Dawn at Emberwilde Read Online Free PDF

horseback.
    The driver and the first man engaged in conversation, but the tones of their voices were so low she could not make out a word. Relief rushed her when Mr. Bradford came around the carriage into her view. Surely these were not miscreants or vagabonds, not if Mr. Bradford spoke to them with such ease. Her heart raced within her at the uncertainty of the moment.
    The men laughed, and then the older horseman leaned back to look into the carriage. Light eyes fixed on her. He dismounted, made his way through the mud toward the carriage, and opened the door just wide enough to see inside.
    His voice boomed. “Miss Isabel Creston?”
    Isabel straightened, the rate of her heartbeat increasing within her. “Yes, sir, I am Isabel Creston.”
    She moved to exit the carriage, but his protest stopped her.
    “Stay put, dear girl, stay put. There is far too much mud, and I would hardly want you to spoil your slippers, for my wife would have my head for it! We’ve been waiting for your arrival. I am your uncle, Charles Ellison. My, but it has been a long time, child. A long time indeed. I daresay you do not remember the last time you set foot on Emberwilde land.”
    The words shocked her. She did not recall ever stepping on Emberwilde soil. “I do not, sir.”
    “Well, it is high time you returned. And you are most welcome here.” He looked past her to Lizzie, who had straightened and put her feet on the floor. Her eyes were wide, her lips pressed shut.
    “And who is this?” her uncle asked, chuckling at the sight. “Have we a stowaway?”
    Isabel forced a smile at his attempt at humor. “No, sir. This is my sister, Lizzie Creston.”
    Uncle Charles jerked his head up, his jowls shaking at the motion. “Sister, you say?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    He huffed under his breath and looked at the men behind him. “Well now, this is most interesting. We did not know of a sister. But of course, you are both welcome, and we shall sort out the details. Family is always welcome within Emberwilde’s walls. How do you do, Lizzie?”
    Lizzie’s words were impressively polite. “I am well, thank you.”
    He smiled, amused, then stepped back out of the way. “Allow me to introduce my colleague, Mr. Colin Galloway. He is the local magistrate. He will be the first of many of our friends and neighbors that I’ve no doubt my wife will introduce you to in the coming days.”
    Isabel turned her attention to the man atop the horse. He did not dismount, but tipped his hat and lowered his head in a bow. She noted how young he appeared to be a magistrate, but then again, she had never met one. None, anyway, besides old Mr. Newgate, Fellsworth’s magistrate.
    “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Galloway,” she said in her most confident voice.
    “The pleasure is mine, Miss Creston.”
    Her uncle shifted to the side. “And you, of course, are acquainted with Mr. Bradford.”
    She looked past him toward Mr. Bradford, whose bright smile and direct gaze made her feel almost as if they shared a secret, although she had no idea what such a secret would be. She hoped a flush did not color her cheeks. “I am, Uncle.”
    “Well then, I shall have the driver convey you on, for I do believe more rain is imminent, and I am sure you would like to arrive before the heavens break free. Your aunt and cousin are both eagerly awaiting your arrival, so it will not do to keep them waiting. They have become concerned one of the horses went lame or a wheel was broken and asked that I send a rider out in search of you. So you’d best be off before my wife is quite overtaken with the fits.”
    Isabel smiled at her uncle’s words. She could not help but like him. “I hope we have not caused her too much distress.”
    “You will soon learn my wife is easily distressed, but my daughter calms her quite well.”
    “So we are almost there?” Lizzie piped in. “We’ve been riding forever!”
    Isabel reached back and touched her sister’s leg in an effort to keep