Captives' Charade Read Online Free PDF

opinions unless asked. Usually grateful for the companionship of the petite red-haired young woman, Sarah had a terrific urge to insist that she leave.
    The last thing she wanted to do, after Juliana’s revelation of the night before, was to spend a morning with any of those three downstairs! Stewart Chamberlain could go to the Devil for all she cared. And Juliana should be ashamed of herself for playing the Yankee against her tender-hearted beau.
    It was her sympathy for Jack that finally made her acquiesce. With a look that warned Tegan not to gloat, she hastily removed her nightgown and began pulling on her clothes. When Tegan had finished buttoning the fine white muslin blouse of Sarah’s riding costume, she commanded her charge to sit at the dressing table while she fixed her hair.
    Sarah plopped on the needle-pointed cushion, willing herself to remain calm, though thoughts of the two-timing foreigner overtook her. How would she face him? Since he was a guest in their home, she would have to be polite, but that did not mean she had to be pleasant. And if Juliana were up to her old tricks, it would be quite easy for them to ignore each other.
    That problem somewhat solved, she turned her thoughts to Jack. He must be in agony right now, watching Juliana using her wiles on Stewart. “Please hurry, Tegan,” Sarah begged impatiently, “I cannot keep Jack waiting another second.”
    “There you go, mum. As pretty as a picture you are,” Tegan said as she stepped back to let Sarah pass by. “Have a good time. It’s a lovely day for riding.”
    “We shall see,” she countered as she stepped from the room, rushing to the stairs. As she caught sight of the foyer, she could hear voices in the front parlor opposite the ballroom where the party had been. Steeling herself for the difficult situation that lay in store, she slowly descended the stairs and made her way toward the entrance hall.
    “Sarah!” she heard Jack call as she came into view. There was no mistaking the note of relief in his voice.
    As she entered the parlor, Juliana, a vision in a cream-colored riding habit and blue stock, turned and exclaimed cheerfully, “What a sleepy head you are this morning!” She rose from the settee facing the fireplace and moved toward the tall form of Stewart Chamberlain, who was leaning casually against the mantel. “Mr. Chamberlain has agreed that we should all go riding together this morning and Father has even offered to let him use Nubian. What do you think of that?” Juliana said, beaming, her words more a statement than a question.
    “I trust, Mr. Chamberlain, that you were forewarned that Nubian is a bit o’ blood. Most have found him a difficult mount to handle and not worth the effort. Perhaps you should reconsider.”
    As Sarah voiced the challenge, she became aware of the fact that Stewart Chamberlain projected an even more dashing image in riding clothes than he had in his formal attire the night before. His white shirt and carefully knotted cravat accentuated his sun-browned skin and flawless white teeth. A well-tailored dark brown tailcoat matched the color of his knee-length riding boots. His lean thighs were covered in fawn breeches and Sarah could not help but notice how tightly they stretched across his sleek, muscular frame. It was obvious that he paid attention to his grooming, but Sarah thought it would be unfair to accuse him of being a dandy. Unfortunately there seemed to be nothing to criticize in the way of his physical appearance and that fact irritated Sarah even as an uncontrollable part of her admired the view.
    “Thankyouforyourconcern,LadySarah,” Stewart responded good-naturedly, though his grin told her that he was not fooled into thinking her remark was prompted by concern. “But my own horse back home is of a similar nature. I would find it a pleasure and a challenge to ride Nubian.”
    “Very well,” Sarah replied much too abruptly and turned to Jack, who was standing beside her