Winter of the Passion Flower (The de Vargas Family) Read Online Free PDF

eyes. Sitting with him in the confined space of the
vehicle sent sharp thrills coursing through her body and she attempted to
ignore the effect his proximity appeared to have on her traitorous limbs.
Pulling out the brass stops on the ornate dashboard with shaking fingers, she
laughed loudly as loud shots of steam hissed from the large pipes coiled on
each side of the vehicle. Zane jumped in surprise, grabbing the support bar in
front of the sloping glass screen as the vehicle shot forward at great speed.
Roaring down the cobbled road to Castle Lorcathian, Indigo glanced across the
road to the ocean. The wind was still gusting strongly and the water was decked
with white-capped waves. She smiled when she saw there was no steam carriage
waiting at the end of the road for the guests. The duke obviously expected them
to walk across the suspension bridge in the wintry winds which swirled in off
the ocean. Putting the scarab into overdrive, the wheels folded up underneath
the chassis as the airlift engaged. The vehicle flew over several well-dressed
guests who clung bravely to the sides of the swaying rope bridge, hundreds of
feet above the angry waves crashing on the rocks below.
    “You certainly enjoy living dangerously,
Madame,” the captain commented.
    Glancing across at him, she smothered a
laugh. His posture was stiff, white knuckles still gripping the bar even as
their speed slowed. Perspiration trickled past his collar despite the cold. The
poor man had experienced a wealth of new technology in her manor house over the
past day and Indigo smiled at the thought of the voyage ahead of him later
tonight.
    The scarab stopped outside the entry to the
Grand Hall with a final hiss of steam. Waving the duke’s valet away with a
dismissive hand, she reminded Zane of his role. “Just follow my lead as we
planned. You should enjoy the evening. If our plan works, we should get what we
want from Mr. Cole in a timely fashion. The Grimoults are preparing the Artemis for departure now and we shall depart for the Amazon as soon as we return from
here.”
    Indigo and Zane entered the Grand Entrance
Hall of Castle Lorcathian, arms entwined. Several demurely clad matrons sitting
on cloth-shrouded furniture gaped at Indigo’s attire. Shocked gasps were heard
across the hall as she strutted over to join the duke, her voluptuous body the
center of attention. Leopold stood with a tall man in a far corner hidden by
large ferns. Wearing a morning suit with a top hat, holding a monocle against
one eye, the man had the appearance of an important dignitary. Indigo broke
away from Zane and tapped Leopold on the shoulder. As the duke turned, Indigo
reached over, took his heavily bejeweled hand and placed it firmly against her
breast. Bending down, she leaned into him, placing her open mouth on his slimy
lips, hiding the revulsion that coursed through her veins. She thought of
inserting her tongue; however, she decided she would rather lose her entire
enterprise than sink to those depths.
    “Leopold, dahling ,” she drawled,
keeping her voice bored. “What a wonderful occasion. Thank you so much for our
invitation.”
    The duke pulled back from her grip with a
surprised gasp, his face reddening as her breasts wobbled under his chin. Her
ruby red corset fit her like a glove, and when Indigo leaned forward the tips
of her dusky pink nipples were just visible. The steel bars pushed her bosom
upward, further enhancing her cleavage. She watched with delight as Leopold’s
gaze traveled down to the sheer lace skirt brushing her mid thigh, exposing
bare legs clad in high black boots. Her satisfaction grew as his ruddy
complexion deepened and his bulbous nose turned purple as he struggled for
words. The duke truly was an ugly little man, both inside and out.
    “Are you going to introduce me to your
friend?” Indigo flicked Leopold’s cheek with a finger bared by fingerless lace
gloves. The duke bowed rigidly, turning to the tall man beside him. “Mr.