happened to her before.
What was wrong with her? He was just another man, the kind of man she avoided. She had sensed a dangerous quality about him when she first met him and she had been right. He had made her lose control of herself, if only for a moment, and that was extremely dangerous.
Jared had started to escort Corinne to her door, butbefore he even stepped from the carriage, she was inside the imposing townhouse and the door was closed. He sat back down and then noticed the green silk purse on the opposite seat. He picked up the purse, thinking to return it, but abruptly changed his mind and signaled the driver to return to his hotel.
Jared leaned back and stared thoughtfully at the silk purse, picturing it attached to that slender wrist. He frowned as he wondered what had caused Corinne to run into her house the way she did, as if she were frightened of him. She had good reason to be, but she couldn’t possibly know that. Oh, he had baited her, antagonized her even, in order to judge her character. And it had worked.
He had the haughty Corinne Barrows halfway figured out. He knew she took offense easily. She was spoiled, and was allowed much too much freedom. Someday that would get her into trouble, but that didn’t concern him. She was a cool one, sure of her beauty and the effect it had on men.
No decisions had been reached yet, but Jared had only a few options left out of all those he had considered. He had all the facts he needed about Samuel Barrows, and some surprising ones about his daughter. All that remained was to decide what to do with the information he had.
He was hoping that his investment in Barrows’ shipyard would yield him a certain amount of control in the firm, enough to block major decisions and ultimately destroy the firm. It was Barrows’ major source of income. His other interests amounted to nothing in comparison. Of course, Jared’s money would also be lost when the shipyard went under, but nothing mattered except ruining Samuel Barrows. That shipyard meant everything to him. He had devoted most of his life toit. He had turned away the woman who loved him in order to save it. Now Barrows would lose all he had worked for.
Out of mild curiosity, Jared opened the purse he held. He removed a silk handkerchief with lace edging, a few dollars, a compact of light powder. He opened the lid from a small vial of perfume and smelled the delicate fragrance Corinne had worn.
One item startled him—a tiny knife with a short, sharp blade, encrusted with jewels, no less! He couldn’t imagine the sophisticated Corinne ever using it.
The last thing he took from the purse was a slip of paper with an address on it. The paper was crumpled as if it had been read many times. Jared had learned this address from Ned Dougherty.
Sure, he had doubted Dougherty’s assertion that Corinne Barrows went to this place two or three times a week in the middle of the night. But wasn’t he looking at the proof right now, the address of a private gambling house in Cambridge across the Charles River? And not just a gambling house, but a place where gentlemen brought their lady loves for a little dalliance on the second floor. A little luck with the cards, a little lust upstairs.
Jared’s opinion of Corinne Barrows decreased even more. Regrets? He would have absolutely none now, if he were eventually forced to use her to accomplish his plans.
Chapter 7
Corinne glanced at the clock on the mantle and impatiently began to tap her foot. One o’clock in the morning. She hated to be rushed.
“Florence, please hurry,” Corinne said petulantly. “Russell will be down the street any moment now.”
“If your hair wasn’t so silky, it would be easier to put up,” Florence replied, unperturbed. “And it won’t hurt Russell Drayton to wait a spell. He shouldn’t be out there anyway,” she added disapprovingly.
“Now don’t start on me tonight,” Corinne returned. “I’m in no mood.”
“You’re never
What was wrong with her? He was just another man, the kind of man she avoided. She had sensed a dangerous quality about him when she first met him and she had been right. He had made her lose control of herself, if only for a moment, and that was extremely dangerous.
Jared had started to escort Corinne to her door, butbefore he even stepped from the carriage, she was inside the imposing townhouse and the door was closed. He sat back down and then noticed the green silk purse on the opposite seat. He picked up the purse, thinking to return it, but abruptly changed his mind and signaled the driver to return to his hotel.
Jared leaned back and stared thoughtfully at the silk purse, picturing it attached to that slender wrist. He frowned as he wondered what had caused Corinne to run into her house the way she did, as if she were frightened of him. She had good reason to be, but she couldn’t possibly know that. Oh, he had baited her, antagonized her even, in order to judge her character. And it had worked.
He had the haughty Corinne Barrows halfway figured out. He knew she took offense easily. She was spoiled, and was allowed much too much freedom. Someday that would get her into trouble, but that didn’t concern him. She was a cool one, sure of her beauty and the effect it had on men.
No decisions had been reached yet, but Jared had only a few options left out of all those he had considered. He had all the facts he needed about Samuel Barrows, and some surprising ones about his daughter. All that remained was to decide what to do with the information he had.
He was hoping that his investment in Barrows’ shipyard would yield him a certain amount of control in the firm, enough to block major decisions and ultimately destroy the firm. It was Barrows’ major source of income. His other interests amounted to nothing in comparison. Of course, Jared’s money would also be lost when the shipyard went under, but nothing mattered except ruining Samuel Barrows. That shipyard meant everything to him. He had devoted most of his life toit. He had turned away the woman who loved him in order to save it. Now Barrows would lose all he had worked for.
Out of mild curiosity, Jared opened the purse he held. He removed a silk handkerchief with lace edging, a few dollars, a compact of light powder. He opened the lid from a small vial of perfume and smelled the delicate fragrance Corinne had worn.
One item startled him—a tiny knife with a short, sharp blade, encrusted with jewels, no less! He couldn’t imagine the sophisticated Corinne ever using it.
The last thing he took from the purse was a slip of paper with an address on it. The paper was crumpled as if it had been read many times. Jared had learned this address from Ned Dougherty.
Sure, he had doubted Dougherty’s assertion that Corinne Barrows went to this place two or three times a week in the middle of the night. But wasn’t he looking at the proof right now, the address of a private gambling house in Cambridge across the Charles River? And not just a gambling house, but a place where gentlemen brought their lady loves for a little dalliance on the second floor. A little luck with the cards, a little lust upstairs.
Jared’s opinion of Corinne Barrows decreased even more. Regrets? He would have absolutely none now, if he were eventually forced to use her to accomplish his plans.
Chapter 7
Corinne glanced at the clock on the mantle and impatiently began to tap her foot. One o’clock in the morning. She hated to be rushed.
“Florence, please hurry,” Corinne said petulantly. “Russell will be down the street any moment now.”
“If your hair wasn’t so silky, it would be easier to put up,” Florence replied, unperturbed. “And it won’t hurt Russell Drayton to wait a spell. He shouldn’t be out there anyway,” she added disapprovingly.
“Now don’t start on me tonight,” Corinne returned. “I’m in no mood.”
“You’re never
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