Read Online Surrender the Dawn by MaryLu Tyndall - Free Book Online
Authors: MaryLu Tyndall
Ads: Link
Noah just told her he’d inspected it recently and, aside from some necessary repairs, found it sound?
“Your silence tells all, Miss Channing,” he said. “It seems life has cast a cloud of desperation on us both.”
“Though I doubt for the same reasons, Mr. Heaton.”
His dark, imperious gaze swept over her, making her legs turn to porridge. Confusion spun in her mind. Was she doing the right thing? Should she risk her family’s survival on this man?
But what choice did she have?
Yet beyond the roguish facade, a spark of sincerity lingered in his eyes.
“Do you think you can put aside your usual nighttime activities to meet at Mr. Brenin’s house tonight? We can sign the papers and I’ll see to your payment then.”
“I believe I’ll have time for both, miss.”
“Then I shall see you around seven o’clock.”
Stepping up on the bulwarks, he leapt onto the dock then turned to extend his hand.
Against her better judgment, she took it. His strength and warmth seeped though her gloves, sending a jolt up her arm. After he settled her on the wharf, she snagged her hand away, nodded her thanks, and hurried down the dock.
A voice as smooth and as deep as the sea called after her, “Until tonight, Miss Channing.”
The teacup rattled on its saucer. Cassandra set it down on the table. Amber liquid sloshed over the rim. “Oh, bother. Please forgive me, Marianne.”
Marianne Brenin laid a gentle hand on Cassandra’s arm. “Whatever is amiss tonight, Cassandra? You’ve been a bundle of nerves since you walked in the door.”
“Have I?” Cassandra drew a deep breath. Could it be that she was about to give the remainder of her family’s money to a man she had no reason to trust? A nervous giggle rose in her throat.
Marianne’s brown eyes twinkled from within a face aglow with happiness. Happy indeed. She had a wonderful husband, a beautiful son, and a promising future.
Across the room, Noah tossed seven-month-old Jacob into the air. Giggles bubbled through the Brenin parlor, bouncing off walls and causing all within to grin.
Noah stopped to look at his wife with such deep adoration that Cassandra felt as though she was intruding. She looked away. A yearningtugged at her heart. Would a man ever look at her the way Noah looked at Marianne?
As if lured by her husband’s loving gaze, Marianne rose and made her way to him. Swinging an arm over her shoulder, Noah drew her close, swallowing up Jacob between them, and planted a kiss on her forehead.
Marianne ran her fingers over her husband’s jaw then suddenly spun around, her face as red as an apple. “Oh, do forgive us, Cassandra. When Noah returns from a long voyage, I often forget when there are other people in the room.”
Cassandra couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s happiness. “I seem to recall you once saying you’d rather boil in oil than marry Noah Brenin.”
Noah stared agape at his wife, his lips curving in an incredulous smile. “You don’t say?”
Marianne pressed down the folds of her lavender gown. “It was something like that. I truly don’t remember.”
“Such a thing for Mama to say.” Noah tickled Jacob until the boy burst into giggles again.
“We weren’t exactly fond of each other back then,” Marianne said.
Noah kissed his wife on the cheek and whispered in her ear until her giggles matched their son’s.
The loving scene played before Cassandra like a surreal fairy tale. Her mother and father had never expressed such affection, never even offered each other a kind word or loving glance. Until Noah and Marianne had married, Cassandra had not realized that a husband and wife could cherish each other so deeply.
The languid face of Mr. Crane filled her vision and chased her cheery thoughts away. If this investment fell through, she’d be forced to marry him.
Destroying any chance to know the kind of love that filled this home.
Cassandra stood, hoping a turn about the room would settle her nerves, but
“Your silence tells all, Miss Channing,” he said. “It seems life has cast a cloud of desperation on us both.”
“Though I doubt for the same reasons, Mr. Heaton.”
His dark, imperious gaze swept over her, making her legs turn to porridge. Confusion spun in her mind. Was she doing the right thing? Should she risk her family’s survival on this man?
But what choice did she have?
Yet beyond the roguish facade, a spark of sincerity lingered in his eyes.
“Do you think you can put aside your usual nighttime activities to meet at Mr. Brenin’s house tonight? We can sign the papers and I’ll see to your payment then.”
“I believe I’ll have time for both, miss.”
“Then I shall see you around seven o’clock.”
Stepping up on the bulwarks, he leapt onto the dock then turned to extend his hand.
Against her better judgment, she took it. His strength and warmth seeped though her gloves, sending a jolt up her arm. After he settled her on the wharf, she snagged her hand away, nodded her thanks, and hurried down the dock.
A voice as smooth and as deep as the sea called after her, “Until tonight, Miss Channing.”
The teacup rattled on its saucer. Cassandra set it down on the table. Amber liquid sloshed over the rim. “Oh, bother. Please forgive me, Marianne.”
Marianne Brenin laid a gentle hand on Cassandra’s arm. “Whatever is amiss tonight, Cassandra? You’ve been a bundle of nerves since you walked in the door.”
“Have I?” Cassandra drew a deep breath. Could it be that she was about to give the remainder of her family’s money to a man she had no reason to trust? A nervous giggle rose in her throat.
Marianne’s brown eyes twinkled from within a face aglow with happiness. Happy indeed. She had a wonderful husband, a beautiful son, and a promising future.
Across the room, Noah tossed seven-month-old Jacob into the air. Giggles bubbled through the Brenin parlor, bouncing off walls and causing all within to grin.
Noah stopped to look at his wife with such deep adoration that Cassandra felt as though she was intruding. She looked away. A yearningtugged at her heart. Would a man ever look at her the way Noah looked at Marianne?
As if lured by her husband’s loving gaze, Marianne rose and made her way to him. Swinging an arm over her shoulder, Noah drew her close, swallowing up Jacob between them, and planted a kiss on her forehead.
Marianne ran her fingers over her husband’s jaw then suddenly spun around, her face as red as an apple. “Oh, do forgive us, Cassandra. When Noah returns from a long voyage, I often forget when there are other people in the room.”
Cassandra couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s happiness. “I seem to recall you once saying you’d rather boil in oil than marry Noah Brenin.”
Noah stared agape at his wife, his lips curving in an incredulous smile. “You don’t say?”
Marianne pressed down the folds of her lavender gown. “It was something like that. I truly don’t remember.”
“Such a thing for Mama to say.” Noah tickled Jacob until the boy burst into giggles again.
“We weren’t exactly fond of each other back then,” Marianne said.
Noah kissed his wife on the cheek and whispered in her ear until her giggles matched their son’s.
The loving scene played before Cassandra like a surreal fairy tale. Her mother and father had never expressed such affection, never even offered each other a kind word or loving glance. Until Noah and Marianne had married, Cassandra had not realized that a husband and wife could cherish each other so deeply.
The languid face of Mr. Crane filled her vision and chased her cheery thoughts away. If this investment fell through, she’d be forced to marry him.
Destroying any chance to know the kind of love that filled this home.
Cassandra stood, hoping a turn about the room would settle her nerves, but
Similar Books
