Maudie stepped back a little, wary of the fire that leaped in his eyes. But she wasn’t about to be cheated.
“Was the girl bleeding before you took her?” Maudie asked quickly.
“No.”
“Then how do you explain that bloodstain in the middle of the bed, unless the girl was a virgin?”
Bradford looked at the stain again, his brow wrinkled in thought. Was it possible? And then he remembered the way the girl’s body had suddenly stiffened, and her nails digging into his back. And she had been frightened and nervous to begin with.
“Good Lord!” he fumed. “What the hell was she doing, throwing her virginity away like that? And she didn’t even get paid for it—you did!”
“That’s right, gent. But not enough, not enough for a virgin.”
“I didn’t ask for a virgin,” he reminded her acidly. “And I don’t intend to pay just because that little girl happened to be one.”
“You better do the right thing, gent, or you ain’t going to be welcome in my club again,” Maudie pronounced indignantly.
“What was the girl doing in your house anyway, if you didn’t know she was a virgin?” he demanded.
“I was expecting a new girl and I thought she was the one. She came in unescorted, and she didn’t say anything when I gave her to you. She wanted it done. Lord knows why, but she wanted to be busted. And there’s plenty men would have paid a fortune to bust her.”
“So she wasn’t even one of your girls, and yet you’re trying to get more money out of me.”
“She’s going to be one of my girls, just as soon as I can find her. That girl’s a little gold mine. She probably came to my place because she wants to get started in the business. But the point is,” Maudie said, shaking a pudgy finger in the air, “she came here to have her first man, and anything that happened in my place I get paid for.”
Bradford shook his head, but he took out his wallet and pulled out five one-hundred-dollar bills, dropping them on the chair seat. “Will that be sufficient?”
She came over and picked up the money while Bradford put his white frilled shirt on. “I suppose it will have to do,” she retorted, and stuck the bills between her huge breasts. “Don’t know why you put up such a fuss about it in the first place.”
“You have already soaked me for over ten thousand at your tables. The girl should have been on the house.”
“Hell, that’s just a drop in the bucket for you. I hear you Maitlands can afford to lose that much every day.”
“That’s hardly the point, Maudie,” Bradford said, reaching for his vest. “For Christ’s sake!” He looked around to see if he was mistaken, but he wasn’t. “The girl stole my vest!”
Maudie barked her laughter. “You just can’t win for losing today, can you, gent?”
“Why would she take my vest and not my wallet? There’s more than five thousand in it.”
“Maybe you won the poor girl’s heart, and she just wanted a keepsake. Or more likely, she just couldn’t find your wallet, or was too stupid even to know where to look. Next time you’re in town, gent, come see me again. That little girl is going to be very much in demand here, and if you think she’s worth the high price I’m going to set for her, then you can have her again.”
“Oh, she’s worth it, Maudie, and I’ll have her again,” Bradford replied with a grin on his lips as he picked up his coat and started for the door. “But I won’t be paying you for her. I’m going to Find her before you do, Maudie, and that’s a promise.”
“You bastard!” she called out after him, but he was already running downstairs, his laughter drowning out her curses.
Bradford went straight to David Welk, his Springfield lawyer, getting the poor man out of bed, and gave David Angela’s description. They made arrangements for the whole city to be searched. Welk even arranged for a man to be posted at Maudie’s place, just in case the girl did go back there. It was imperative that Bradford return to New York tomorrow on business, or he would have stayed to help in the search. He wanted fast results.
Bradford hated mysteries. Why had the girl done what she did? She let him believe she was a whore, when in fact she had never been with a man before. And why take his vest and not his money?
He had to find her. He wanted answers.
But above all, he wanted her. Just thinking about her stirred him deeply. He was not finished with her. One way or another, he would have her again.
Chapter 14
WHEN Bradford returned to his home in New York, he found a telegram from David Welk and also a message from his fiancée, Candise Taylor. He ignored her message, and quickly opened David’s telegram.
HAVE FOUND THE GIRL. NAME ANGELA.
HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE SHE WILL LEAVE THE STATE SOON. ADVISE.
“Damn!” he swore aloud.
He couldn’t return just yet, at least not for a few days. But what if the girl were gone by then? It was imperative that he not lose her.
Bradford quickly scribbled off instructions for David and sent them off with a servant. Bradford hoped he could trust David to carry out his orders. As he wrote, he exulted silently, Angela... her name is Angela!
David Welk stepped out of his carriage at the train depot and searched the crowds for the man who had urgently sent for him. After a few moments he finally saw him waving frantically from inside the station house and hurried over to him.
“Well? Where is she?” David asked.
“Right over there, sir, with that older woman in green,” the man replied. “I didn’t think you would get here in time.
Her train leaves in about ten minutes.“
“Is there a police officer around?”
“There is one by the entrance.” David sighed regretfully. “Go and get him.”
When the man David had hired to watch Angela left to do as ordered, David pulled Bradford’s telegram out of his pocket and read it once more.
KEEP GIRL UNDER SURVEILLANCE. IF SHE ATTEMPTS TO LEAVE STATE, STOP HER. ARREST HER IF NECESSARY.
David shook his head. This was deplorable. But Bradford had told him about the stolen vest. He did have cause. And he could think of no legal way to stop the girl except to arrest her.
Angela hugged Naomi Barkley good-bye. “Thank you for seeing me off.”
“Well, don’t forget to send me a wire and I’ll meet you when you return.”
“That isn’t necessary, Naomi,” Angela protested.
“Nonsense. I have nothing better to do. Are you sure you won’t change your mind and spend your Christmas vacation with me? I would love to have you.”
Angela grinned and shook her head. “You know me. I’ll take every chance I have to get away from this cold, miserable weather.”
“Then you had better hurry, dear. The porter is waiting to put your luggage on the train.”
“Angela.”
Angela turned around. She didn’t recognize the man standing behind her. “Yes?”
“Is your name Angela?”
She stared at the man curiously. Two other men stood behind him. One was a police officer.
“Who are you?” she asked warily.
“I’m a lawyer, miss.”
Angela’s eyes widened. Oh, God, something had happened to Jacob—she just knew it.
“You have bad news?”
“Is your name Angela?” he persisted.
“Yes, yes,” she said worriedly.
The lawyer turned to the policeman and summoned him forward. “Her name is the same and she fits the description. Arrest her.”
Angela gasped.
At that moment, Naomi stepped in front of Angela and glowered at the policeman. “Don’t you dare touch this girl! She is a student on her way home for Christmas vacation. This gentleman has obviously made a serious mistake.”
“I’m afraid not, madam,” David said uncomfortably. “The girl stole an article of clothing from a client of mine. My client is presently out of the state, but when he returns, he will decide
whether or not to press charges.”
“This is preposterous!”
“I quite agree, madam, and this is most unpleasant for me. But no mistake has been made.”
Naomi turned to Angela, who was deathly white. “Angela?”
Angela thought surely she was going to faint. Bradford was going to put her in jail for stealing his vest!
“I—I did take something that didn’t belong to me—I had to,” Angela said in a frightened voice. “But I would have returned it if I knew where to reach—the gentleman. You can have it back.”
“I’m afraid it’s too late for that, miss,” David Welk said. “A crime has been committed.”
“But I’m not a thief!” Angela protested shrilly, her fear growing. “I didn’t take the damn vest because I wanted it. I needed it that day to—to—”
Angela faltered. How could she explain? The lawyer must know the whole sordid story. But Naomi didn’t know, and Angela couldn’t possibly tell her.
The policeman took Angela’s arm firmly and led her away. Naomi followed, calling out, “Angela, I will wire Jacob and he will get this all straightened out.”
“No!” Angela cried, facing her. The policeman waited for Naomi to catch up to them. “No, Jacob must not know about this.”
“But he can help, dear.”
“No!”
“Jacob is an understanding man.”
“He won’t be this time. I can’t explain it, but please —don’t tell him.”
Naomi shook her head. “I have to, Angela. He is your guardian.”
Angela took a deep breath. She would have to tell Naomi now.
“Naomi, the vest I took belonged to Bradford Maitland, Jacob’s son.”
“He is the one responsible for this?”
“Yes. And Jacob would be furious if he found out. But more than that, he would demand an explanation, and that is something I cannot give him.”
“But how could Bradford do this to you? You’re a member of his family! And heavens, you have done nothing but talk about him since I’ve known you. I had the distinct impression that you were madly in love with him.”
“It doesn’t matter what I felt. Bradford didn’t recognize me the day we met in Springfield. And even if he did recognize me, he doesn’t know his father is my guardian. He hasn’t been home in all the years since Jacob took me in.”
“Why didn’t you tell him who you were?”
“He thought—oh, Naomi, don’t ask me about that day! I thought I wanted to remember it always, but now I wish it had never happened.”
More than that, she wished she had never laid eyes on Bradford Maitland. God, why hadn’t she told him who she was? She wouldn’t be in this mess now if she had.
“I will have a talk with that lawyer,” Naomi suggested, cutting into Angela’s thoughts.
“No!”
“But he works for Bradford, and maybe for Jacob as well, so he must be told you are Jacob’s ward.”
“Then he will feel it’s his duty to tell Jacob, and I would rather die than have Jacob know what I’ve done,” Angela said miserably.
“Angela, you seem to be forgetting that Jacob is expecting you home for Christmas.”
“You can tell him I got sick and can’t make it, that I will be staying with you instead. Please, Naomi, do that for me. I’m sure I can get myself out of this mess before the holidays are over, so the school won’t have to know anything, nor will Jacob. Bradford had no reason to do what he did and I’ll make him see that when he comes back.”
Naomi sighed. “Angela, I don’t understand any of this, but I will cover for you. It’s against my better judgment, but I’ll do it.”
Chapter 15
BRADFORD rode to the jail with David Welk in a hired coach. Bradford had been delayed in New York longer than expected and this was the third day the girl had spent locked up. She was a student, and from a very exclusive girls’ school. Bradford would never have believed it, but that was where David had found her and she admitted to the theft. Yes, this was the girl.
“I was really hoping it wouldn’t come to this,” Bradford said reflectively when they reached their destination. “But then again, it might just be to my advantage. She will undoubtedly be quite grateful when I have her released. You did find a house in the country?”
“Yes.”
“A private, secluded house?”
“Yes, yes” David replied with a good deal of annoyance. “And I have to tell you I don’t approve of what you’re planning, Bradford.”
“Why? I will have the girl’s consent. I won’t be breaking any law, David.”
“It’s immoral.”
Bradford laughed.
“Well, we’re here,” David said huffily. “You know, what I don’t understand is why the girl’s parents haven’t been here.”
“Has anyone been notified that she was arrested?” Bradford asked.
“I assumed the chaperon who was with the girl has taken care of that.”
Bradford shrugged. “Perhaps her parents don’t give a damn. At any rate, if they do come, they won’t find her here now. And there’s no need for you to wait, David. I can handle things from here.” Then he added, “I assume the house you found is well stocked?”
“Yes,” David replied. “And there’s a carriage and a pair of matched bays in the stable. You will have to attend them yourself, though, since you specified no servants.”
“You’ve done wonders, David, and in such a short time. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. You didn’t need a lawyer for this. Any experienced madam would have done.”
“Miss Smith.”
Angela was staring fixedly at the ceiling, counting the cracks for the hundredth time as she lay stretched out on a narrow cot. She had never been so angry in her entire life. She was furious. She had had three days to feed that fury.
“Angela Smith!”
She gasped and sat up. She must remember that she had used the name Smith. She had impulsively lied about it and all the other information demanded of her, so she wouldn’t involve the school in scandal.
She stood up quickly when the door opened and a guard stepped into the cell. “Well, don’t just stand there, girl,” he said impatiently. “Come along.”
“Where?” she asked warily.
“You’re being released. The man you robbed has decided not to press charges. All he wants is a few minutes of your time. He’s waiting out front.”
“Oh, he is, is he?” Angela said icily.
She picked up the one small suitcase she had kept with a few changes of clothes in it. Naomi had taken the rest of her luggage. And then Angela walked stiffly out of the cell and continued to the entrance, not waiting for anyone to tell her whether she could or not. She was stopped, but only to be handed her cape and jacket. She donned them quickly and left the building.
The bright morning sun blinded her when she walked out the door. That and the recently fallen snow made everything a white blur for a moment and she had to stop to get her bearings. But with squinting and shading her eyes with her hand, she finally saw him just a few yards from her, standing in front of a small coach.
She walked toward him, deliberately taking her time, her eyes riveted on his face. He was smiling, actually smiling! That was the last straw. She stopped only inches from him and then her hand snaked through the air and cracked against his cold cheek.
Bradford was genuinely surprised. “What was that for?”
“You dare to ask!” she shouted furiously. “If I had a gun right now I would shoot you. I would honest to God shoot you dead!”
“Lower your voice, damnit, or you will have the police out here to arrest you again.”
“Yes, by all means, throw me in jail again!” she stormed. “You can say I assaulted you.”
Bradford’s eyes narrowed. “Get in the coach.”
“I certainly will not!”
He grabbed her arm and shoved her roughly through the coach door, tossing he
r suitcase in after her. Quickly, he was inside and the driver started them off down the street.
Angela crawled up on the seat opposite him and glared at him murderously. “You stop this coach right now and let me out! I refuse to go anywhere with you!”
“Shut up, Miss Smith, and stop acting as if I wronged you. You stole from me, remember? I could have left you to rot in jail.”
Angela felt a tight knot swell in her throat. Her lower lip began to tremble and tears sprang to her eyes.
“You didn’t have to be so cruel,” she said in a tiny voice. “I offered to give your vest back, but your lawyer said that wasn’t good enough. All along, it was your fault I took the vest to begin with.”
“My fault? That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?” Her body stiffened and her eyes glistened with anger again. “I needed you that day to fasten my dress, but you were passed out. That was why I needed your damn vest.”
“So that’s why you took it?” Bradford laughed. “My dear, there were any number of women below who would have been glad to assist you.”
“I couldn’t go down there and risk running into that horrible Maudie.” Angela was aghast.
“So you fled, and fortunately left your jacket and cape behind.”
“Fortunately?”
“That’s how we found you. I had a man sent there in case you returned, and he discovered from the doorman that you had left the articles behind. It was lucky for you he swiped them before Maudie found them.”
“I wouldn’t call it lucky if it led you to me,” Angela snapped.
“Would you rather Maudie found you? She was determined to, you know.” He grinned when she remained silent. “I didn’t think so. At any rate, there was a piece of note paper in the pocket of your jacket, math notes written on school stationery. My man went to the school and you were recognized from a description.” When she still did not speak, he sighed. “Angela, I didn’t want to have you arrested, I only wanted you to be here when I returned.”
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