His Impassioned Proposal (The Bridgethorpe Brides) Read Online Free PDF Page A

wadding that filled his head. Was Stephen a rich man, or broke? Did he even have the funds to rebuild his home? It seemed the closer he got to Larkspur Cottage, the more upheaval he found.
    “Now, then,” Sir Perry began. “What are your plans where my daughter is concerned? Her mother intends to take her to London in March. Lady Marwick fears the girl will be on the shelf from waiting for you.”
    “As I said, I have business to settle first, but then I hope to marry Jane. If she’ll still have me.”
    “There’s the rub. The home, your injuries, where your money comes from, none of that matters if you have injured her beyond repair.”
    Stephen’s eyelids flared. Was it that bad? “Do you think she won’t want me, after the way I proposed?”
    “One never can tell with young ladies, my boy. The way Lady Marwick tells it, you must convince yourself you are worthy of her, before you can convince Jane. You have a rough road ahead of you. And you need to gain her affections before Lady Marwick begins packing for London, or you’ll be competing with all those young bucks in Town.”
    Stephen nodded. He had four months to pay court to Jane and convince her she hadn’t wasted her love by waiting for him. And do it while rebuilding his home, his body, his life. “I should like to speak to her before I ride on to Larkspur. Do you think she’ll see me?”
    “I’ll speak to Akins on my way out to the stables. No doubt Jane is waiting nearby.”
    While he waited, Stephen considered all he needed to learn in a short time. He had no experience courting, and Jane had been to London twice now for the Season. She was used to polished gentleman, and had a taste of the upper crust. Stephen was a simple man, even allowing that his grandfather was an earl. Yes, he could polish up and hold his own in a London ballroom, but that wasn’t the life he desired.
    His father didn’t have a house in Town. The cottage in Cheshire had been enough for him. Sir Perry didn’t have one either, so perhaps Jane wasn’t expecting annual visits to London to be a part of her life. The longer Stephen sat, waiting, the tighter the muscles in his chest grew, making it difficult to breathe. The small injury on his left thigh knotted, and he pressed his knuckles deep into the pain. Would Jane see him or was she too distraught?
    Had she given up on him completely?
    The double doors rattled briefly before the latch clicked. Stephen rose and turned, schooling his features for what was to come.
    Jane entered, the polite smile on her face not reaching her reddened eyes. Her hair was pulled in a simple bun, her morning gown a pale yellow frock. “Good morning, Stephen.”
    He bowed. “Jane. You look—” he hesitated, searching for the correct word. “You are as beautiful as ever.”
    The tension in her brow relaxed. She crossed the room with silent steps and perched on the edge of the only other chair near him. With her hands folded in her lap, she gazed at him as if waiting to hear what he would say.
    Stephen drew in a deep breath after returning to his seat, and tried to determine where to begin. “There are no words. No combination of pretty prose or poetic verse will erase the words you heard from me last night.”
    Her lips trembled, but he hoped they fought to keep from smiling, not frowning.
    “I am sorry. I will spend the rest of my days being sorry. I will not repeat those drunken sentiments of last night, for they don’t deserve an answer. But if you will allow it, I would like to pay court to you. Give you time to see the man I have become, or am becoming.”
    Now she did smile, and his heart nearly stopped. Yesterday he’d been in shock from the news of his parents, and hadn’t truly seen her. The last time they had spoken was two years past, when she had been fresh in the bloom of a young lady. Since then, her face had grown the smallest bit more slender, and her eyes looked slightly larger. Her blonde hair had darkened a shade,