Chapters (51)
- Cover
- Books by Elizabeth Camden
- Title Page
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Historical Note
- Questions for Discussion
- In 2020, look forCaroline Delacroix’sstory in
- About the Author
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- Back Cover
“Then when, Annabelle?” His voice lashed out like a whip, and she flinched but didn’t back away. “When did you start faking affection and holding your nose so you could poke through my study? Through my father’s letters? When did your every interaction with me become nothing more than a ploy to spy on us?”
He was losing his temper, and nothing she could say would soothe him. It would only pour oil onto the fire, and he had a right to be incensed. Why did doing the right thing feel so wrong?
“I’m not going to answer that.”
His gaze slid past her shoulder to where the mansard roof of the Department of Agriculture could be seen above the trees. Comprehension dawned, and bitterness twisted his face.
“You were bought,” he said in a disbelieving voice. “They promised you a plum job, and you pounced on it.”
It wasn’t true, but he would never believe her. It didn’t matter how badly she wanted a permanent position, she had done it for Dr. Norwood’s grandson and the thousands of other young men stationed in Cuba.
“I did what any loyal American would have done,” she said.
“And were richly rewarded for it.” He walked toward her, and the icy calm in his gaze was somehow more frightening than if he yelled and screamed. There was nothing she could say that would make sense to him. “How long was it after you turned the information over that you were offered this job? An hour? A day?”
“It wasn’t long, and I’m sure you know that,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do, and I will forever wonder if there was a better way I could have handled it. If I acted wrongly, then I can only pray that God will forgive me. I know I’ve hurt you, and I am so desperately sorry.”
He braced his hands on his thighs, bending over almost as though he was going to be sick. She wanted to offer comfort, but he’d only fling her away.
“Well, the scales have fallen from my eyes,” he finally said. He pushed himself back to his full height. His face was twisted with bitterness and his eyes accusatory. “Good-bye, Annabelle. I hope to the bottom of my soul that I never have to see you again.”
The words scorched, but she deserved it. She stood motionless by the pond as he turned his back on her and walked away.
Twenty-One
