Savage Deception (Liberty's Ladies) Read Online Free Page A

about defending Diana’s honor, if not your own?”
    Diana watched intently, barely able to breathe. From the hate shining in Kingsley’s eyes she could tell he longed to attack Tanner. Instead he cradled his bruised jaw in the palm of his hand while Tanner helped her to her feet.
    At that moment David came charging down the path. He stopped short, his gaze flickering over the scene, taking in the sight of a blushing Diana as she rearranged her bodice into some semblance of order. Tousled hair fell in shadowy locks around her shoulders.
    David shook his red-blonde head in dismay before looking at Tanner with condemnation in his eyes. He extended a hand to Kingsley. “Anne is worried about you, Diana,” David told her. “Please return to the house.”
    “No, I want to know that Tanner will be all right,” she insisted and twisted around to see the man whose hands were warm at her waist. A shock coursed through her as she discovered that Tanner wasn’t even looking at her but at Kingsley. From the scowl on his finely made lips and the loathing on his face, it was evident to Diana that Tanner hated Kingsley.
    “I’ll be fine,” she heard Tanner say in a clipped tone of voice. “Do as your brother-in-law said.”
    Kingsley grabbed Diana’s arm and pulled her away from Tanner to stand beside him. Tanner made a movement to spring forward but apparently thought better of it. Instead he waited, his powerful legs thrust apart in a bold and defiant stance. The pressure of Kingsley’s fingers dug more deeply into her flesh, a not-so-subtle reminder of who she belonged to.
    Kingsley made a snorting sound. “I find Diana’s regard for your welfare most touching, Tanner, considering that I discovered you attempting to have your way with her.”
    “That’s not true!” Diana blurted out, but Kingsley tightened his grip around her, forcing her to silence.
    “Ah, such an innocent she is. Don’t you agree, David?” Kingsley ignored her and didn’t let David reply before turning his attention again to Tanner. “I trust I arrived in time before any true damage could be done to her. I should hate for her to be initiated into the rites of love by such a bastard. And you are a bastard, aren’t you, Tanner? You know you are.”
    “Kingsley, please don’t go on…” Diana interrupted.
    “But I will go on,” Kingsley continued, his voice growing more menacing. He moved her forward and placed her directly between him and Tanner. “Now, my innocent love. I want you to look at Tanner and remember him well. Remember the face of the man who tried to have his way with you. Look at my father’s bastard son, my half-brother, who shall always be little better than one of the slaves, who will never be a Sheridan. Go on, Diana, look at him and be disgusted to realize that such a man ever touched you.”
    Suddenly she couldn’t bear to look at Tanner. Bastard son. Half-brother. Tanner was Harlan’s bastard son. She should have seen the resemblance between Harlan and Tanner. But that wasn’t why she couldn’t look at him.
    She guessed Tanner must be humiliated to be an overseer on his father’s plantation, never to be acknowledged as Harlan’s son. He was a proud man, a kind man, and she didn’t want to see his pain. But when she lifted her eyes to his face she stared into two ebony hate-filled pools. A tight pain clutched at her heart. Was his hatred for her, too?
    She almost spoke his name, but Kingsley spun her about on the path to face in the direction of Briarhaven. “I’m taking Diana back to the house. I know she’ll want to bathe and wash away the feel of your hands upon her. But, Tanner, I’m not finished with you. Not yet.” Kingsley pulled at Diana, literally dragging her with him.
    Tanner moved forward with ready fists. “You can’t treat her like that!”
    Suddenly David jumped in front of him and restrained him with a strong forearm. “I suggest you cool off, sir,” David suggested. “Diana isn’t your