Read Heritage of Lancaster County 02 The Confession for Free Online Page B

pregnancy, a baby girl born out of wedlock. "I gave away my precious baby," she whispered as they sat in his parked car. "I gave Katherine to an Amish couple."
    He was floored. "Why Amish?"
    "It's a long story. One you must hear someday.., when I'm ready to tell it... all of it."
    He thought it over. So this was the reason for Laura's obsession with children. He remained silent, saying nothing to arouse her suspicions.
    When she began to cry again, he stroked her hand, taking great pains to capitalize on this opportunity. He moved away from the steering wheel and put his arm around her. Sorrowfully, she leaned her head on his waiting shoulder.
    Then ever so slowly, he traced the outline of her regal chin and with breathless anticipation, leaned close enough to smell her lovely scent. "I'm so sorry, my darling," he whispered seductively. "What can I do to make you happy?"
    Laura, her guard down, smiled through her tears, permitting his touch to soothe her, much to his delight. She allowed him to tilt her face and brush his lips against her
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    delicate cheek. He felt her body relax as he made his goal the crook of her mouth. And he moved cautiously, enticingly, toward her lips, relishing the blissful sighs she made with his each caress.
    At last a tiny gasp escaped her, and she turned to him, fully responding with the suppressed desire of one long-de- prived. Their lips met, and Dylan's hands cupped her face.
    One kiss led to another . .. and another, and he quite happily viewed the situation as a breakthrough. Perhaps now things had the potential of steaming up a bit as they prepared for their marriage.
    Laura, however, did not allow him to kiss her again until their wedding night--an interminable wait. The event took place one month after Laura's ailing mother passed away, over two long years after they had first met at Rochester. And with eyes wide and focused on his bride's rich legacy, Dylan moved his meager possessions into the grand estate that was soon to bear his name.
    And why not? Laura's notion--renaming the old May- field mansion as part of her wedding gift to him--was an ingenious one, and Dylan made no attempt to convince her otherwise. Since he was not interested in producing sons and daughters to carry on his name, what an excellent way to secure his future.
    Thus, the magnificent manor had become the Bennett estate, and the master of the house managed his accounts-- and those of his wife's--with a passion equal to his desire to dominate the pretty, red-haired Laura.
    Two years later, however, when she had not abandoned her maiden name but had insisted on keeping it hyphenated, their romance began to wane. Laura had surprised him, emerging as a much stronger and more dynamic personality than he'd ever supposed. She'd begun to volunteer frequently at one of the elementary schools in town.
    Around the time of their fifth wedding anniversary,
    51 when Laura had still not conceived a child, she succumbed to deep depression. Playing it safe, Dylan did not enlighten her as to the reason, letting her think she was barren. Soon after, she ceased her work with children, began to withdraw from life in general, and oe day, although she kept her accounts in her own name, willingly signed over all financial records and ledgers to Dylan for safekeeping.
    Evoking the past always exhilarated Dylan. Today was no exception. He had triumphed, in a sense, or at least he'd thought so. Had met his financial objectives in less than ten years. Yet now it seemed to appear his wife may have, in actuality, outwitted him in the final round.
    He felt as if he'd been whipped. Spying his gym bag in the corner where he'd dropped it yesterday, he wondered if a brisk swim at the club might not do him good--just the thing to boost his spirits.
    Thinking again of his scheme--his ticket to this estate and the Mayfield fortune--he put out his cigar and rang for the butler.
    Fulton Taylor was quick to respond, waiting in the doorway of Dylan's