The Pleasure King's Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

“You didn’t use my name, did you?”
    His frown deepened. “No. As per our agreement, the jewellery was simply labelled Designs by Picard. But I do feel very strongly that you should get recognition, Christabel.”
    She shook her head, the anxious moment receding at his reassurance. “I truly don’t want that.”
    “Why not?”
    Because they’ll find me through you. But she couldn’t say that. Dragging him into her dilemma wouldn’t solve anything. “I’m happier this way.”
    “You could make a very substantial career.”
    “I don’t need a career. What I need is to be free, Jared. Can you understand that?’’ A kind of desperate panic welled up in her, forcing an explanation that warned him where she stood. “Not to be tied down. Not to be owned. Not to have my life ordered by others. So don’t count on more from me. Don’t ever count on more. I’ve tried to tell you....”
    “Yes, you have,” he agreed. “I’m sorry if you think I haven’t respected those feelings.”
    The passionate outpouring broke into a ragged sigh. “Then why am I here?’’ she muttered defeatedly.
    “Because it’s where you want to be.”
    As simple as that. Except nothing was really as simple as that. She looked at him in anguished uncertainty.
    “Let it rest for now, Christabel. Come...” He gestured towards the veranda, smiling in light whimsy, “...it’s only one evening.”
    One evening...he was right. It involved only a short time span. Nothing need happen that she didn’t want to happen. And Alicia was with her.
    Her gaze automatically swung to the veranda as she fell into step beside Jared. Alicia was chatting to a little old woman who was bent over, exuding interest in what the child was saying.
    “Vikki Chan,” Jared elucidated. “Probably checking when and where to serve the honey prawns.”
    As with many of the Chinese population in Broome, she wore loose cotton trousers and an overblouse with slits on the side. Her grey hair was scraped into a bun and her much wrinkled face was creased into an indulgent smile. Clearly Alicia was at ease with her.
    Christabel gratefully seized on an impersonal topic of conversation. “I find it amazing that the Chinese and Japanese people here have adopted Western society names.”
    “They’ve been here a long time. Descendants of the divers in the old days.”
    “Yes, but they still keep many of their customs. Like leaving money on the graves in their cemetery.”
    “Ah, but that has to do with beliefs, not day-today mixing with people. The captains of the pearling luggers gave Western names to their divers, for their own convenience in identifying them. The practice was accepted and passed on.”
    “A very arrogant practice, imposing one culture on another.”
    “Not a culture. Just a name. The Chinese culture is alive and thriving in Broome.” He slid her a dry look. “I doubt you’d find Vikki critical on that point. She’s quite the queen bee in the Chinese community.”
    Being the keeper of the Picard home probably carried a certain status, Christabel thought, and being of a venerable age undoubtedly carried weight. She wasn’t really expecting the bright and shrewd intelligence that came straight at her from the old woman’s eyes when she straightened up from talking to Alicia.
    Christabel felt herself blushing. Nothing was escaping those eyes. They had her stripped and logged in detail, with probably a character analysis done, as well. It took staunch discipline to keep walking up the steps to the veranda, her spine automatically stiffening at feeling herself scrutinised so comprehensively.
    It reminded Christabel of her first meeting with Bernhard Kruger after she’d married his son.
    Was she suitable?
    Would she fit into the right mould?
    Would she deliver what was required of her?
    She’d had no conception of what she was getting into then. But she did here, with Jared’s world, and no matter what she felt with him, the conviction came very