Blaze Wyndham Read Online Free PDF Page B

Now in his thirties and without a direct heir, the earl is very anxious. I’m sure you can see that. As you are an intelligent girl, Blaze, I am equally certain that you understand the earl’s position.”
    “He might have at least stayed long enough to meet me,” she answered him irritably.
    Lord Morgan smiled at his daughter’s annoyance. Although he understood why the earl had departed once an arrangement was struck between them, he also understood why Blaze felt slighted. “The earl wanted to stay, but he had planned an entertainment in his sister’s honor. They are close despite the disparity in their ages. I know that loving your own sisters as you do, you can understand Lord Wyndham’s motives.”
    “Mmmmm,” Blaze considered, and her father laughed indulgently, giving her shoulder a small squeeze. She looked up at him. “What is he like?” she demanded. “Did he leave me no miniature? Did you give him one? Is he content to marry some faceless female? Does he even care?”
    “He did leave the choice of a bride to your mother and me, his one proviso being that you didn’t squint,” chuckled Lord Morgan.
    “Does he?” She bristled.
    “No, Blaze, he does not. He is very well-favored. Tall and fair-skinned with dark brown hair and fine brown-gold eyes. You will find him as pleasant to look upon as he will find you, my dear.”
    “When are we to be married, Papa?”
    “The thirtieth of September,” he replied.
    “ So soon? I had thought I should have at least until.next spring!” she said.
    “The first banns will be cried this Sunday, Blaze.”
    “It is barely two months, Papa!”
    “The earl has been widowed over a year, my child. He wants a wife now, not several months hence,” Lord Morgan said.
    “There is too much to do, Papa! It cannot be done in such a short time!”
    “What is there to do?” he questioned her.
    “I have no clothing that would be suitable for a bride, let alone a Countess of Langford! Even if Mama and my sisters had the fabrics, we could not sew enough for my trousseau in such a short time.”
    “Your trousseau is being made at RiversEdge, Blaze. Everything, including your wedding gown, will be provided for you. The earl has promised to send some of these things ahead of time so you will not be embarrassed before his family when you arrive at your new home.”
    “My dower chest! It is but half-filled, Papa! How can I arrive at RiversEdge with an empty dower chest?”
    “We will take linens from your sisters’ chests,” said Lady Morgan, entering the hall to join her husband and eldest child.
    “Indeed our two chests alone are filled to overflowing,” said Bliss, who with her twin had followed their mother. “You sew much too slowly, Blaze. If you had another five years you could not fill your dower chest.”
    “But what you have done is beautiful,” Blythe said in an effort to soften her twin’s sharp words, but Blaze was used to Bliss and took no offense.
    “Blythe and I will embroider the B and the E upon the bed linens,” said Bliss. “We shall intertwine them within a heart.”
    “I will help,” replied Blaze.
    “No!” cried Bliss. “You are slower than cold honey, and your pokiness will only drive me to madness. We can have them done in a trice.”
    “But if you empty your chests to fill mine, what will you do?” Blaze worried.
    “Do not fret, sister,” answered Blythe. “We need not empty our dower chests to fill yours. We shall this winter easily replenish what we give. It rather pleases me to think that a little bit of us will go with you to your new home.”
    Blaze arose and hugged her younger sibling. “I like the idea that a little bit of you will be with me too. I suddenly realize that I am going to be alone for the very first time in my life.”
    “ Alone? ” Bliss scoffed. “You are to be the mistress of a great house, sister! You will have a husband, and if you do your duty by him, you will quickly have a houseful of children.