Free Forgotten Dreams by Eleanor Woods Page A

Antonia," he said unhesitatingly. "Your friend Connie was eager to fill me in on all the details regarding your family and your affection for your aunt. Once she told me the names of the present owners of Cartlaigne, and I realized they were old friends of mine who own a chain of newspapers, leasing the house became quite simple."
    "Sounds as though Connie was as informative as an encyclopedia," Toni said, frowning.
    "Only because I told her that I wanted to get to know you better," Christian said pleasantly. "I find I'm intrigued by the excitement that seems to surround you," he added.
    And in spite of herself, Toni grinned. "Are you certain you're physically up to 'getting to know me better?' " she asked as they approached the entrance to Cartlaigne. "I mean, look at what's happened so far. You were almost involved in a brawl, you were attacked by a dog—a small one, but nevertheless a dog —and you suffered a slight concussion at the hands— or rather head—of my aunt's goat."
    She parked the car at the side entrance, switched off the ignition, then turned her head and stared intently at him. "If I were you, Christian, I do believe I'd reconsider. For a man of your age and reputation, not to
    mention your obvious lack of stamina, a really dedicated pursuit of me might prove fatal."
    In the dim lighting of the confined space, Christian met the rather amused and, at the same time, derisive glint in Toni's eyes with his own determined gaze. He'd known since the first moment he saw her that he would get to know her better.
    Admittedly, the events that followed hadn't exactly gone as he'd first planned. Toni's departure from Richmond had come as a complete surprise to him. But he had already decided to take six months or so off to think about changes in his career, and he hadn't had any definite travel plans in mind, so choosing Natchez had been an easy enough thing to do.
     
    That decision had been helped along by taking Connie to dinner. During the course of the evening Christian had learned the reason for Toni's breakup with Steven Crowell and that she had relatives in Natchez. When Connie, eager to acquaint him with each tiny scrap of information regarding Toni, mentioned that the present owner of Cartlaigne was the son of a publishing tycoon and that the house was vacant, Christian took care of the matter from that point on.
    Now here he was, sitting next to a pixie-eyed minx who'd stayed in his thoughts for days. To add insult to injury, there was about as much welcome reflected in her voice and in the dark pools of her eyes as he imagined her ancestors felt when the Yankees had invaded Cartlaigne over a hundred years ago.
    Not only was she not overjoyed to see him, she'd actually had the nerve to cast aspersions upon him, his manhood, and the reputation to which he'd devoted so much time and effort.
    It was a slight fidgeting from his pint-size chauffeur that caused Christian to break the tense silence. "Don't let my past 'failings' worry you, Antonia." He smiled thinly. "When I decide to pursue a lady, I always make a point of fortifying myself with all sorts of vitamins. I have to consider my age, you see. My companions are never disappointed, and neither will you be."
    "You're ridiculous," Toni said flatly, unable to believe the incredible gall of the man.
     
     
    "No." Christian sighed. "At the moment I'm just injured. Not only is my head pounding like crazy, but that shot is beginning to make me feel a little dizzy."
    Toni wanted desperately to run to the safety of the cottage, but she knew she ought to see Christian safely inside his own place.
    "Can you walk or do you need me to help you?" she finally asked after several
    seconds of soul-searching.
     
    Christian shrugged. "If you'll lend me a hand, I would appreciate it."
    Telling herself that it was the shot that caused Christian to talk the way he did, Toni opened the door and hurried around to the passenger side to assist him.
    "Just slip an arm across my