Surrender to Love Read Online Free

John come to the front of the store.  Smoothing her pink skirts, she nervously turned her back to him so he would not bear witness to her tearstained countenance.  She drew a wavering breath and began to put the newly delivered items in their rightful places.
    “Sabine,” he called out.  ”Did everything come?”
    She did not face him, but continue to fuss restlessly with the delivery.
    “Yes, Papa,” she answered in a quavering voice.
    “What’s wrong, kitten,” he asked, placing a hand tenderly on her trembling shoulder.
    “Nothing,” came her quick reply as she moved quickly past him and headed for the stairs.
    She darted up the steps in a rush of tapping heels and concealed herself behind the door of her small bedroom.  She hated this – hated being seen as something that didn’t really matter.  Couldn’t they see she was a person?  A person with thoughts and feelings and dreams?  Why did they ignore her?  And why was it, that when they did pay even the least bit of attention to her, they treated her as though she were nothing more than an insignificant toy?
    But that was all they’d ever see her as, wasn’t it?  Something to amuse themselves with. Something to laugh at.
    Sabine swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand as she slowly removed her dress and packed it carefully in her trunk.  With it, she stored away her youthful dreams…her dreams that she could be accepted; her dreams that the world might someday look at her and see a person worthy of respect.
    But it would never happen here – not in New Orleans.  And the dress – the wonderful, beautiful dress that she believed would unlock a brand new tomorrow – was no longer a symbol of the person she thought she would become.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Two
     
    Sabine stared idly out of the shop window, her green eyes taking in the sodden, vacant streets.  Six weeks had passed and Troy had yet to return.  Disappointment encompassed her heart, but she refused to reveal the discontent that welled inside her, knowing that Mama would only lecture her again about false hopes; and Papa would laugh and dismiss her feelings as silly infatuation.
    With a sigh of resignation, she tucked herself behind the counter and picked up a worn volume that John had given her the day before.  How thankful she was that Adele had tutored her over the years – especially when the schooling of Negroes was forbidden by law; she would have been so lonely without wonderful characters to share her time.
    Amid the soothing tones of pattering raindrops, Sabine lost herself completely to a world of knights and ladies fair.  She imagined how wonderful it would be to have a gallant warrior sweep her onto his horse and whisk her away to the countryside….  She sighed, remembering it was merely a story, a fantasy.
    The tinkling of the door’s bell diverted her attention, and she glanced up to identify the crazy man who had dared to venture out in this torrent.  His features were obscured by the collar of the frock coat he had turned up to ward off the rain.
    “May I help you,” Sabine inquired hesitantly.
    He turned then, and Sabine felt her heart flutter within her breast.  She should have recognized him immediately.  Troy Markham removed his hat and brushed aside the chestnut locks that had fallen haphazardly across his brow.
    Her heart pounded, and warm fingers of nervousness tugged at her insides as she took in every aspect of him.  So long it had been, and here she was, face to face, without one rehearsed word of speech.  Oh, God, she had better not make a fool of herself!  An awkward smile played on her lips and she found it difficult to meet his gaze for any length of time.
    “Good afternoon, Miss DuBois,” he drawled as he brushed droplets from his shoulders.
    Words she had so often longed to say now stuck fast in her throat.  She felt like a foolish child.  She knew Troy was probably looking at her in the same fashion.
    “It’s Troy