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CHAPTER 1

New York City, 1888

Kate's heart raced and her eyes teared from the anger and fear surging through her body. How dare he? How dare he do this to me? She grimaced at the deep burn in her back and shoulders, caused by her marginal control over the racing pair of geldings, as they thundered through the narrow crowded streets of New York City.

The wheels rattled over the cobblestones, jarring her teeth and blurring her vision. With her last ounce of strength, she brought the dappled grays to a clattering stop in front of Ross William's prestigious, three-story law office.

The door man, his eyes wide and face pale, hurried forward to grab the harness and calm the team. "Miss McShane. You drove up like you was being chased."

"I am." Kate glanced around, then grabbed the heavy folds of her day dress and scrambled off the high seat. "At least I was."

She hung onto the carriage for a moment, allowing her heart to steady and her knees to support her. "Please watch my rig and beware of a man dressed in dungarees and a red-striped shirt. He's very dangerous."

"Sure thing, Miss." The man nodded and cooed to the horses as she ran past him and wrenched open the heavy, carved door.

Slipping inside the richly appointed reception area, Kate took a deep breath. She was safe. At least for now.

"Miss McShane. My goodness, what happened?" Ross's assistant, Mr. Gibb, hurried around his desk. "You look rather disheveled. Are you quite all right?"

Her chest still heaving, Kate bit back the retort, hell no, she wasn't all right. She paused a moment then answered the rather effeminate man. "I need to see Mr. Williams. Now."

"Mr. Williams is with someone at the moment but —"

Kate pushed past the slack-jawed assistant and threw open the inner office door.

"For the love of —" Ross shot up from his seat behind the massive desk, his brows smoothing when he saw her. "Kate, what is it?" He fastened the buttons of his perfectly cut suit jacket and brushed a golden curl off his forehead.

"Katie?" Leland Cook, her father's long time foreman twisted in the wing-backed chair then pushed out of the leather confines and hurried to her side.

The assistant huffed behind her, clutching her upper arm. "I'm sorry, Mr. Williams. I tried to stop her."

"Unhand me." She glared over her shoulder. He released her and stepped back. "Ross, please call off your watchdog. This is an emergency."

Ross nodded at his assistant, dismissing him with the wave of a hand. The moment the door closed Kate's knees buckled. She sank against the closed door and covered her face with both hands.

"Katie, for heaven's sake what's wrong?" Leland said, his expression etched with alarm.

"Oh, Leland." Kate threw her arms around the older man's neck. She didn't want to crumble in front of her advisors. She needed to appear strong and in control, but she couldn't hold back with Leland, who had always been like a second father; even more so since her father had died six weeks ago.

Ross touched her shoulder. "Tell us what happened. Heavens, your dress is torn and dirty."

"Give her a minute, Ross." Leland patted her back.

Kate longed to stay in Leland's arms and sob out her fright and frustration, but she couldn't weaken now. She stepped away from the older man and sniffed. "I narrowly escaped being kidnapped; that's what happened! That scoundrel Jeb Walker has to be behind it."

"Good God, Kate, are you sure?" Leland's thick, white hair was mussed, and his normally youthful face drawn and tired. His sharp blue eyes appeared dull.

She glanced at Ross. Heavens, more than one blonde curl was out of place as if he'd been raking his hands through them.

"What did I interrupt?" She looked from one man to the other.

"We can fill you in later. First tell us how this happened." Ross slid his hands up and down her arms. His cologne surrounded her, his golden eyes captured her attention and made her wish she could settle for less than mad, passionate love and marry Ross.

He stepped back a proper distance. Still the suave man he'd been when James McShane hired him fresh out of law school, Ross's career in the courtroom and law office hadn't added an ounce of excess flesh to his tall, slender frame.

She cleared her throat and stepped away from his touch. "Jeb proposed to me again. I refused and left the office. I didn't notice the driver, until we were deep into the dock area." Chills scattered up her arms and neck at the memory of looking out the window of her carriage to discover she wasn't on her way home. Kate swallowed and continued. "Someone had switched my driver for a hideous creature who dragged me into a disreputable establishment on the water front."

"Katie, my god, this is unforgivable. Did he hurt you?" Leland urged her to sit in the seat opposite the one he'd occupied.

"I'm bruised, shaken up, and angry, but he didn't take advantage of me, if that's what you mean." Kate raised a brow at Ross, who hadn't bothered to ask after her welfare. He appeared rather calm over what had been a life threatening situation.

She arranged her skirt around her and continued. "We were at the office. I had a particularly difficult meeting with the board of directors. They laughed at my idea to clean up the dock. Then Jeb sided with them." Kate pressed her fingers to her forehead and fought back tears of frustration. "After the meeting, I confronted him about not backing me, and he said I should give up the ridiculous notion of running the company and marry him."

"I assume you refused?" Ross tented his fingers under his chin and walked around the desk to reclaim his chair.

"Of course I refused."

"But you're sure Jeb's responsible for the kidnapping attempt?"

"Who else could it be? He has the most to gain, doesn't he?"

"Kate, you're a very wealthy heiress. There are multiple people who would want you." Ross propped his elbows on the desk. "We need to get to the bottom of this atrocity."

Kate rubbed her forehead, determined to continue without breaking down. "At the least!"

"How did you get away?" Ross narrowed his eyes and drilled her with a less than sympathetic look.

"He dragged me into a place called The Goose Down. I struggled, but no one came to my aid. He took me behind the bar and into a small room. I didn't know how to get away, then I remembered my derringer." Kate hesitated, emotion choking her. "I pulled my gun and waved it at him. He backed away, and I ran outside and climbed on the carriage."

Leland glanced at Ross, his mouth turned down, his blue eyes shooting fire. "Ross, you're the Executor of the McShane estate, get to the bottom of this! The driver needs to be arrested."

The memory of helplessness swept over her. Kate shivered.

"I'm pouring you a sherry." Leland rose and hurried to the sideboard and the impressive display of crystal.

Kate leaned back in the soft leather chair and sighed. "Mercy, I can't believe what's happened since Father died. My entire world is crumbling."

Leland handed her a delicate crystal glass. Kate thanked him and took a sip of the sweet, amber liquid, relishing the immediate effect of soothing warmth through her blood.

She closed her eyes, but the disgusting face of the kidnapper flashed through her mind. She snapped them open, sat up straight, and pushed back her hair.

"I must look a fright." She pressed her hand to her chest. "If a street brawl hadn't broken out right behind me, the henchman would have caught the carriage."

"Good Lord, this has gone too far." Leland paced between Kate and the sideboard. "A woman of your standing in The Goose Down!"

"Have you heard of it?"

"We've, ah, certainly heard of it and its reputation." Ross shifted in his chair and cleared his throat.

Kate pursed her lips and raised one brow at the discomfort on both men's faces. "Hmm, it appears you have heard of it."

Not for the first time that day, she realized how much her father had protected her from the darker side of life. "Well, it's certainly not someplace I want to see again." Kate gulped another drink of sherry and swiped at fresh tears. "I've never driven a team before, but I had to escape."

Ross planted his palms against the shiny desktop. "I'll confront Walker right now."

"No." Leland stopped pacing. "We can't forget the plan."

"I thought we had more time."

Kate glanced from Ross to Leland, her stomach queasy. They acted as if she wasn't in the room.

"So did I, but he's moving faster than we figured." Leland eased into the chair.

Fear gnawed at her. "What do you mean? Are you referring to Jeb? She scooted forward and set the crystal glass on the desk. "Tell me what plan you're referring to."

Leland and Ross looked around the room then glanced at each other. Kate shot them both what she hoped was a scathing look.

"You two know something, and I demand you share it with me."

Leland sighed. "Yes, Katie, Jeb's up to no good, but we hoped he'd wait a more respectable time after your father's death."

"There's nothing respectable about Jebulin Walker." Kate's voice trembled. Oh, how she wished her father was still alive. She picked up the glass of sherry and drained it. Smacking her lips, she glanced from

Leland to Ross and back. "Now, who is going to tell me what's going on?"

Leland cleared his throat. "We believe Jeb's responsible for your father's death."

"What?" Kate stared at Leland through a gray tunnel. All strength left her body, her fingers released the crystal glass, and it hit the thick carpet with a thud.

"No." She pushed to the edge of the chair but couldn't stand. "What are you talking about?"

Ross walked around the desk and kneeled in front of her. "You were right, Kate. Jeb has the most to gain by either marrying or eliminating you. You are now the only thing blocking him from sole ownership of McShane Walker Shipping."

"Yes, but resort to murder?"

"James was the main obstacle to his ambitions. The more Leland and I discuss it, the more your father's death makes no sense. One thing we're fairly sure of is that Jeb was the last person to see James alive."

Kate covered her face with both hands. "I've felt so guilty about being in Europe when he died," she whispered.

She'd traveled with close family friends but would never have gone if she'd had an inkling her father wasn't well. By the time her ship docked in New York Harbor, her father had already been buried with the service the following day. "I was too overcome with grief to ask for details."

"Kate, you couldn't know what we suspect."

"Did anyone else see Jeb with my father? We can't make assumptions and make them stick."

Ross pursed his lips, then rolled them back. "No. Jeb was alone."

She clutched her throat, swallowing down the reoccurring nausea since she'd stood at her father's grave and read his name etched in stone. Just like that, he was gone, and she was alone. She'd questioned her family doctor about his diagnosis. He'd been sure of it being a heart attack.

"Kate, are you all right?" Leland squeezed her hand. "You look pale again."

"It isn't right. Something isn't right."

"Exactly." Ross slipped his fingers into the square pockets on the front of his suit jacket. "Our first priority has to be your safety; however, we need to step up our investigation of Jeb."

"I'll be fine at home with the servants, and I'll make sure someone accompanies me to the office." She'd be damned if she would hide away and let Jeb win.

"No, Kate. That's not good enough."

"Of course it is." Kate stood and brushed out her skirt, cringing at the dirt smudges and tears on the green, sprigged cotton. "I'm going home. That is, if one of you gentlemen will escort me. I'm not up to driving the carriage any farther."

Leland nodded and took her arm. "I'll drive you. Jeb might be waiting for you."

"I'm coming, too," Ross said, striding toward the door. "To keep a strong front, we should all have dinner at Delmonico's, act as if nothing's wrong. Word will travel back to Jeb."

"Good idea." Leland handed Kate through the doorway and into the outer office.

Ross's assistant jumped to his feet.

"Relax Gibby, I'm escorting Miss McShane home then out to dinner. You may close the office thirty minutes early."

"Yes, Mister Williams." Mr. Gibb hurried to the outer door and opened it for the three to pass.

True to his word, the doorman stood guard at the horses' heads. "No sign of your henchman, Miss."

"Good." Kate shuddered. If she never saw that man again, it would be too soon.

Within minutes, they arrived at the McShane estate, and Ross helped Kate from the carriage.

"Where is Spears?" She hurried up the wide steps and waited in front of the carved double doors, a strong feeling of foreboding settling over her. She'd never personally opened this door.

Ross reached around her and grasped the brass handle, squeezing the lever; he pushed it open. Silence.

Kate shivered, then stepped into the two-story foyer, her boot heels clicked against the marble floor and echoed against the plaster walls. Still silence.

"Where is my staff? Spears commands that door like a military post, and Mrs. Haskins always greets me with dinner plans." Kate pushed through the French doors leading into the library. No one.

Frustrated, she stomped one foot. "Where in the world is everyone?"

Ross circled the room, glanced out the window facing the stables, then back to Kate and Leland. "My bet is, Jeb gave them the afternoon off so they wouldn't miss you as soon."

Kate frowned. "Does the man know no boundaries? If you're not going to confront him right now, I will."

Leland shook his head. "No, you can't. We have to remain cool. I'm sorry you were frightened, Katie, but we can't act on emotion."

"Emotion? Emotion? I was kidnapped, and now I learn someone has disposed of my staff." She jammed her hands onto her hips ready to do battle, but what she really wanted to do was crawl up to her room and hide in her fluffy goose down bed. Goose Down! The term made her blood run cold. She'd never again think of her wonderful bed in the same way.

"Katie." Leland slid his arm around her. "You should go to Erin's while we investigate the whereabouts of the staff."

"I won't endanger your daughter and her family." Erin had been Kate's best friend since childhood, was married to a wonderful man, and had two adorable sons.

"If Jeb's responsible for what happened this afternoon, I'm sure he didn't count on your strength." Leland chuckled. "Your father would be proud, Katie."

"He would be proud," Ross interjected. "However, he'd be making plans to send you somewhere safe. You're square in the middle of the trouble."

Kate laughed in frustration. "Isn't that the truth? The old goats on the board bucked everything I said today." She closed her eyes and lowered her voice. "I know how to make this company grow, but thanks to closed minded men and Jeb's influence, I'm not being given a chance."

"Your safety has to be our first concern. Leland and I will find the staff and corner Mr. Jebulin Walker. He's dangerous, Kate. I concur with Leland. You need to go somewhere until we have the evidence to arrest Jeb."

Kate slumped on the chaise. "I can't leave my company to that greedy, power hungry, egotistic — well, you know what I mean. He'll think I've done something like join the Ladies Aid Society!"

"Katie." Leland kneeled in front of her. "If you won't stay with Erin, then go to your uncle's in Chicago."

Kate sighed. She'd worked too hard to live up to her father's expectations and gain the respect of at least the majority of the crew. But what if Jeb convinced her crew she wasn't capable of running the company? They still treated her like the young girl who had tagged to the office with her father and visited them on the docks. She hadn't been in charge long enough to prove her mettle.

But murder. She'd suspected Jeb of many things, but never that. Especially her father's murder. That changed everything.

* * *

The Chicago bound train rocked and clattered down the track carrying Kate away from New York, her home, and her business.

After finding the household staff gone, Ross and Leland had accompanied her to Erin's house to rest while they located Spears, Mrs. Haskins, and the rest of her staff.

Their suspicions were correct. Spears had received a note from Jeb Walker, stating that he and Kate were spending the evening with friends, and they could all take the evening off.

Once that part of the mystery was solved, Ross and Leland escorted her to Delmonico's for dinner, determined to show a brave front. Her safety was in question, and she needed to hide until they found enough evidence against Jeb that the law would protect her.

They planned her departure, deciding not to alert her uncle since the wire could be intercepted. She would use the name, Elizabeth Downing. Where that name came from, Kate had no idea, but it made sense for her not to use McShane. Jeb no doubt had spies everywhere.

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Excerpted from "Dangerous Disguise"
by .
Copyright © 2012 Tesa Devlyn.
Excerpted by permission of The Wild Rose Press, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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