Love Inspired Historical April 2014 Bundle: The Husband Campaign\The Preacher's Bride Claim\The Soldier's Secrets\Wyoming Promises (96 page)

Her mother had puffed up like a thundercloud gathering. It was truly a fearsome sight, and one Amelia had witnessed only a few times in her life and never with good results.

“Your father will have something to say about that,” her mother had threatened.

The subsequent argument had so overset Amelia that she'd run for the stable at Fern Lodge, called for Belle and ridden as far and as fast as she could, seeking only escape.

Escape from a mother who could not understand.

Escape from a father who could not care.

Escape from expectations she could not meet.

Only when she'd felt the rain cooling her tears had she sought shelter, which was where Lord Hascot had found her.

She sat up, and his greatcoat slid down her form.

“Lord Hascot?” she asked, climbing to her feet and tucking her riding train up over one arm.

The door of the stable stood open, a shaft of sunlight stabbing through the darkness. A man stepped from the shadows into the beam of light. She recognized him immediately—that thatch of midnight-black hair, the sharp planes of his features, the still way he held himself as if ready for anything.

“Easy,” he said. “There's no need for concern.”

Oh, there was every reason for concern. She knew what must happen next. If she hoped for any peace, she would have to apologize to her mother. She had long ago learned the many ways to turn criticism into commendation.

Unfortunately, this time would be more difficult. She knew what her mother wanted, what her father expected. They insisted that she marry a wealthy, titled gentleman who would bring further acclaim to the name of Jacoby, the House of Wesworth. No amount of positive thinking, prayer or discussion had changed their minds.

But wealthy, titled bachelors of marrying mind, she had learned, were not at all plentiful, and the competition to secure them was stiff. While she'd enjoyed the glittering balls, the witty conversations that were part and parcel to a London Season, she had not liked participating in the marriage mart. Men were quick to praise her beauty, but their attentions seemed shallow.

Indeed, it was rather degrading to have to parade herself, gowned in her best, hair just so, smiling, always smiling. Sometimes she felt as if she was one of the horses at Tattersalls, the famed horse auctioneers in London. She would not have been surprised if one of the gentlemen asked to examine her teeth!

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness, my lord,” she told Lord Hascot. She bent, retrieved his greatcoat and held it out to him. “And thank the Lord the storm has ended.”

He came forward and accepted the coat as solemnly as if it were a royal robe. “You'll want to be on your way, I suspect.”

“Yes, thank you.” She slipped into the box next to hers and reached for Belle's headstall, which was hanging from a hook at the end of the box. “My mother will be worried.”

“I sent word to Fern Lodge this morning,” he said.

Her fingers froze. Indeed, she was surprised she could even blink. “This morning?”

“It is past dawn,” he said. “One of my grooms just came in search of me. You slept through the night.”

She clutched the leather of the reins and managed to turn and look at his scowling face. “And where did you sleep?”

“I didn't. I was over there.” He lifted his chin toward the far wall. “You were not disturbed.”

She nodded. She had to nod, for every part of her was shaking. She'd spent the night alone with a gentleman. It didn't matter that nothing untoward had happened. It didn't matter that he had merely kept watch over her from the opposite side of the stable.

She was ruined.

Ruined.

No one of consequence would offer for her now. All her father's expectations, all her mother's hopes for an alliance with a highborn family were utterly, irrevocably dashed.

She was free!

Thank You, Lord!

Her joy was singing so loudly she almost missed hearing Lord Hascot say, “I will, of course, do the expected and offer for your hand.”

Copyright © 2014 by Regina Lundgren

ISBN-13: 9781460329481

WYOMING PROMISES

Copyright © 2014 by Kerri Mountain

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