The Robber Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

what did he expect from them? They had always been cold and distant—no amount of time would change that.
    “Of course I am, Tom. Why would you think otherwise?”
    Tom sat up again and smiled at his sister. “Though it would be nice if Mother and Father would change for the better, I’m glad to see you haven’t changed a bit.”
    “And I promise I never will,” she replied, smiling back at her brother. “Now, get out. I have to prepare for this evening.

Four
     
    Though Fin was no longer needed in Victoria’s life, he still couldn’t escape her. Now that Tom was back, he wanted to learn more about his travels to Jamaica, and of course, wherever Tom was, there Victoria would be. Lady Grantham would make sure of it. Of that, Fin was most certain.
    But nothing could have prepared him for the shock he received when Victoria arrived at the dinner party that evening. He stood in the far corner, nursing a brandy alone, when she walked in, clad head-to-toe in white. White! He hadn’t seen Vickie in white since her come-out years ago. He would have thought it was positively ridiculous, her wearing white, except that she looked . . . well, almost pretty.
    Oh, who was he trying to fool? She looked like a damned angel. Her chestnut hair was swept into a loose coif atop her head, and tendrils dangled about her face in a most ethereal and, dare he say, erotic manner.
    Damnit , what the devil was wrong with him? This was Victoria— Vickie ! — she was practically his sister. It felt rather perverted to think of her in such a way, yet at the same time he couldn’t seem to stop himself.
    “What are you doing over here all alone, Finny?”
    Fin had turned away and taken a sip of his drink, so it came as quite a surprise to realize Vickie and Tom had made their way to his side already. He sputtered on his drink for a moment and Tom smacked him on the back.
    “Okay there, old man?” Tom teased.
    “You ought not to sneak up on a person like that,” he said, once he’d regained his ability to speak. “I nearly choked.”
    Victoria’s lips pressed together as she tried to hide her mirth.
    “Since you think it’s so funny, I’ll have to find a way to give you a taste of your own medicine one of these days.” His scolding had no effect on Victoria.
    “You may try,” she replied airily as she scanned the room.
    “What the devil are you wearing, by the way?” he said, changing the subject.
    Victoria turned her large, green eyes on him and cocked her head sideways. “What? You don’t like it?”
    “Do you?”
    “Not at all.” She let down her guard a bit and huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest. “But you know Mother . . .”
    He did. Which meant Victoria had been given no choice in the matter.
    “Well, Tom, how does it feel to be back in the fold?” He turned to his friend who now sipped lazily of his own brandy.
    “Damned freezing is how it feels. I never thought I’d long for the heat of Jamaica.”
    “Keep drinking and you’ll feel it soon,” Fin encouraged.
    “Perhaps you should go somewhere more temperate next time, Tom,” Vickie suggested. “Maybe I’ll go with you.”
    Both Fin and Tom erupted into laughter. Victoria punched her fists to her hips, clearly not amused. But really, the thought of her traipsing after her brother . . .
    Well, it would probably be the other way around, wouldn’t it? Victoria would certainly put her poor, lazy brother through his paces in a foreign country. It was a sight Fin would gladly pay good money to see.
    “Oh, good Lord, is there a good place to hide nearby?”
    Fin followed Tom’s line of vision until it landed on the last person he cared to see.
    “Why, Lady Beecham!” Victoria welcomed the woman with a wide smile. A smile she only reserved for people she truly despised. “How wonderful to see you. Is Lord Beecham here with you this evening?”
    “Oh, dear,” replied the woman in a dripping, melancholic tone, “I’m afraid my poor husband has