Betrayed Countess (Books We Love Historical Romance) Read Online Free PDF

field with bracken and rocks and no signs of civilization. Bettina strode off, thankful for the warm air, her silk petticoat whispering around her knees. She’d follow the road in the direction the coach took. Her right heel stung again with the blister.
    “I was just bein’ friendly with him. Weren’t serious at all.” Kerra rushed up beside her, swinging the valise. “It do pass the time. Someone’s gonna hear ’bout their treatment. You never know what kinda people you have to trouble with when travelin’.”
    Bettina wanted nothing to do with this creature and hesitated to even reply, but anger bubbled up inside her. “Your ‘passing the time’ has made us lost and thrown out like the trash. I must arrive in Bath, people are waiting for me.” It wasn’t true. The Littles weren’t waiting, and there was scant time to send word. Bettina walked faster.
    “You from France, aye?” Kerra kept pace, skirt rustling. “I ain’t never been out o’ England. I knew a Frenchman once. He was real purse-proud, if you get my meanin’.”
    Homesickness welled up in her. Bettina stopped to catch her breath and hopefully shed her companion. “I wish to travel alone. Have you been to this Bath? How far is it from here?” She made her words stern and imperious, though one could never be certain when speaking in another language.
    “It ain’t so far. Just past them trees yonder.” Kerra dropped her valise in the dirt and adjusted her battered straw hat. Her brunette hair had flown loose from its pinnings. “Fie, I hafta travel all the way to Cornwall. My sister runs an inn there. Her name’s Madronna—Maddie’s Ace it be named. We always called her Maddie.”
    Bettina resumed her stride, heading toward the expanse of trees in the distance. Her spirits lifted at the prospect of being this close.
    “Wait now. I’ll walk with you.” Kerra bustled up beside her, valise under her arm. “We unescorted women should stick together.”
    Bettina bit her tongue to keep silent. She was thankful the woman smelled like lavender and looked somewhat clean.
    “Truth be told, it were my fault. You has a reason to be flummoxed.”
    If ‘flummoxed’ meant frustrated and disgusted, Bettina agreed with her.
    The papers crackled in her bundle as she squeezed it to her heaving chest.
    “Maddie scolded me for goin’ off to London alone. Suppose she be right, but won’t never admit it to her,” Kerra said with a snort. “My sister’s a nice person. But, you must know, kind o’ serious. I should be more like her, aye?”
    Two hours elapsed before they reached and passed through the woods. Bettina tried to ignore her acquaintance’s unnerving conversation, once in a while replying with a yes or no. She stopped as the road dipped down and leaned against a tree’s rough bark to steady her breathing. Her ankles felt like she had been kicked by a horse.
    Tucked like gold nuggets in the shallow valley below was a tawny-stoned city. Bettina’s body drooped with exhaustion, but here was sanctuary. She hurried down the sloping road despite her swollen and pinched feet. Numerous tall buildings, interwoven with cobbled streets and grassy parks, rose up elegant and surprising. Carriages and carts clattered around her.
    “It is a city … trés magnifique .” She grinned, coughed and tried to stir up saliva in her parched mouth.
    “I been here afore. I’ll show you about, if you can spare the time.” Kerra rushed up next to her, her expression eager.
    “No, I do not have the time. But can you tell me where—”
    “Sure you does. We’re this close.” Kerra clamped her hand for a moment. “I’ll show you something you ain’t never seen. Just down here to the right.”
    Down here consisted of two blocks and Bettina limped on her aching feet, hoping to view this marvel, ask directions and hurry on her way.
    “Now these homes built in a ring, they’re pretty, aye? Called the Circus.”
    Bettina stopped and flexed her ankles.