[Yukon Quest 01] - Treasures Of The North Read Online Free Page A

no understanding of such matters, but your father’s very existence teeters precariously on the edge of your actions.’’
    ‘‘My actions?’’
    ‘‘Of course,’’ Martin Paxton replied. ‘‘No decent clergy will marry us unless you are willing, and no doubt your mother already has the church picked out. You will cooperate and willingly consent to this marriage or I will see your father destroyed.’’
    ‘‘But why?’’ Grace questioned, her own fear now replaced with concern for her father and mother. ‘‘How has he so offended you?’’
    This question actually caused Paxton to release her. Standing up, he eyed her with a look of pure contempt. ‘‘It is a matter between men.’’ He turned away from her as if contemplating further consideration.
    Grace felt too shaken to stand, but her instincts told her that if she was to escape without further harm, she would have to make her way now. Without a sound, she got to her feet and hurried for one of the closer entrances into the house used by the house staff when collecting flowers for dinner arrangements and such.
    She barely reached the door when Paxton seemed to realized her escape. She heard the heavy footsteps upon the garden path just as she closed the door behind her and slid the lock into place.
    Paxton began pounding on the wood, threatening to shake the very foundations of the house into rubble. ‘‘Let me in, you fool!’’ he declared in a voice hardly louder than a whisper.
    ‘‘Go back to the party,’’ Grace called. ‘‘Go back and give my regrets. Tell them I’ve grown ill and my governess has seen me to bed.’’
    ‘‘Open this door now!’’
    ‘‘No,’’ Grace said, knowing there would be a heavy price to pay for her defiance.

3
    —[ CHAPTER THREE ]—
    ‘‘I CAN’T BELIEVE he did this,’’ Karen said angrily as she pressed ice against Grace’s swollen cheek. A reddish purple discoloration was already starting to mar the pale white skin.
    ‘‘I can’t believe it either. I honestly have no idea what is to be done.’’
    ‘‘Well, it’s obvious,’’ Karen replied. ‘‘You must break off this engagement and tell your father why it is impossible to go forward with marriage to such a monster. I’m certain that if he knew how you were treated, he’d never consent to see you wed to Mr. Paxton.’’
    Grace shook her head. ‘‘Mr. Paxton said he could ruin Father. Something has apparently happened between them, and Mr. Paxton has great power over Father.’’
    ‘‘Perhaps your mother would know what it’s all about.’’
    ‘‘I don’t know if she would or not. All I know is that I cannot marry this man, and yet there seems to be no other way to help Father in his need.’’
    ‘‘But, Grace, you don’t even know what that need is. Perhaps Paxton is doing nothing more than bullying you. He probably knows of your apprehension and maybe has even heard rumors of your disinterest in marrying him. He probably hoped to frighten you into the union.’’
    ‘‘Well, he did a good job.’’
    Just then Grace’s mother came into the room in a rush. ‘‘I heard that Grace was ill. Whatever is wrong?’’ She looked to Grace and then Karen. ‘‘Why has she an ice bag?’’
    Grace slowly removed the bag and could tell by her mother’s reaction that the cheek was no better.
    ‘‘Who did this?’’ Myrtle Hawkins demanded.
    ‘‘Mr. Paxton.’’ Grace’s words were flat and unemotional. She had no way of knowing what her mother’s reaction to the news might be. She hoped she might be sympathetic, but her parents were both acting very strange as of late.
    Her mother came forward and studied the damage more closely. ‘‘What happened to provoke this?’’
    ‘‘I slapped him for taking indecent liberties with me,’’ Grace replied. ‘‘He slapped me in return and told me that I was never to strike him again or question his actions.’’
    ‘‘The cad!’’ Her mother’s reaction was