Read Online Pirate's Golden Promise by Lynette Vinet - Free Book Online Page B

whatever you need.”
    Wynter smiled. “Thank you for caring, Fletch. But I can’t wait until you work off your indenture. I need the money now.”
    They sat in contemplative silence. Where was she going to get the money to approach Debra to buy the estate? She knew such a transaction would require a great deal of money. Perhaps she could marry someone, maybe one of the young men who had been so taken with her at her birthday ball. She dismissed that. No one would marry her now. Fletch was right about word spreading. Before the week was out, everyone would know she was penniless and living on Debra’s charity. No, she decided. A great, dynastic marriage was out of her future.
    Yet there was one man she could approach, a man who seemed to have no shortage of either money or arrogance!

CHAPTER
5
    â€œYou’ve lost your good sense, that’s what you’ve done. If Lady McChesney discovers what you’re about—”
    â€œShe won’t,” Wynter declared firmly to Maddie who sat across from her in the coach. “Anyway, what harm is there in visiting Lady Montgomery? Debra can’t possibly object.”
    â€œBy now the woman and everyone else must know what’s happened. Haven’t you any pride, my lady?”
    Wynter colored under Maddie’s sharp, probing glance. “Yes, I have my pride, Maddie, but sometimes a person must put it aside for a nobler cause.”
    Maddie retreated into silence and Wynter was glad of it. She had wanted to visit Lady Montgomery’s without Maddie’s presence, but when Wynter wouldn’t tell her the reason for the visit, Maddie insisted on going and jumped into the carriage before Wynter. Wynter had made Maddie believe she would beg funds from Estelle, but in fact she would never humble herself to such a woman … a woman who might have slept with Adam, and Wynter now did believe that she had. But Wynter had no scruples against asking the captain for funds.
    Even now she breathed in the fresh smell of another morning. The carriage sped past straw-colored cottages which dotted the countryside, wild roses growing alongside the houses and fields turning green in the distance. The sky was slashed a lucid blue above the vertical edge of the mountains, and the glorious beauty of the spring day caused Wynter to glow with excitement.
    The deep amber shade of her gown enhanced the pale beauty of her skin and the rosiness of her cheeks. Maddie had pinned up Wynter’s thick hair with golden combs. Briefly Wynter had wondered if she should wear a cloak over the dangerously low bodice, knowing full well that the captain’s eyes would hover there first. She opted for the ruby necklace which was a companion piece to her betrothal ring, which now rested on her dressing table at home. Though she viewed both with disgust because Adam had given them to her, she wore the matching necklace, and now it dangled enticingly in the lush valley between her breasts.
    â€œYou shall see, dear Maddie, before this day is over I shall be the owner of my father’s house.” There was no reason why she shouldn’t be. Always used to having her way, she decided the captain would lend her the funds.
    Entering Estelle’s magnificently furnished bedroom a short time later, Estelle held out her hand to her. The swish of the woman’s nightdress was a reminder to Wynter of the man who had probably removed it from her the previous night.
    â€œI hope I haven’t inconvenienced you by visiting at such an early hour,” Wynter apologized.
    Estelle’s eyes swept over Wynter, and a suspicious gleam glittered in their depths.
    â€œThis is quite an unexpected surprise. I’ve heard of Lord Somerset’s marriage to your sister, and because of your father’s recent death, I expected you’d be in seclusion for some time.”
    Wynter shot her a challenging stare. “I’m certain, Lady Montgomery, that you above