Independent Brake (The Dominion Falls Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Lincoln Park. She settled into her seat, and waited for him to follow suit.
    Once he did, the cab took off and silence fell between them. Katherine wasn’t sure why he stared her down so intently; whether to determine if she was legitimate, or to make her uneasy, but she chose to ignore him.
    Neither of them spoke until they arrived at the park and Patrick hopped out of the carriage. He turned to help her down and offered a cheeky smile along with his hand. “You’ve already won points by not being one to gab my ear off.”
    “Or did I lose them by not fawning and flattering you with false platitudes?”
    “I failed to think of it that way. Perhaps I should realign my thoughts on the matter. What do you think?”
    “I think you should wait until you’ve heard my proposition as you said you would.” If nothing else, the teasing word play set her more at ease. Being clever and witty with the opposite sex is something she’d learned in the past few years. While her first job had been as a teacher, after that each job required interactions with men.
    Miss Stapleton had trained all her girls on etiquette and conversation. Katherine knew many of the girls were eventually groomed into high class whores, but no soiled dove ever flew from Miss Stapleton’s nest until she was eighteen. Those that failed, or didn’t wish for even high class work servicing men, were left to learn more practical job skills. Though Miss Stapleton never asked Katherine her wishes, she’d never been approached. Katherine wondered if Cole had anything to do about that.
    If so, she owed him more than just her escape. Katherine sighed aloud, shaking her head to clear the thoughts. Once again, a part of her life was in the past, but this one had given her some skills she could use.
    “Everything all right?”
    “Yes. I’m sorry. I got lost in thought.” This time Katherine took his proffered arm and fell into step beside him. “Now, my proposition.”
    “I wait with breathless anticipation.”
    “You reputation says many things about you, Mr. Warner. It says you have no desire to marry any time soon.”
    “I haven’t yet met a woman to convince me otherwise,” he admitted.
    “It also says that you are quite skilled not only at the wooing, but at what occurs in the privacy of bedrooms. Or, as I’ve heard, not always bedrooms.”
    “You listen to far more racy talk than most of the women in your position.” He slowed his steps and cocked a brow. “You’re not even blushing, Kat.”
    “I grew up in a mining town, Mr. Warner. I’ve heard and seen things I likely shouldn’t have long before I came to Chicago.” Katherine smiled, once again reminding herself of why she knew she could do this. “However, despite all the things I have learned, heard, and seen in my life—knowing and doing are not the same.”
    “Knowing and doing, what?”
    “Copulation, Mr. Warner. I wish to learn.”
    Warner’s mouth opened and closed, his dark eyes searching her features. He shook his head and stepped closer. “I beg your pardon?”
    “You heard me.”
    “I did. I doubt my own ears, but I heard it.”
    Katherine moved to a nearby bench and sat, patting the spot beside her. There were several minutes of silence as she waited for him to heed her beckoning and sit. Once he did, she turned her attention to the people wandering through the park. “I also have no desire for marriage. I haven’t ever felt a strong desire to be married to anyone. I don’t imagine that changing anytime soon.”
    “I understand that.”
    “I’m certain you do.” Katherine folded her hands in her lap. “However, I’m not an innocent young woman that prefers to remain obtuse to the workings of the world. I’ve heard tell that coupling can be either enjoyable or dreadful. I prefer to learn a way to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh, and figure there is no better way to do so than with one who is rumored to be rather skilled.”
    “Flattery?”
    “Fact. I have