him?”
“Our lunch was perfectly harmless, Mr. Burk. And besides, I am not answerable to Russell.”
“But you are engaged to marry him?”
“Not officially—not until my father gives his approval, that is.”
“Then Mr. Drayton hasn’t asked for you yet?”
Corinne became uncomfortable. “Really, Mr. Burk. That is none of your business.”
The carriage stopped on Beacon Street, but Jared didn’t move to open the door. “You’re quite right, of course. I just find it strange that a man who plans to marry you would allow you to see other men.”
“Allow?” Corinne felt her temper rising. “No one allows me anything. I do whatever I please, Mr. Burk. Russell wouldn’t presume to put restrictions on our relationship.”
“You’re very independent, aren’t you?” he commented.
“Yes, I am,” she said proudly. “I value the freedom I have gained.”
“But you are willing to give it up when you marry. You must love Mr. Drayton very much.”
“Of course I love him,” she lied, knowing how callous it would sound if she admitted the truth. “But Russell and I have a very agreeable relationship, Mr.Burk. I won’t be giving up my independence when I marry him.”
“Then he is a very…unusual fellow.”
“Yes, he is—quite different from most men.”
“You mean he’s weak, don’t you?” he asked contemptuously.
“Certainly not!” she replied indignantly, wondering why she had allowed this inquisition to go on so long.
“Then he loves you enough to give you whatever you want, including the independence you value so much?”
“I think, Mr. Burk, that your boldness has gone far enough. I have told you much more than you have a right to know.”
He grinned. “I apologize, Miss Barrows. But I have never met anyone quite like you. I find your ideas fascinating.”
“You are teasing me now, and I don’t like it,” she said icily. “I know you don’t approve. Your type never does.”
“My type?” he raised a brow in amusement. “Have you put me into a category, Miss Barrows?”
She ignored the question. “I enjoyed lunch, Mr. Burk. Thank you for inviting me.”
Corinne reached for the door handle herself, but Jared stopped her by placing his hand over hers. A strong current seemed to pass between them. The strength in his fingers seemed to drain her own.
She was shaken. She looked at him questioningly. “I—I wish to go in now,” she said weakly.
His gray-blue eyes probed her face as if he were trying to read her thoughts. “I know. But I want to see you again.”
“Why?”
“I find I like you very much, Miss Barrows.”
“I’m afraid I can’t return the compliment,” she said frankly.
“I have offended you and I’m sorry. But I really would like to see you again. Tonight for dinner? And the theater, perhaps?”
“No, Mr. Burk. After last night’s party, I have decided to spend a quiet evening at home tonight.”
“Then tomorrow?”
“I hardly see the point. We really have nothing in common. And Russell might not understand.”
“I thought you weren’t answerable to Mr. Drayton?”
“I’m not.”
“Then you will see me again?”
“I will have to think about it, Mr. Burk.” This time she did not accept the bait. “Good day.”
He opened the door for her then, and Corrinne rushed out of the carriage without waiting for him to help her. Nor did she wait for him to follow and escort her to her door, but ran quickly up the steps and into the safety of her home without looking back.
Her heart pounded frantically as she leaned against the door. She didn’t know what had frightened her so about those last few moments in the carriage. Jared Burk had stopped her temporarily from leaving, but that was not the reason. Was it Jared Burk himself? More likely it was his touch, for she had never felt so drained of will and strength as she did when his strong fingers closed over hers. She was stunned by her own reaction, for nothing like that had ever
“Our lunch was perfectly harmless, Mr. Burk. And besides, I am not answerable to Russell.”
“But you are engaged to marry him?”
“Not officially—not until my father gives his approval, that is.”
“Then Mr. Drayton hasn’t asked for you yet?”
Corinne became uncomfortable. “Really, Mr. Burk. That is none of your business.”
The carriage stopped on Beacon Street, but Jared didn’t move to open the door. “You’re quite right, of course. I just find it strange that a man who plans to marry you would allow you to see other men.”
“Allow?” Corinne felt her temper rising. “No one allows me anything. I do whatever I please, Mr. Burk. Russell wouldn’t presume to put restrictions on our relationship.”
“You’re very independent, aren’t you?” he commented.
“Yes, I am,” she said proudly. “I value the freedom I have gained.”
“But you are willing to give it up when you marry. You must love Mr. Drayton very much.”
“Of course I love him,” she lied, knowing how callous it would sound if she admitted the truth. “But Russell and I have a very agreeable relationship, Mr.Burk. I won’t be giving up my independence when I marry him.”
“Then he is a very…unusual fellow.”
“Yes, he is—quite different from most men.”
“You mean he’s weak, don’t you?” he asked contemptuously.
“Certainly not!” she replied indignantly, wondering why she had allowed this inquisition to go on so long.
“Then he loves you enough to give you whatever you want, including the independence you value so much?”
“I think, Mr. Burk, that your boldness has gone far enough. I have told you much more than you have a right to know.”
He grinned. “I apologize, Miss Barrows. But I have never met anyone quite like you. I find your ideas fascinating.”
“You are teasing me now, and I don’t like it,” she said icily. “I know you don’t approve. Your type never does.”
“My type?” he raised a brow in amusement. “Have you put me into a category, Miss Barrows?”
She ignored the question. “I enjoyed lunch, Mr. Burk. Thank you for inviting me.”
Corinne reached for the door handle herself, but Jared stopped her by placing his hand over hers. A strong current seemed to pass between them. The strength in his fingers seemed to drain her own.
She was shaken. She looked at him questioningly. “I—I wish to go in now,” she said weakly.
His gray-blue eyes probed her face as if he were trying to read her thoughts. “I know. But I want to see you again.”
“Why?”
“I find I like you very much, Miss Barrows.”
“I’m afraid I can’t return the compliment,” she said frankly.
“I have offended you and I’m sorry. But I really would like to see you again. Tonight for dinner? And the theater, perhaps?”
“No, Mr. Burk. After last night’s party, I have decided to spend a quiet evening at home tonight.”
“Then tomorrow?”
“I hardly see the point. We really have nothing in common. And Russell might not understand.”
“I thought you weren’t answerable to Mr. Drayton?”
“I’m not.”
“Then you will see me again?”
“I will have to think about it, Mr. Burk.” This time she did not accept the bait. “Good day.”
He opened the door for her then, and Corrinne rushed out of the carriage without waiting for him to help her. Nor did she wait for him to follow and escort her to her door, but ran quickly up the steps and into the safety of her home without looking back.
Her heart pounded frantically as she leaned against the door. She didn’t know what had frightened her so about those last few moments in the carriage. Jared Burk had stopped her temporarily from leaving, but that was not the reason. Was it Jared Burk himself? More likely it was his touch, for she had never felt so drained of will and strength as she did when his strong fingers closed over hers. She was stunned by her own reaction, for nothing like that had ever
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