Read Pirate of My Heart: A Novel for Free Online Page B

face and gave him a sunny, innocent smile. “I always sleep with my door bolted and a gun under my pillow.”
    Andrew sucked in a breath at the blatant lie and glared at her, his face turning red.
    “Well, there will be no more of that!” Lord Barrymore wiped his thin lips with a cloth and widened his eyes at her.
    Kendra floundered for a second in despair and then plunged forward. “Oh, you’ll not want to see me as a mother. Why, I’ve taken such poor care of my pets that they never lasted over a year.” She laughed with a fake, hollow sound. “My greatest talent is, of course, shopping. I must have a new wardrobe every season, and I seem to go through jewels like water. Why, just the other day I misplaced my favorite diamond and emerald necklace. We must replace it with a better one, dear uncle,” she added sweetly, nodding to Andrew, knowing he couldn’t disagree with her without giving away their dreadful state of finances.
    Andrew gave her a look that said he would like to wrap his hands around her throat but only smiled a smile so bland that Kendra had to shove down the laughter.
    “Of course, my dear,” he choked out.
    Lord Barrymore gaped at her, looking properly appalled with the vision of his wealth slipping through his fingers.
    By dessert Kendra had countered everything important to Lord Barrymore until, by the end of the meal, he made his apologies, saying he had suddenly taken on a headache, and fled as fast as his legs could speed him out the door.
    Andrew burst into a fit of rage as soon as the door slammed shut, while Kendra let out the laughter she’d been suppressing all night.
    “What do you think you’re doing, you ungrateful brat?” He stormed around the room. “He was the only one that responded to my offer!”
    Kendra looked him square in the eyes and replied in a calm and serene voice. “I wouldn’t marry that skinny old goat if he were the last man on earth. We will not suit and you know it.”
    Andrew’s eyes turned dark as he glared at her. He took a deep breath and made another circle around the room and then faced her with his hands extended. “My dear, don’t you see, with no dowry we are limited . . . I’m only trying to do what is best for you.”
    “A lecherous old man is in my best interest? Uncle, how could you think such a thing?”
    Andrew turned away with a great sigh. “Well, if you won’t wed a man of my choosing then I have only one option left. You will go to America to live with your mother’s sister.” There was a hint of certain victory in his voice that made Kendra sit up straighter and grip the arms of her chair so that her knuckles turned white.
    “You would send me away from my home?” Her anger grew apace with despair at the thought of leaving England. “You would ship me off halfway across the world just to rid yourself of me? You despise me that much?” Her voice dropped into confusion mixed with the pain. “What have I done to make you hate me so?”
    “Kendra, I’m only trying to do what is best. You shouldn’t live here the rest of your life. It’s time to make a future of your own. If you can’t find it here in England, then mayhap you will find happiness in America.”
    America or Lord Barrymore. She could hardly fathom either possibility. “If those are my choices, I will need time to consider. I will give you my answer in the morning, Andrew.” She had deliberately left out the “uncle” title that she had always called him with such pride and joy. She knew it was wrong, but she wanted to hurt him as he was hurting her.
    Andrew seemed not to notice the slight as he nodded his head.
    Kendra picked up her skirts and ran, tears blinding her, to her room. Once inside her bedchamber she paced back and forth. Father, why did you have to leave me like this? What do I do? She could either resign herself to a miserable marriage or take her chances in America where she would at least have some say in her life. She hoped she would, in