A Risk Worth Taking Read Online Free PDF Page A

never dreamt of living anywhere else, of having a home other than this one. A home of her own would come with a husband, and that was a part of life she did not want. Would not have.
    She took a swallow that burned her throat. She was suddenly very tired. She wanted to lie down and close her eyes and pretend that when she awoke, Freddie would bealive and the past few weeks would have been a terrible nightmare. But that wouldn’t happen.
    “I think I have the answer to our problem,” Becca said from behind her.
    Anne had almost forgotten her sister was still there. She turned. “What answer? What answer do you see that I have missed?”
    “You, Annie. Oh, it will be so wonderful.” Becca clasped her hands in jubilation. “The London Season is about to begin. You can put yourself on the marriage mart and find a husband. It will be perfect.” Rebecca nearly skipped across the room in her excitement. “There are ever so many eligible men out there, each one more handsome than the last. Perhaps even the new marquess will be one of your suitors. You are not that closely related, you know.”
    Anne shook her head from side to side. “No, Becca. I will not have you even suggest it. Marriage has never been the answer to any problem. A marriage of convenience is decidedly worse.”
    “But marrying some wonderful man who will take care of us would be the perfect solution.”
    “No. Marrying a man you do not love is like walking into a trap you have no hope of ever escaping. And loving a man who will never love you in return is even worse.”
    The happy look on Rebecca’s face fell. “Was it really so terrible between Mother and Father?”
    Anne lowered her gaze to the floor. How could she tell her sister, who was too young to remember their mother’s tears and the endless quarrels? How could she shatter the illusion of matrimonial bliss with tales of her parents’unhappy union? She could not. She could do nothing but lie.
    “No, Becca. It was not so terrible. Mother just loved Father too much, and Father…”
    “And Father loved his liquor more than Mother or his children,” Rebecca finished for her.
    Anne nodded. “Yes. He loved his liquor more.”
    “But not every man is like that.” There was a glimmer of hope in Rebecca’s eyes that yearned for Anne to deny her fears. “Freddie was never like that.”
    “No, he wasn’t. Perhaps he saw the heartache being a drunkard caused and knew how drinking destroyed everyone who cared for you.”
    “I don’t want to believe it’s impossible to fall in love with a man who loves you just as desperately as you love him, Annie.”
    Anne wanted to tell Rebecca that her dream was impossible. That she was not sure any man could ever love that much. That her mother had found that out and died when she had to face her failure.
    But Anne couldn’t disillusion Becca. She was so young. “You’re right, Becca. It is possible to find your prince charming and live happily ever after. And some day you will do exactly that.”
    “Just as you, too, will find your prince charming, Annie.”
    “We’ll worry about that later.” Anne put her arm around her sister’s shoulder and held her tight. “Right now, it would be most improper to even consider marriage while we are in mourning.”
    “But some day—”
    “Let’s get over this hurdle first, Becca. In a few years I will give you a Season in London. You can search for the man of your dreams.”
    “Oh, Annie,” Rebecca said, turning into Anne’s arms and hugging her in return. “I don’t want to get married right this moment, but marrying the perfect man is such a wonderful dream.”
    Anne breathed a deep sigh and touched the flawless skin of her sister’s rosy cheeks. “Of course it is,” she answered her sister, although deep in her heart she was terrified of marrying a man who might turn out just like her father. Terrified of being stuck in a loveless marriage with no hope of escape. And terrified of loving