The Hawk and the Jewel (Kensington Chronicles 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

life and tried to answer calmly.
    "No, I'm not."
    "Then I cannot sleep in this room with you."
    "You don't sleep in this room," Brandon replied, hoping she would be reasonable. "You sleep in your own room."
    "But there is no lock on this door, no way to stop your passage to my bed."
    Brandon could see that he would have to grow accustomed to her bluntness. "Sunny," Brandon's voice was very gentle, "you have nothing to fear from me."
    "I do not know you. I cannot take your words as truth." Sunny began to wonder if there was anyone left on this earth whom she could trust.
    They were both silent a moment while Brandon debated what to say next, but Sunny was the first to speak.
    "I need another room." She tried to sound authoritative, as if she would not take no for an answer.
    "That is out of the question." Brandon's voice, although kind, was unyielding. "You are under my care for the space of this voyage, and I will see you back to England safely."
    "And who will have my care when we-" Sunny didn't finish the question, completely forgetting for the moment about her sleeping arrangements. Brandon, in all fairness, knew it was time to tell her everything.
    "Why don't you get dressed and have some breakfast? While you eat, I'll explain how you've come to be here."
    Remembering that they had not settled the sleeping arrangements, Sunny hesitated. She was suspicious of this captain, kind though he was, and wondered if breakfast was just a distraction on his part.
    Of course, she told herself, had he intended to harm me, he might have done so by now. Without further word Sunny turned and entered her room, shutting the door firmly behind in order to dress for the day.
    Having watched her face, Brandon felt vaguely dissatisfied with how little her eyes gave way to her thoughts.
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    43
    Sunny was quite hungry by the time she had struggled into her dress. What had seemed like such fun the day before was a lot of work today. She couldn't remember everything she was supposed to put on, so she left most of her undergarments off, but that didn't solve her newest problem. The dress she had picked out buttoned down the back. Sunny bent her arms until they ached but still could not reach all the buttons.
    Nearly 45 minutes had slipped away, and Brandon, not wanting to rush her, hesitated outside her door. He'd heard a tremendous rustling and shuffling for a long time, and then silence. If he didn't know belter, he would have guessed she was no longer in her room.
    "Sunny, are you ready?"
    The angry brunette didn't answer.
    "May I come in?" Brandon called to her, and when she again remained silent, he opened the door a shade and peeked around the corner.
    The small room was a disaster. The trunks were empty. The bunk and floor were strewn with dresses, shoes, and feminine apparel of every type. Sunny's face was flushed, and she looked ready to kill. Brandon had to arrest the amused smile that threatened.
    "My dress is not ready," Sunny stated tightly.
    "Does it button in the back?" Brandon, the brother of one sister, easily deduced the cause of this hurricane.
    The clenching of Sunny's jaw was all the answer he received, and with a move of his hand, Brandon motioned for her to join him in the main cabin.
    She stood with rigid posture as he fastened the five small buttons that she could not have possibly reached, also taking note of her bare back, and wondering how he was going to explain feminine attire to her. Not wanting to deal with it at the moment, he immediately, and with all the aplomb of a servant seating the queen, seated Sunny at the table. He heard her small sigh, and with quiet efficiency he uncovered the bowls of food on the table so she could eat.
    She did eat-with her hands. Brandon, well aware of Eastern customs, had suspected she would do so, but had also decided to let Sunny's family tackle this problem. It wasn't that she spilled food all over herself and the cabin; in feet, she was very neat. Using pieces of bread to scoop