he watched a waiter walk by with a silver tray of wed

out and grab

the heavy medical brace, the toe of his shoe barely grazing the floor. His crutch tips were planted wide to keep him upright, and even from across the room she could see his knuckles were w

ack, taking a sip of his bourbon, w

umbled, one hand releasing its death grip on the crutch handle just long enough to trap th

ook as he held the boxes. He glanced past her shou

come near me again, I won't need him

ned gray. He cou

. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. A rush of pure

ble and handed it to her. "Like a kitten showing h

d. She took the cooki

slightly. "Mr. Maxwell. Your father requ

vanished instantly. He looked at Audrian

the butler u

y study doors clos

heelchair behind a massive desk. He

ed, his voice raspy. "You marry

oking down at the ballroom floor

I saw her eyes. Her eyes remind me of some very unpleasant memories. Ellwood, do

ipped, clattering loudly onto the windowsill. Th

illed with a violent, suppressed rage. "Do not

is gone, Ellwood. Do not ruin an innocent girl's

n his heel and walked out, slammin

teps. Frances was walking toward her, holding a full glass of red wi

voted sharply to the left, stepping completely out of the trajectory. Frances lost her balance and stumbled forward, but the dark red liquid sailed past Audriana, splashing violently all over the expensive cream Chanel suit

Frances scrambled to apologize, her

d through the French doors and stepped ou

Audriana walked toward the large stone fountain. Her feet were killing her. She kicked off her hig

ed behind her. Crutch tips dra

a spun

the thick rose bushes. The overwhelmin

the toe of his shoe scraping uselessly against the ground. He heaved himself forward another step, the crutche