My Wicked Fantasy (Avon Romantic Treasure)

386 Pages·1998·0.76 MB·English

by  Karen Ranney

K
AREN
R
ANNEY
M
Y
W
ICKED
F
ANTASY
To twenty years of memories
and survival
Contents
Chapter 1
“Ye’ve a gift for dreamin’, lass. Don’t ever lose
it. 1
Chapter 2
“Is she waking, then?” Archer asked. 6
Chapter 3
It was the same face Mary Kate had seen
reflected… 10
Chapter 4
“She arose too soon, of course. Such a thing
would… 18
Chapter 5
Mary Kate sat at the window of her borrowed
chamber,… 24
Chapter 6
James Edward Moresham, heir to his father’s
well-managed horse farm,… 33
Chapter 7
It took Mary Kate nearly a week to reach the… 38
Chapter 8
“You maintain a muteness which might be
endearing, save for… 49
Chapter 9
She didn’t look insane, but then Archer wasn’t
sure he… 57
Chapter 10
It was a quiet meal, but then, breakfast always
was. 64
Chapter 11
Bernadette Aphra St. John, known to her
intimate friends and… 73
Chapter 12
He didn’t knock, didn’t allow her to bid him
enter… 78
Chapter 13
“Give him an extra measure of mash,
Raymond.” Archer turned… 85
Chapter 14
Help him…. 94
Chapter 15
“Are you all right, boy?” 103
Chapter 16
She was to be given the freedom of
Sanderhurst. 108
Chapter 17
Bernie solved the problem of transportation by
buying a new… 125
Chapter 18
“Will you kiss me?” 136
Chapter 19
There was nothing to this business of being a
footman,… 146
Chapter 20
The stench of fish, the pungent odor of the
water… 158
Chapter 21
Archer opened the stronghold door, withdrew
a velvet bag. He… 168
Chapter 22
He watched her, his face unreadable, the black
eyes blazing,… 178
Chapter 23
He had felt his soul splinter. 190
Chapter 24
“I am the Dowager Countess of Sanderhurst,”
Bernie explained, as… 198
Chapter 25
“No, no, the elephant’s tusk goes on that stand.
See,… 204
Chapter 26
“At the risk of offending your vanity, you look
as… 212
Chapter 27 223
Bernie insisted that Mary Kate join her and
Archer for…
Chapter 28
“It’s a breech-loading musket, Mary Kate, not
a snake.” Bernie… 230
Chapter 29
“Oh, thou Phytic oracle, that which sees all,
which knows… 242
Chapter 30
His smile was a daunting thing to ignore. After
a… 255
Chapter 31
Sometimes, at night, James could almost hear
her call him. 267
Chapter 32
Mary Kate sat upon the second bench of the
Sanderhurst… 275
Chapter 33
Archer stood at the window, watching the slash
of lightning… 282
Chapter 34
When Mary Kate awoke, it was the deepest
part of… 288
Chapter 35
It was neither his conscience nor his doubts
that made… 297
Chapter 36
“So you’re off then, lad?” Samuel Moresham
asked of the… 302
Chapter 37
His stepmother was a dainty thing, with blond
hair that… 315
Chapter 38
Cecily had such dainty hands. Odd, that he’d
never noticed… 321
Chapter 39
“Wasn’t it fortuitous that elderly Mrs. Gransted
left me her… 328
Chapter 40
“It was quite a magnanimous thing for you to
do,… 339
Chapter 41
It was dawn when Mary Kate woke, a scant
three… 347
Chapter 42
Mary Kate unlaced the black velvet vest and
shrugged it… 358
Epilogue
A melody cushioned her as she slept, a soft
trickle… 369
About the Author
Other Books by Karen Ranney
Cover
Copyright
About the Publisher
Chapter 1
“Ye’ve a gift for dreamin’, lass. Don’t ever lose it. The
world can be a right cruel place if ye’ve not the
knack to ignore it from time to time.”
Her father’s words echoed in Mary Kate’s mind like
the sound of a long-ago bell. What would Patrick O’Brien
say about her actions? Would he understand that this
journey was the culmination of a dream she’d had for so
many years? Or would he simply counsel her that she
was being foolish, that nothing would come of stirring
up trouble?
Mary Kate would never hear his opinion. Da resided
with the angels, and had for too many long years.
She knew what she was doing was probably unwise.
She might not find what she wanted at the journey’s end.
But on the chance that she would, she’d sold every be-
longing she’d managed to acquire over the last four years,
walked away from the small house on Bell Street, and
was heading north, away from London. Memories of ten
years ago provided her clues—the name of her mother’s
father, a tiny village called Denmouth, a dream of whis-
pers and plans.
She’d made better time than she’d expected, being able
to secure a ride here and there, when she’d planned on
having to travel most of the distance on foot. This morn-
ing
1