Read Jayne Castle [Jayne Ann Krentz] for Free Online Page A

will end then. The process by which a woman is convinced to trust
    her emotions rather than her intellect is called seduction. You'd better be prepared to practice that
    particular art."
    Ridge laughed mirthlessly. "You may have picked the wrong man for this job, Quintel. I might be
    reasonably good at cutting throats for you, but seducing a woman takes real skill. I've never been
    especially good at it."
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    "I have great confidence in you, Fire Whip. Especially with the incentive I have provided you."
    Ridge thought about the chance at the future he had always dreamed of that Quintel was offering him. "It
    should prove to be an interesting journey."
    "I'm sure it will be," Quintel agreed.
    Ridge contemplated the task that lay before him; then he smiled faintly as a stray thought crossed his
    mind. "She showed excellent manners at dinner this evening, didn't she?" He was aware of an odd sense
    of pride in the fact. "You'd never know she was raised on an Interlock farm."
    "Whatever her heritage, there are Healers in her family. They are a cut above the average farm House
    woman and they know it. Kalena has undoubtedly been given a fairly decent education and some training
    in manners and deportment. She did, indeed, behave herself very well this evening. A most charming
    guest."
    If one overlooked the fact that she seemed particularly fascinated with Quintel, Ridge thought,
    remembering the times he had caught Kalena covertly studying her host as they dined. Kalena's curiosity
    about Quintel had annoyed Ridge on some level. He would have to explain to her that even if Quintel did
    have a weakness for women, which he did not, he was not an option for Kalena. She was contracted to
    marry Ridge, and he would see to it that she abided by the terms of that contract in thought as well as
    deed. Nothing was going to stop him from returning from the Heights of Variance with a shipment of
    Sand. Ridge got to his feet with a sudden sense of decisiveness. No better time than the present to begin
    making certain of Kalena's sense of commitment. He smiled rather grimly at his lord.
    "You have not set me a simple task, Quintet. You realize, of course, that even though she's only a
    farmer's daughter, she can still claim a better heritage than I can."
    Quintel gave him an odd, understanding look. "You have spent most of your life proving to me and
    everyone else that the fact you were born a bastard wasn't going to keep you from taking what you
    wanted in this world. Surely you're not going to let a mere country girl intimidate you. Besides, once she's
    been a trade wife, she can hardly claim more respectability than you
    can. $,
    Ridge shrugged. "Perhaps. I wonder if she knows."
    "Knows what? That you have no House name? I'm sure she does by now. There won't be any lack of
    people willing to inform her that you grew up on the streets of Countervail without the benefit of a father's
    name. I wouldn't let it worry you."
    Ridge's jaw tightened as he pushed old memories aside. There was no point thinking of those early days.
    He had escaped from the poverty and the brutality of that world and the life that had killed his mother.
    She had been worn out before Ridge was even eight. She had died of some respiratory disease that
    could easily have been cured by a Healer, if his mother could have afforded one. No, his mother hadn't
    survived the grinding life of the streets, but Ridge had. Quintel was right. Ridge wasn't going to let his past
    concern him now. His goals were within reach, and if seizing his destiny meant first having to seduce and
    control his new trade wife, then so be it.
    "If you will excuse me, I think I will go to my chamber. It's late and I've had a full day." Ridge started for
    the door.
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    Quintel set down his goblet. "It's time for me to retire also. I