Read Take My Heart (Heroic Rogues Series) for Free Online Page A

into Lizzy’s bedroom.
    Mercedes took slow steps down the stairs, her heart so low as to scrape the floor. She walked into the parlor and sank into the closest chair. Before condemning their father a traitor, she had so much work to do. First, she needed to repair the hearts of those two adorable children. She couldn’t have them thinking she was a bad person. Indeed, she may be the only family they have, and if their father was hanged as a traitor to the Crown, Mercedes might be the one caring for them.
    * * * *
    Staring at herself in the full-length mirror, Mercedes groaned and twisted her mouth in distaste. The indecent rusty-red evening gown trimmed with white lace looked horrid on her. Besides exposing a lot of her shoulders and bosom, it was much too tight. The stays nearly squeezed the breath right out of her. Several times she struggled to lift the shoulders so they wouldn’t drop down her arms so far, but they refused to go the way she wanted. No way would she be seen like this. She couldn’t even look at herself without blushing. How would she react when others rested their eyes on her?
    “Beth? Could you choose another gown for me?”
    Kat’s maid scurried around the room picking up articles of clothes, then stopped with her arms overloaded. “Why? ‘Tis the dress ye like to wear when ye entertain dinner guests.”
    Mercedes frowned. She’d only been here a day and William informed her of their dinner guests tonight. She wanted to tell him how inappropriate that was since she was fatigued from her journey, until she remembered her arrival had been a surprise to him. Since Mr. Braxton was the monster her sister had described, he wouldn’t cancel just because his wife was tired.
    The maid dropped the clothes on the bed before coming to Mercedes, stopping behind her. Beth ran her fingers over Mercedes’ hairstyle.
    “Mrs. Braxton, I must say I do like yer ‘air when it’s wound up tight like this, so refined and sophisticated. It be different from ‘ ow ye used to wear it.”
    Mercedes brushed the tip of her finger across one of the tendrils by her ear. “I want to look my very best for our company tonight.” She bit her lip in hesitation, then asked, “Remind me again who is in attendance this evening?”
    Beth giggled. “I think yer mind is still jumping around on the coach from yer trip.”
    “Yes. I believe that is the reason.”
    “Well, I ‘ ope ye regain yer quick wit soon. I’d ‘ate for Mr. Braxton to yell at ye again, although ye’ve ‘ andled ‘is temper before. T’night ‘is business partner, Mr. Kennedy, and ‘is wife are yer guests. Ye know ‘ ow fidgety the master gets whenever Mr. Kennedy comes to dine.”
    Mercedes turned to assess the maid. “I wonder why Mr. Braxton acts in such a manner?”
    “I could not guess. Probably ‘cause Mr. Kennedy owns most of the business and can drop Mr. Braxton like a boulder in the ocean if ‘e doesn’t approve of ‘is work ethics.”
    Tilting her head, Mercedes narrowed her eyes toward the maid. “How do you know so much about Mr. Braxton and Mr. Kennedy?”
    Another giggle. “Ye ‘ ave left yer memory in New York to be sure. Do ye not remember teaching me ‘ ow to listen to their conversations without being seen?”
    Shock vibrated through Mercedes, and despite her effort to hide it, her jaw dropped. She closed her mouth and smiled. Apparently, Kat had assistance in her search for answers about William. “And you are doing exceptionally well, Beth.” She paused then asked, “Is there any more you want to tell me?”
    Beth’s forehead crinkled, as if searching her mind for answers. “I don’t think so.” Then her eyes widened. “But Mr. Braxton kept attending those secret meetings after ye left. I know ‘e promised ye ‘e would not go, but after ye left I think ‘ e just didn’t care.”
    Secret meetings? This was the very thing Mercedes needed to know. She wanted to ask the maid but didn’t want to look the fool,