A Lady of Hidden Intent Read Online Free PDF

moving to the open door. “It would appear that thought often escapes you.
    You might think yourself above the rest of us, but you aren’t.”
    Catherine began to shut the door as Felicia passed through the portal. “I have never pretended to be other than I am.” She closed the door and leaned against it, knowing her words were as far from the truth as anything she might have fabricated.
    “Oh, what a liar you are,” Catherine chided herself in a barely audible voice.

CHAPTER 2

    L ee, you’ll never guess my good fortune,” Carter Danby announced as he strode into his best friend’s law office. He shed his wet coat and hat. “Even the rain cannot dampen my spirits.”
    At thirty years of age, the two might have been mistaken for brothers, sharing not only a long-standing camaraderie but also physically mirroring each other in height and mannerisms. But where Carter’s brown hair bordered on ebony, Leander Arlington’s hair was honeyed brown. And while Carter’s eyes matched the same deep hue as his hair, Lee’s were twinkling blue.
    “So what is it you’ve come to tell me, since I’ll never guess,”
    Lee replied with a grin.
    “I have concluded the terms of the contract with Montgomery. He has approved the initial designs and now desires I draw up the detail prints for his new estate.” Carter pulled off his gloves and placed them aside.
    “Wonderful! Well done,” Lee said, standing to reach his arm across the desk as Carter took a seat.
    Carter shook Lee’s hand, then leaned back into the chair. “It has been a trial, to be sure. The man and his wife have changed their minds on the details four times. I do believe I could have made better money elsewhere for all the time it’s taken for this one estate.”
    “Still, the Montgomery name will bring you high regard. And that, along with your other designs, will surely send you on your way. I do wish you would reconsider your plans on leaving the area, however. Philadelphia needs good architects as well as Boston or New York City.”
    “True, but my family does not reside in either of those dear towns,” Carter fired back with a smile.
    “So things are as bad as ever?” Leander asked.
    Carter put his hands behind his head and stretched back a bit. “It is certain to never change. At least my father and brother have accepted my desire to focus on a career outside of the family mills. Father has even offered to finance another trip abroad. I figure he means to get me out of his hair.”
    “Is this because of his mistress?” Lee settled back and eyed
    Carter.
    “That, amongst other issues. The fact that he and my brother both have their wives and mistresses does little to help matters, but the fact that the men in my family are also given to cheat- ing their customers and making profits on the backs of the less fortunate are also issues that divide us.”
    “Well, as your legal confidant, I, of course, will say nothing to anyone. But should they be caught, it will not bode well for the family—for your mother and sister.”
    “And don’t I know that. Poor Winnie . . . she tries hard to keep the peace between our parents, but she’s seldom successful. Father wants only to see her married off to a wealthy man, but the poor girl is so shy she is seldom seen in public. My mother doesn’t make matters any better. She nags and pleads, constantly haranguing my father with accusations—granted, most of them true—and other nonsensical issues until not only does he want to be out of the house, but I want to be absent as well. Even now I’m steadying myself for the journey home.”
    “You could come home with me,” Lee offered. “Share supper with us. At least delay your journey as long as possible.”
    “I do enjoy a good meal with such fine company,” Carter said with a sigh, “but I promised my mother I would take supper with the family tonight. She wishes to discuss her Christmas preparations.”
    “Ah, the annual Danby Christmas