Chase the Wind Read Online Free PDF Page B

into a fist within the folds of her dress.
    “I’m afraid I don’t dance very well,” she lied. “I wouldn’t want to cause you undo embarrassment at your party.”
    “A woman of your beauty needn’t worry about that.” Faith managed to wrestle her hand from his grip and massaged her wounded fingers with the other. Randolph just smiled at her as Faith looked around for the nearest escape route, but before she could find one, Miriam had her arm.
    “Good idea, Faith,” she hissed in her ear.
    “What?” Faith asked incredulously. Her stepmother was actually smiling at her.
    “Playing hard to get will just make a man like Randolph more interested.”
    Faith pulled Miriam into a comer, then jerked her arm out of her grasp. She had only been at the ball ten minutes and felt absolutely mauled. “I don’t know what you are plotting, Miriam, but I tell you now, I want no part of it, and I especially want no part of Randolph Mason.” Her teeth were clenched so tight, she had to grind out the words.
    “Don’t be ridiculous,” Miriam hissed back. “Why do you think you’re here?”
    “I did not come here to be pawed by the likes of him.” Faith indicated the man with her chin.
    “It is way past time for you to marry, and you will marry well. Do not think that you will spend the rest of your life up in your room waiting for some prince to come rescue you like your mother did.” Miriam was spitting the words out and her eyes were narrowed with anger. “I know you’ve been pining after someone, and I know that whoever it is has been snooping around. I saw tracks in the yard a few weeks ago under the tree by your window.” Faith prayed that the shock she was feeling didn’t show on her face. Miriam suddenly realized that people were watching them and she reached up a hand to smooth her hair. She smiled at Faith, a brittle smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Let’s go view the buffet, dear.”
    “No thanks, I’ve lost my appetite.” Faith walked away. She could feel Miriam’s eyes on her as she went into the hall. She crossed her arms over her breasts and looked around to see if she could find her wrap, a coat, blanket, tablecloth, anything to cover herself with. The doors to the library were open, and she decided to take shelter there until she could find a way to get to Ian.
    Something stopped her in her tracks. Ian was here. He was standing behind Mr. Mason, talking into his ear. Mason was shak ing a guest’s hand, but he had his head tilted back to catch Ian’s words. He asked a quick question, and Ian shook his head. Mason turned to the next guest, and Ian stood patiently behind him. His face was haggard, his hair nearly standing on end, the set of his broad shoulders showed how tired he was. Faith stood in the hall watching him while the guests eddied around her.
    Ian’s eyes found her. She could feel them burning into her. She stood in the middle of the crowd and felt them all disappear. The only other person in the world was Ian, and his deep blue eyes were devouring her soul.
    Mason turned to say something, and Ian tore his eyes away from Faith and nodded assent to the man. He looked at her again and Faith felt the impact of his pain; then he left.
    Faith ducked into the library. The windows faced the front of the house, and she hid between one and a heavily lined drape to watch Ian’s progress down the drive. He turned once, but she knew he couldn’t see her in the dark window. She watched him disappear in the night, then reappear in the light of the barn door. There was a flash of copper from his hair and he was gone.
    She knew that in order to get to the barn she would have to disguise herself somehow. She was just considering the merits of ripping the draperies down when she heard someone come into the room. She ducked back to the side of the window and saw Randolph’s reflection in the glass. He stood there with a drink in his hand and carefully surveyed the area. Faith held her breath.