Surrender to Love Read Online Free Page B

his teeth, enduring the deluge that poured down upon him and eventually found its way down his back.  Only a damned fool would be out in this weather, and he was just that.  Was all this game playing worth just to get a half-bred girl into bed? He couldn’t possibly understand why she was acting so coy, when she had probably serviced every young buck who’d uttered a couple of words to her. Well, he’d play her game, if that’s what she wanted, but in the end he would win…and get what he had set his sights on.
    “George, will you get this damned thing out of here,” he snapped at the driver in frustration.
    “ Yessuh,” the Negro man replied quickly and moved the bay horse into a quick trot.
     
    XXX
     
    Sabine stared at the brightly wrapped package the young Negro boy had left on the counter.  She was sure it must be a mistake, but the boy said it was “fer Miz Sabine DuBois” and there was no possible way to doubt that.
    “What do you think it is?” she asked Adele.
    Sabine’s nimble fingers plucked at the ribbon, and the paper fell away, revealing the dark blue of a velvet jeweler’s box.  Lifting the lid, she drew in a breath sharply as her gaze fell upon the emerald pendant that rested on a pillow of white silk.  She raised the necklace from its box and watched it sparkle in the late morning sunlight.
    Adele stiffened as she watched Sabine marvel at it, anxiety tightening within her.  She knew, without looking at the accompanying note, w ho had sent the package.  Troy Markham was up to no good with his tempting offers; she had known that the minute he had shown an interest in Sabine.  The young man toyed with her like a cat with a piece of string, and fairly soon he would tire of her – just as soon as he had accomplished whatever heinous plan he had concocted.
    Adele refused to allow it.  Her daughter would not be hurt and she cared not that Troy Markham had the power and resources to put them all out on the street.  Today she would put an end to all this, and lay down the law.  She had no intentions of allowing a society gentleman to use her ward as his fancy lady.
    “Oh, look, Mama,” Sabine said, mesmerized as she slowly drew out the enclosed note.  “ ’An emerald charm for emerald eyes.  Would you do me the honor of dining with me on Saturday?  Troy Markham.’ ”
    Sabine’s green eyes widened, words failing her.  He had sent her jewelry – beautiful, fancy jewelry that in the past she had only been able to admire from afar.  See, Mama, she thought, he’s different.  He’s not at all what you say.
    She could not accept the pendant, no matter how fervently she wanted it; it wouldn’t be right. But a dinner invitation!  Surely there was no harm in accepting that!
    “Mama, can I – “
    ‘No,” Adele countered sharply before the question was finished.
    “But I haven’t even – “
    “No,” she repeated firmly around the pinched white of her tight lips.  “You can’t have it.  And you’re not going.”
    “You can’t tell me what to do,” Sabine said as she closed the box, her green eyes flashing with indignant fire.  “I’m almost eighteen, Mama.  Troy’s not at all what you think he is.  He likes me, Mama.  He’s nice to me.  Why are you trying to ruin everything?”
    “I’m not trying to ruin anything for you, Sabine,” Adele snapped.  “It’s just that – “
    “I love him,” Sabine shouted as she moved past Adele and headed for the stairs.  “And I know he loves me, too!”
    “He’s using you, Sabine.”
    Sabine stopped abruptly at the bottom of the stairs and faced Adele, her eyes narrowing to angry slits.
    “You’re wrong, Mama,” she said coldly. “You’re wrong.”
     
    XXX
     
    Sabine slammed the door of her room and fell onto the bed.
    How could she?   She thought venomously.  How could Mama say such things?  She didn’t know anything about love or romance or anything that mattered.  All she knew was running this