Excerpt of In His Arms by Robin Lee Hatcher

Chapter One

New York City, July 1898

The door to the master's study swung shut behind Mary, causing her to gasp in surprise. But it was Winston Kenrick's soft chuckle that made her whirl about and her pulse to quicken in dread.

"I wondered how soon you would get to cleaning this room, Mary."

"If 'tis a bad time, Master Kenrick, I could be coming back later. When you're not so busy and all."

He smiled, but the look was more feral than comforting. "I wouldn't think of causing you the trouble. Come in and be about your business."

Mary tried to disregard the ominous feeling in her chest. In the months she had worked for the Kenricks, nothing untoward had happened to her. Yet it seemed the master was always watching her. It seemed he was around every corner, in every room, waiting, observing, smiling. The truth be told, she didn't like him much.

"I'll be trying not to disturb you, sir," she said as she set down her bucket of soapy wash water. She pulled the feather duster from her waistband and walked to the bookcase where she set to work, ignoring the man behind her.

The master chuckled again. "But don't you know, my dear girl? You always disturb me. You can't help it."

"I'm thinking I don't know what you mean," she replied without looking at him. But she was more than sure she did know.

Winston moved closer. "How is that little boy of yours, Mary Malone?"

Her heart nearly stopped. Her hand stilled, the feather duster resting on the spine of a book. "Me boy?" she whispered. She'd never told anyone in the Kenrick household about Keary. How did Master Kenrick know?

"It must be difficult, raising an infant on your own. What is he? Almost a year old now?"

She remained stubbornly silent.

"I could make it easier for you, Mary."

"I'm having no complaints as things are now."

His hands alighted on her shoulders. Slowly, he turned her to face him.

Winston Kenrick was a handsome man in his mid-forties. His hair was silver gray, but rather than making him look old, it added to his distinguished appearance. He had enormous power and influence among the wealthy members of New York society. He watched Mary now with eyes that said he knew exactly how to use his power and influence to get what he wanted.

"My dear girl, you have no idea what I'm offering."

Mary's infamous temper flared. "But I'm thinking I do know, sir, and I'll be having you know I've got no interest in the likes o' you. Not for any amount of your charm or your money."

His eyes narrowed. "Don't play the innocent with me."

"Oh, I'll not be pretending innocence, sir. You already know I'm not married and I have me a son, so there'd be no use to it. But I learned me lesson well with Seamus Maguire, I did. I've been betrayed, but I'll not be used. Not by you nor any other man."

She tried to push him away, but his grip on her arms tightened.

Winston grinned. "I think I can change your mind." He kissed her.

For a moment, she didn't fight him, too stunned to move. But then he chuckled low in his throat, pleased with himself and with what he was doing.

Her anger flared hotter. She bit his lip. Hard.

He howled as he stepped back from her. Mary used the opportunity to slip away, dashing to the opposite side of the master's enormous cherry wood desk. Winston, in turn, positioned himself between her and the door.

He touched his lip with his fingertips, then looked at them, as if checking for blood. "You Irish witch," he said softly. The words would have seemed less terrifying if he'd shouted them.

"Just let me go, Master Kenrick. I'll collect me pay and be gone from here."

"Are you aware that the authorities could deport you because you lied to get into the country? You told them you were married. They could send you back to Ireland." He paused a heartbeat, then added, "Without your son."

"They'd never do that." Fear made her mouth dry, her tongue thick. "They'd never do that."

"Do you dare take that chance?"

She shook her head, whether in disbelief or in answer to his question, she didn't know. "I can't betray Mrs. Kenrick nor meself in such a way."

He moved toward the door. "I have very powerful friends. Police officers. Judges. I can make certain you never see your son again. Never. Is that what you want?" With a click, he turned the key, locking the door. Then he faced her again. "Be careful what you decide, my dear. Be very careful. Your son's future is entirely up to you."

Keary. Me darlin' Keary.

Winston moved to the center of the room, then crooked his finger at her. With heart pounding, she came around from behind the desk. She told herself that, no matter what happened, she'd lived through worse and survived.

"That's a good girl."

Winston stepped toward her.

Mary stepped backward.

He grinned, enjoying the game.

She bumped against the desk, stopping her retreat.

Winston laughed aloud. "Playing it coy, Miss Malone?"

"Don't do this, sir. Just let me go, and I'll be no more trouble to you."

"You're no trouble to me now."

For Keary, she reminded herself. To protect Keary she could bear anything.

Winston reached for her. Panic surged, and she instinctively tried to push his hands away.

"No!" she cried.

Irritation flashed in his eyes, and with unexpected swiftness, he rent the fabric of her blouse. "Let's be done with this silliness."

"Leave me be!"

He pressed her against the desk. She tried to brace herself, hoping for enough leverage to shove him away. Then her right hand closed around something large, cool, and hard on the desktop.

"You'll not be doing this to me!" she cried.

Mary swung her arm with all her might. The second after she hit Winston on the side of his head with the object in her hand, she saw a look of disbelief in his eyes. He stumbled backward a few steps, teetered drunkenly, and crumpled to the floor, lying in an awkward position on the Oriental rug.

Breathing hard, Mary took a step toward her employer. She nudged him with the toe of her shoe, but he didn't move. He made no sound. Then she saw the red stain spreading near his head across the elegant fibers of the carpet.

"Faith and begorra!" she whispered, her eyes widening. "Have I killed him, then?"

The answer lay before her, still and unmoving.

She would swing for this, see if she wouldn't. And then what would become of her wee Keary? She would have to get her son and run away before the master's body was found. She had little time to think about where she would go. She simply knew she must go quickly.

She felt light-headed and out of breath as she hurried across the room. It wasn't until she reached for the key that she realized she still held the weapon she had used against Winston Kenrick. She looked at the ornate box. It was real silver, she'd wager, and valuable. It was better if she took it with her. The police might think the house had been burglarized. Maybe they wouldn't notice the absence of one of the housemaids if they were looking for a thief instead.

Turning the key, Mary unlocked the study door, then turned the knob. She trembled as she looked out into the hallway. If one of the other servants were to see her ...

The hall was empty. Now if she could get out of the house without being seen.

She remembered her bodice was torn down the front and knew she couldn't go running through the streets of New York, down Madison Avenue itself, looking like this. People would know she was guilty of something. They would summon the police and have her arrested. All would be lost.

Panic threatened to overwhelm her.

Use your head, Mary, me darlin' girl, her da's voice whispered in her head. One hapless act may undo you, but one timely one will put all to right. Think, now.

Mary forced herself to be calm and work things through in her mind. She knew Mrs. Norris, the cook, kept a spare apron hanging near the rear kitchen door. If Mary put it on, it would hide her ripped bodice. And her hat ... She needed her hat. She needed to look like any other servant girl, out running errands for her mistress.

She glanced over her shoulder at the body of Winston Kenrick and a shiver ran through her. He'd been an evil man, he had, but she would always be sorry she'd killed him. Because of it, she was certain she'd never know a moment's peace for the rest of her miserable life.

Copyright 2001 Robin Lee Hatcher