
“A what?” Patrick leaned in, apparently intrigued by the way Kat became incapable of finishing her sentence. “A friend, an enemy, a lover?”
“I was fifteen, and you know of my innocence!” Kat grew indignant at the triumphant grin on his features. “I just don’t know what to call the person that helped me. Not a friend, not an enemy, definitely not a lover. Just someone I knew. I left town, and was taken in by Mrs. Stapleton.”
“Did you change your name?” Her own troubles clearly forgotten, Delphine was actually eating her soup, rather than picking at it.
That gave Kat enough courage to continue her story. “Yes. My last one, at least. I didn’t wish to be dragged back to face the fate I’d run from. I changed my name, and began teaching, learning a new trade. When I turned eighteen I was turned out on my own, and here I am.”
“But you miss them,” Patrick said
“You as well? You hardly know me, Mr. Warner.” Delphine adjusted the napkin on her lap. Pink hues darkened her cheeks and she shook her head. “It would be inappropriate. Besides, I am my own woman, and I make my own choices, and my own way.”
“I know enough.” Patrick sat back in his chair, his hands folded on the table. “You are a strong and independent woman, who encourages Kat to be the same. You are both women I’m proud to call friends. You are more the type of woman I’d ever entertain marrying than any of the obedient meek women I court.”
Kat and Delphine snorted at the same time, and Kat kicked Patrick’s shin under the table. “You’d best be careful. Someone might think you were thinking of marriage as a viable option if you continue talk like that.”
“You understand my meaning, and that’s all that matters. I respect women such as the two of you, and I’d hate for Delphine to lose my respect. I do rather enjoy her company on the occasion I’ve been in it.” Patrick winked at Delphine.
Delphine pursed her lips. “All flattery aside, I will make my own way. Charles will not strike me again; if he does I swear that I will accept your offer of assistance. I promise I will not remain.”
“That’s the best we can hope for, isn’t it?” Kat sighed when Delphine nodded. “You are a stubborn woman.”
“So are you,” Delphine chuckled. “It’s why we like each other.”
Patrick leaned forward again, this time his focus returned to Kat. “Your turn.”
“No. There’s no need,” Kat protested. “It was a moment.”
“It was twenty minutes.” Patrick quirked a brow. At Delphine’s obvious confusion, he whispered an aside, “Kat locked herself in my washroom this morning, and when she was gone for twenty minutes I found her melancholy and the pain of loss, missing someone, etched into her features like tears.”
“Your eloquent and overly dramatic poetic rendering of my state of mind is inaccurate and embarrassing.” Kat tried to focus on the soup in front of her, but Delphine ruined any hope of changing the subject.
“I’ve seen that once or twice myself. Plus, she seemed quite adamant about needing to get away sometimes.” Delphine leaned her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her hand. Clearly glad to have the focus off her, she wagged her brows. “I’ve known you for months and don’t know your story.”
“Thank you for not helping,” Kat muttered.
“Even Delphie has been kept in the dark. It must be scandalous, indeed.” Patrick grinned. “Gossip is good for the soul.”
“It is not. You’re just nosy.” Kat pushed her soup around her bowl with her spoon. “Can’t we just enjoy the rest of our meal in peace?”
“That wouldn’t be any fun.” Delphine tapped Kat’s arm. “Out with it.”
“There isn’t much to tell. My parents wanted me to marry up. I was fifteen and quite ferociously opposed.” Kat chewed her lip, unsure how much to divulge. “So I, with the help of a...”
“A what?” Patrick leaned in, apparently intrigued by the way Kat became incapable of finishing her sentence. “A friend, an enemy, a lover?”
“I was fifteen, and you know of my innocence!” Kat grew indignant at the triumphant grin on his features. “I just don’t know what to call the person that helped me. Not a friend, not an enemy, definitely not a lover. Just someone I knew. I left town, and was taken in by Mrs. Stapleton.”
“Did you change your name?” Her own troubles clearly forgotten, Delphine was actually eating her soup, rather than picking at it.
That gave Kat enough courage to continue her story. “Yes. My last one, at least. I didn’t wish to be dragged back to face the fate I’d run from. I changed my name, and began teaching, learning a new trade. When I turned eighteen I was turned out on my own, and here I am.”
“But you miss them,” Patrick said
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