Tomorrow's Dreams Read Online Free Page B

“Perhaps. But even this gutter rat has higher standards than to tie himself to a slut like you.”
    â€œFine! Then, go! Take your so-called standards and return to whatever sewer you crawled from.”
    â€œOh. I’m going, but not to the sewer. I wouldn’t want to run the risk of encountering you and Tibbett’s bastard down there.”
    Tears of impotent rage sprang to Penelope’s eyes. “I’d rather live in the foulest of sewers than in a fine palace with a contemptible bastard like you.” With that, she sank down on the bench before her dressing table, tears coursing hotly down her cheeks. For a long moment she wept in silence, wanting nothing more than to hear the door slam behind the exiting Seth so she could freely release the fury of her emotions.
    When he didn’t leave, she choked out, “Go, damn you!… Get out and stay out! I never want to see your arrogant face again!”
    â€œPrincess …”
    So soft was the utterance that Penelope was uncertain whether or not she’d truly heard it. Puzzled, she began to turn to face him, then stopped herself. Considering the brutal nature of their exchange, it was unlikely that Seth would be whispering her nickname, and in such an anguished tone. Apparently she was more hysterical than she thought and was hearing things.
    But what if he had spoken? What if, by some miracle, the enormity of what had passed between them was just now sinking in, and he’d regained enough of his sense to realize what his made fit of jealous rage had cost him? What if his whisper had been a tentative plea for a chance to mend the rift between them?
    Logic told her that she was hearing things, while her savaged pride commanded her to stem the torrent of irrational hope flooding her heart. He’d given her every reason to hate him, and if she had even an ounce of self-respect she’d march to that door and have him tossed out on his impeccably tailored backside.
    Yet deep in the core of her wounded heart she refused to accept that their love could be so easily destroyed by a misunderstanding. Surely after all they had shared, their bond was strong enough to withstand this test of faith?
    Hoping, yet not truly believing, that Seth shared her feelings and now sought to make amends, Penelope stole a glance at his reflection in the silvery circle of her looking glass. He was standing by the door, simply watching her.
    Her breath strangled in her throat as his reflected gaze touched hers. The crushing ache in his eyes perfectly mirrored her own, and in that wrenching moment she could have sworn that she saw a shadow of regret pass through their unguarded depths. As quickly as it appeared, it disappeared, leaving her wondering if it had been there at all. In the next instant the indifferent gleam was back, and she was certain that she’d only imagined it.
    Bitter disappointment flooded through her, forcing her to face the appalling truth: Despite his lack of faith in her love, despite all the atrocious things he’d said and done this evening, she still loved Seth Tyler.
    Hating herself for harboring such desires, and hating him even more for possessing the power to evoke them, she picked up the first thing that came under her hand and flung it across the room at him. Oddly enough, she took no satisfaction from his grunt of pain when her silver-handled hair brush slammed into his midsection. She felt only soul-shattering grief.
    Unable to bear the sight of him and all the turbulent feelings it provoked within her, she shrieked, “Get out, damn you! Now! Before I have you thrown out like the trash you are!”
    Without a word he turned on his heels and followed her command. As the door closed behind him, Penelope surrendered to her sorrow.

Chapter 3
    Penelope was miserable, more miserable than she’d ever been in her life. Not only was she soul-sick and heartbroken; her back felt as if it were being wrenched on a rack,