A Surrendered Heart Read Online Free PDF

to work.

3
    Sophie tied the ribbons of Elizabeth’s bonnet beneath the sleeping child’s tiny chin while her husband paced in the hallway. Amanda had stitched the bonnet during one of the three cousins’ many sewing sessions before Elizabeth’s birth. Sophie pictured the three of them—Fanny, Amanda, and herself—sitting in the bedroom at Broadmoor Castle with their sewing baskets and fabric. A smile played at her lips as she remembered her cousins’ efforts to help improve her sewing skills. They’d been mostly unsuccessful, and Sophie had accepted the fact that she’d never be an accomplished seamstress—not like Amanda. She traced her finger along the embroidered stems of bluebells with pale green stems and veined leaves that adorned the cap.
    The love she held for her cousins was deeper than that which she held for her own siblings. Throughout the years Amanda and Fanny had been her closest friends and confidants. Many had been the occasion when her own sisters had turned away from her in frustration or disgust, but not Amanda and Fanny. They might not always approve of the things she did, but they would never dream of deserting her.
    “How can I help?” Paul asked as he continued to pace.
    “I’ll be just a moment longer. Is the carriage out front?”
    “Yes. We really must be on our way.”
    Sophie turned and frowned at her husband. “I’m doing my best.” She lifted Elizabeth from her cradle, careful to keep the blanket tightly tucked around the child. Some said the damp air could cause cholera, and she didn’t intend to take her outdoors unless properly protected against the elements. “I want to make certain the baby is warm enough.”
    “Yes, of course,” he replied, shifting his gaze toward the floor.
    Her words carried a hint of censure, and Paul had taken note. Sophie immediately regretted her behavior. Paul was worried and needed her support instead of a reprimand. But she was worried, too—about all of them. What if Paul or Elizabeth should fall ill? She couldn’t bear the thought of losing either of them.
    “I’m sorry for speaking harshly,” she said.
    Paul smiled and took the baby into his arms. “You’re forgiven. We’re both worried.” He brushed her cheek with a kiss and opened the door.
    The carriage ride to her aunt and uncle’s home seemed longer than usual, and Sophie fidgeted throughout the ride. Surprisingly, her movement had little effect upon Elizabeth, who continued to sleep. A short time later Paul brought the carriage to a halt in front of her uncle’s home, and Elizabeth’s eyes popped open. She wriggled in Sophie’s arms and whimpered.
    “I know. You like riding, but we must stop for a while,” she cooed to the baby.
    The butler answered the door and, with a nod, bid them enter. He attempted to remain proper, but Sophie noticed his little smile at Elizabeth.
    “Are my aunt and uncle at home, Marvin?”
    The butler nodded. “I’ll inform them that Mr. and Mrs. Medford and baby Elizabeth have come to call.”
    “Thank you, Marvin.” The man was a saint. No wonder her uncle paid him well. “Marvin is the one who helped Amanda, Fanny, and me set up a bucket of whitewash over the kitchen door.”
    Paul grinned. “I recall your telling me about that incident. I believe it was your uncle Jonas who ended up covered in whitewash rather than Amanda’s brothers, Jefferson and George.”
    Sophie smiled, remembering the sight of her uncle doused in the white concoction. She didn’t know who had been more surprised, but she did recall that her uncle’s jacket and spectacles had both required a good deal of Marvin’s fastidious attention. The entire incident had delighted Jefferson and George, who had promised they’d be on the lookout for any further antics from the three girls.
    How the years had changed their circumstances. Sophie missed the times when they would gather at Amanda’s or at their grandparents’ home to spend the night together. They would