KEEPING KATERINA
THE VICTORIANS BOOK 1
SIMONE BEAUDELAIRE
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Historical Note
Next in the Series
About the Author
Copyright (C) 2013 Simone Beaudelaire
Layout design and Copyright (C) 2022 by Next Chapter
Published 2022 by Next Chapter
Cover art by CoverMint
Poetry by Robert Browning. These works are in the public domain.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank my dedicated team of beta readers without whose help this
story would not be what it is. Thank you, Guy, Sandra, Leslie, Reed, Jill, Shirley,and Sue.
This book is dedicated to all survivors of child abuse.
CHAPTER 1
“Y ou want me to do what?” Christopher Bennett gawked aghast at
his mother.
Julia returned his gaze levelly. “It's not so much to ask, son.
She's a lovely girl, and I want to introduce you to her.”
Christopher rolled his eyes heavenward in disgust. As he counted slowly in
his mind, trying not to snap at her, his gaze lingering on his surroundings.