An Unexpected Husband (The Colorado Brides Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

nearby lamp. I extinguished it and then another, until the parlor was dimly lit. There was enough light to find my room, as I made my way towards the hallway. It was at that precise moment that the door swung open, revealing the imposing figure of Mr. Carlyle. I gasped. “My stars, you scared me!” We had seen him entering the notorious parlour house, and I was certain he would not emerge for hours. This was an unexpected shock.
    “I’m sorry about that.” His gaze roamed over me. “I had thought everyone would be asleep.”
    “I was just going to my room, sir.” A hiccup escaped.
    His gaze sharpened. “Who else is awake?” He towered over me, with his hat in his hands.
    “Megan was, but not anymore. Did you have a good night, sir? We saw you from the window.” I closed my eyes, cursing myself for that slip. Oh, dear…ugh .
    “Is that so?”
    “It’s…it’s quite busy outside. Um…there are lots of drunks at the saloon…I mean, patrons.”
    “Have you been drinking?”
    Oh, double blasted cow! I could hardly look at him. “I…had…some sherry.” I added desperately, “I’ve never had spirits before in my life! I swear! It won’t ever happen again, sir.” And now he would dismiss me. I’d have to pack my bags and hire a wagon for the ride to Fanny’s farm. How had I gotten myself into this muddle?
    After placing the hat on the brass rack, he removed his coat. “I haven’t gone over any of the rules yet. This slight has been my fault.” He turned to face me.
    There were tears in my eyes. “I’m dreadfully sorry.” After a noisy hiccup, I continued, “I…please don’t send me away. I’ve not even been on the job a full twenty-four hours yet. I…assumed the evenings might be my own. I only had two…er…three tiny glasses of sherry.”
    It was odd, but I got the impression that it was a struggle for him not to smile. He swallowed visibly, his Adam’s apple moving up and down. “What exactly did you see from the window, Miss Hampton?”
    “Drunken men.”
    “You said you saw me.”
    “I did. We did. You…were walking down the boardwalk.”
    “Spying on your employer and drinking.”
    I hiccupped. “I didn’t know you were out there, honest to God, sir. Megan was the one who drew the drapes aside.”
    “Now you’re blaming someone else for your misdeeds. I suppose you’ll say it was Megan’s idea to have a drink.”
    It was! “Um…” My shoulders slumped. “Oh, drats. Jane will have the biggest laugh at my expense. I’ve gone and ruined it all.”
    “Jane?”
    “My older sister. It was her idea that I find a job, sir. She gave me the advertisement for the position. She wrote a recommendation as well. She’ll find this amusing,” I muttered unhappily.
    “That you failed?”
    “That I was let go after less than a day.”
    “Do you believe your actions are worthy of such an outcome?”
    “I can only assume.” Tears flooded, which was mortifying. “I do so enjoy Rosalind. She’s the prettiest baby I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying quite a lot, because there are a great deal of babies in my family, sir. It would’ve been a lovely job to keep. I had so looked forward to bathing her and watching her learn to crawl and pull herself up on things. Now I’ll never know what her first words are.”
    He exhaled visibly, his expression softening, yet he remained quiet.
    “What is your decision? Am I being let go?” The weight of something unnamed hung between us, while he stared at me. I wanted desperately to read his mind.
    “I’ll give you another chance.”
    “You will?”
    “I might regret this. I know I’ll regret this, but yes. You’ve another chance. Do try to behave yourself and mind your own business.”
    “Yes, sir.” I hiccupped. “Sorry.”
    “Good night, Miss Hampton.”
    “Yes, sir. Good night. Thank you for not sending me home at this hour. I doubt I would’ve found a driver.”
    “Don’t trouble yourself over it. Go to sleep.”
    I