Forbidden by Susan Johnson (good books to read for teens .TXT) 📕

Daisy shrugged with the smallest movement of her shoulder. "I know. I find it odd."

Having had considerably more experience than his sister in the wildly passionate world of amour—more experience, many said, than any man since his father's fascinating Absarokee looks and charm had seduced legions of females a generation ago�Trey didn't find it odd at all. Until he'd met Empress, no love affair had ever left him distrait.

"Maybe you knew Martin too long," Trey reflected in masculine bias. Love affairs—in his memory—generally were not long. The excitement invariably faded. And Lord, Daisy had been seeing Martin in casual friendship for what? over two years?

"Perhaps." Her single word was speculative. She really didn't understand her feeling of detachment. "Sally warned me off, you know," Daisy softly went on, contemplating the tips of her fingers for a moment before steepling her hands under her chin and gazing at her brother.

"You were surprised?" His pale eyes were amused under his half-lowered lashes, his indolent pose echoed in his voice.

"Is that normal then?" Her own voice was as soft as his, the quiet of the room enveloping them in a companionable rapport.

"You're beautiful, darling; Sally isn't." Trey's statement reflected fact rather than vanity; they were a family of attractive people. "Also," he added with barely facetious emphasis, "she's never been known for her sweet disposition."

"So adept, baby brother, in understanding women…" Her dark eyes over the tips of her fingers were teasing.

He grinned. "Practice."

"So tell me… will the marriage last?"

"Do you care?"

"Out of curiosity only."

"Then I'll answer honestly. Yes. Martin made a sound decision based on long-range goals. You don't think he'll be content forever with the Treasurer's office. He bought into Newcomb's wealth and political network when it was apparent to him you weren't going to opt for marriage with any dispatch. He intends to stay the course."

"Without love?"

"I expect he'll find that somewhere too," Trey cynically replied.

After his appearance at her office today, Daisy expected as much herself. He hadn't acted like a new bridegroom.

"So…" Trey softly went on, "since you're not pining away over your loss…" He grinned broadly. "And I came in fortuitously to send Martin on his way…"

"He was leaving."

"It sure looked that way to me." Trey's tone was ironic, smug.

Daisy bristled the minutest degree at his smugness. "You and father are too protective. I'm very capable of managing my own affairs."

He grinned again. "I know."

"I don't mean that." A spark of heated affront flashed in her eyes.

"Of course not." Trey struggled to keep the teasing out of his voice. "But rather than argue about interference in your affairs…" His smile broke out against all efforts at restraint. "… business or otherwise, let's argue about something more productive—from my purely selfish point of view."

"Meaning?" Suspicion infused the single word, soft as afternoon languor.

"I'd like you to go to Paris to see Solange's name is entered into Empress's estates."

Daisy's hands fell away from under her chin and she groaned. She should have known. Empress had politely inquired into the possibility of her going to Paris at dinner last week. Daisy had just as politely changed the subject. "You know how I dislike cities as enormous as Paris," she began, evasive and diplomatic.

"Send someone else to process the name transfers on Empress's family property. Hire a French lawyer. He'd be more adept anyway at bribing the necessary officials. You know how the French bureaucracy works. You also know better than anyone how busy company matters are with the new mine opening. Not to mention the current case in court. Get someone else."

"Empress wants you to go. I'll take over your duties on the new mine and you know damn well the court case will be over in less than three days. Your turn," her brother said with a playful grin, lacing his hands behind his head in a comfortable pose suggestive of someone settling in for the duration.

"Estate transfers are routine legal work. Henry can do it. Send Henry." She was using her dismissive, exacting tone, qualifying her refusal within the boundaries of practicality. "He speaks French."

"Not like you do." In contrast, her brother's voice was tranquil, serene, unconcerned with practicality.

"Flattery won't work, sweet brother, so don't bother; Henry's French is more than adequate for the work. And I feel stifled in Paris. You know how the sheer size of the city unnerves me."

"The process won't take more than two or three weeks," Trey gently noted, intent on having his way, well aware that a woman capable of holding her own on a hunting trip for grizzly bear wasn't easily unnerved.

"Be realistic. We're talking French bureaucracy."

"All right," he conceded. "Four or five weeks."

"If I'm lucky and I make record time on the crossing."

"You're Solange's godmother. Consider it your duty."

"Since when have any of us been dutiful?"

Trey's grin crinkled his eyes half-shut, curtailing their vivid humor. "As a fucking personal favor then," he cheerfully said, "so Empress is happy."

"That's not fair."

"I probably wasn't trying to be fair. I probably just want you to go because no one is as clever and capable as you and Solange is my baby."

Daisy paused to gather the tumult of her emotions into a reasonable acceptance. In all practicality, she'd known from the start she had to go, but at least some evasive tactics were called for in an attempt to avoid Parisian society, which was what she actually disliked about Paris. "I suppose I can stay in that small pension near Notre Dame," she yielded, thinking it sufficiently removed from "society" to make her feel comfortable. She liked the potty old concierge, the medieval low-ceilinged rooms, the spectacular view of the Seine.

"Adelaide already asked for you; she's close to Notre Dame too."

"You told her I was coming?" Daisy glowered a little.

"I told her you might come," Trey lied.

Avoiding Adelaide's kindness was impossible now. The Princess de Chantel, lifelong friend to Empress, considered it her duty to entertain Empress's family. "You're going to owe me, baby brother." Although the man lounging,