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That’s another reason I want that room. So I’ll have some place to put it all until I get it put away in the house.”
    She couldn’t help but admire him, looking relaxed with his shirt sleeves rolled up revealing strong tanned forearms. Arms that could hold her and wrap her in the warmth even the affection she so craved.
    “So serious. What are you thinking, Ella?” He pushed away from the door and came to her. He took his knuckle and raised her chin until she looked at him. “I won’t hurt you.” Then he kissed her. He didn’t touch her with anything but his lips and that one hand which had managed to somehow work its way behind her head and hold her while he kissed her. She stood there, frozen in place by the feel of his lips on hers. Why was it she forgot everything when he kissed her?
    He broke off and rested his forehead against hers. “You sorely tempt me, Ella.” He turned and walked out of the room leaving her still feeling his kiss all the way to her toes.
    * * *
    He’d missed her again. Taking out Father was a good thing and, if it had worked, it would have killed her too, but it didn’t. She survived the accident. He’d been unable to get to her after that. Too many people around her all the time.
    Regardless, he would find her. Then she would die and he’d be that much closer to owning Davenport Shipping. He could prove his lineage; Father had given him the documents on his last birthday, just before the accident, finally acknowledging him. It had been his mother’s last wish and Father couldn’t deny her. Father had felt guilty, after all these years and the woman he loved was dying so he relented. But Daniel didn’t want to share. He wanted it all. He deserved it all.
    Now, however, his new target was preparing to go to the office. He had those two bodyguards with him all the time. No matter. Bodyguards could be bought. He just needed the right persuasion. He would find the Achilles heel for each one of the guards. After they were out of the way, taking care of his little brother, Joshua, would be easy, then all that would stand in his way was Ella. Dear, sweet, ugly Ella. Before he killed Joshua, he needed to find out where Ella went. He knew she’d left. He’d gotten that much from the maid he was sleeping with. The things he did. He shook his head. It didn’t matter. She was a pretty little thing. A nice whore, just like all women. Made for only one thing…a man’s pleasure.
    He laughed thinking about Ella. She’d gone from beautiful swan to ugly duckling in a few lucky strokes of wood from the carriage. But not lucky enough. It hadn’t killed her. That damn carriage fell apart and she hadn’t died. No, instead they’d found her in the rubble and stitched her back together. It had taken her months to heal. Months when she didn’t leave the house. Then, miraculously, she started leaving, walking, always walking, and wearing a heavy veil, one you couldn’t see through. Hiding her once beautiful face.
    Then, finally, his luck seemed to have turned. He saw trunks being loaded into a delivery wagon. He followed it to the train station.
    He went up to the freight master. “Where are these trunks headed?”
    “Golden City.”
    “Where is that?”
    “Colorado Territory. A way out west.”
    “How long will it take them to get there?”
    “If there are no delays, it’ll take ’em seven days. But we only guarantee ’em in ten.”
    He thanked the man and handed him two dollars for his trouble and his silence. Joshua would wait. Time to buy a ticket to Golden City, Colorado Territory. Seven days on the train was not something he looked forward to.
    Shaking his head he thought, “The things I do for…my rightful place in society.”
    * * *
    Supper was a success. Everyone liked her Yorkshire pudding. Even she was pleased with the way it turned out. It was getting late. She and Nathan retired to the parlor after supper. She told him about her life before the accident.
    “I was the