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"But--but--what did he say?"
"What could he say after I told him you had admitted everything?"
"But I didn't mean--"
"Don't try to lie for him, Victoria. I know more about this kind of situation than you do, and the
important thing now is to protect your good name."
And your own, she thought bitterly, as she slumped against the bed in shock. "Father, I can't
marry that man."
"Don't you worry, you'll be properly taken care of, your trust fund will insure that."
The trust fund! She'd always known her mother had left money which would come to her when
she married or reached thirty. Victoria had never thought much about it, because she'd never
considered reaching thirty without being married. But if she had that money, she'd no longer have to
endure her father's restrictions. She could live anywhere she liked.
The Silver Heiress Sarah Winn 166
And Hawk needed money--that was the only reason he'd rescued her. Surely, if she offered him
part of the trust fund, he'd be glad to marry her in name only. Then she'd have more freedom than
she'd ever hoped for.
"May I talk to Hawk?" she asked in a meek voice.
"That isn't necessary. I've sent for a judge. He should be here in a couple of hours."
"But--" Victoria had to cover her mouth as she yawned widely. How could she possibly be
sleepy at a time like this? Miss Pritchard's medicine?
She looked at T. J. with her most pleading expression. "If I could just talk to him--"
"It's arranged. All you've got to do is get yourself ready." He turned and asked Amanda about
the possibility of serving refreshments after the ceremony.
Victoria allowed her shoulders to slump. She couldn't believe Hawk would let himself be forced
into marriage. Her father must be paying him to do it. Good! If he'd marry her for money, he let
her go to San Francisco for it. This could work out nicely for her.
Her father was saying something about finding suits for the men, and Miss Pritchard was
chattering away about a bridal costume. What did it matter? Victoria needed a nap. With a loud
yawn, she pulled her feet up and let her head drop to the pillow.
The Silver Heiress Sarah Winn 167
It seemed as though she'd just gone to sleep when Miss Pritchard called her name insistently.
"You must bathe and get dressed."
Reluctantly opening her eyes, Victoria slowly sat up. She heard water rushing in the bathroom
and a maid ran through the room carrying the dress Victoria had worn the night before.
"I had it pressed," Miss Pritchard explained. "It's the only formal gown you have left. You'll
have to wear it today. I have to run down to the kitchen, now. Hurry and bathe. I'll be back
shortly." She spun away, pausing just long enough to call out, "Josephina, don't let Miss Chandler
go back to sleep."
Grumbling complaints, Victoria stood, stretched, and stumbled toward bathroom. What was the
big hurry, anyway? Oh, yes, she was getting married.
After the bath, Victoria sat in her petticoats in front of her dressing table for what seemed like
hours while Josephina brushed and combed her hair, and Miss Pritchard kept insisting she try
something different. They brought fresh gardenias from somewhere and fashioned a wreath of them
around the back of Victoria's head. She found their heavy scent a little sickening.
All this fuss was silly. It wasn't a real marriage.
The Silver Heiress Sarah Winn 168
They slipped the blue dress on, at last. Miss Pritchard wouldn't allow Victoria to sit down for
fear she'd wrinkle it. She shifted from one foot to the other until her father arrived to escort her
downstairs.
"Is he really down there?" Victoria asked.
T. J. tucked her hand over his arm and gave it a few pats. "He's there, and I even managed to get
a suit on him. "Don't you worry, sweetheart, I'm going to take care of you just like I always have.
I'll make him toe the mark."
So, he has made a deal with Hawk and thinks he's going to go on running my life. Well, he's in
for a surprise--a big one. Her steps lost their reluctance, and she and her father started down the
stairs.
The wedding party waited in the conservatory. It wasn't much of a party, only five people
standing in a sun drenched bay of windows, banked by potted palms. A few servants and a couple of [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]