Captives' Charade Read Online Free PDF Page A

spending all his free time with us. Is that not the most marvelous news? We are going riding tomorrow and Stewart has promised to tell me all about his home and his adventures. Did you know he used to be a sailor?”
    “Itdoesnotsurpriseme,”Sarahreplied through clenched teeth, thinking of the Yankee’s duplicity, and not Juliana’s ramblings. How dare he ask her to go riding – and then invite Juliana as well? At the moment, she did not know with whom she was most angry: Mr. Chamberlain or herself for being so naïve.
    With an unusual desire to mollify her sister, Sarah snapped, “Tell me, Julie, are you not being forward in calling him ‘Stewart’? After all, you only met him this evening.”
    “Oh, but he asked me to. He says that in America, they have become much less formal about such things than we, and besides, we did take a walk in the gardens, so it would be ridiculous to pretend we are strangers,” she said smugly, a sly smile quivering on her rosy lips.
    “You what?!” Sarah gasped, her cheeks burning. “You let Mr. Chamberlain walk you alone in the gardens? Juliana, have you no sense of propriety? Father would be outraged,” she blurted, though she knew her sire could be no more offended than she herself.
    “Sarah, for heaven’s sake. You are such a prude! The man asked me to show him around. And at the time, I thought I may never see him again, so you can understand I simply had to know what it would be like to kiss him,” Juliana said simply, as if her logic were ridiculously clear.
    “Juliana, you should be ashamed of yourself. Sometimes you are so bold, I cannot believe you are my own flesh and blood,” Sarah railed, horrified by the knot of jealousy tightening in her stomach.
    In a bored voice, Juliana replied, “And sometimes you are so cold, I find myself thinking the same.” With that, she jumped off the bed and twirled around on the pink and blue rug. “I am as far from ashamed as I can possibly be. Stewart is an accomplished lover and his kisses are divine,” she sighed dramatically, reaching for the bedpost and clutching it between her breasts. “If you were not so straight-laced, you might have found that out for yourself.”
    With that, she planted a loud smack on the carved oak. “And now that I have told you my wonderful news, I am going to bed and pray that morn comes soon. I cannot wait to feast my eyes on Stewart Chamberlain again. Sarah,” she smirked, as she placed her small hand on the doorknob. “I want you to know that I envy you.”
    “After what you just said, how in the world could you envy me?” Sarah said hotly, wrenching herself down under the covers.
    “Because,” Juliana teased, a thoroughly devilish look on her face, “you have the privilege of knowing that Stewart Chamberlain lies atop you tonight.”
    With that, she giggled and rushed out the door, just missing the pillow that was thrown at her retreating form.
CHAPTER 4
    Sarah awoke the next morning to the sound of cheerful humming coming from somewhere beyond her bed. She knew without looking that it was Tegan, her personal attendant. “What time is it?” she asked huskily, turning her face away from the sun-bright windows.
    “Wellgoodmorning,mum,”Tegan responded brightly. “I feared you would sleep the day away while everyone waits for you to go riding,” she said as she stopped to pick up the undergarments Sarah had left on the floor the night before.
    “Iamnotgoingriding,”Sarahdeclared, pulling the covers up under her neck. Ignoring her, Tegan pulled Sarah’s green linen riding habit from the wardrobe.
    “Why Master Chamberlain insisted on waiting for you. And Viscount Harrington agreed, though Lady Juliana is as impatient as ever. You are going to ruin a lovely outing if you fail to hurry,” Tegan chuckled. “Shall I help you dress?”
    Sarah glared speculatively at her maid, who returned a bright, carefree smile. Nothing passed Tegan’s notice, though she rarely revealed her