Josette Read Online Free PDF

nightdress floating behind her. When she got to her own chambers, she remembered Amy but couldn’t face her. To think that she would stoop to striking her own sister filled her with shame. She would tuck her sister in the next evening as promised, and for this night, force herself to forget about big, brooding Captain Carter.
     
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    She watched him go. As soon as her room had begun to shimmer with daylight, she’d risen and wrapped herself in a shawl. At the window, dawn rose over the foggy woods while black geese flapped toward some unseen siren. She’d tossed and turned the entire night, unable to push her troubles from her mind, unable to stop thinking about him . The household began to hum its stretching song and not long after, his horse was brought around.
    Captain Carter strode from the house dressed in a clean blue frock, gold trim shining from his jaunty bicorn. He ignored the footman and leapt effortlessly onto his mount. Whatever goodbyes proffered to her family had been accomplished. He did not look back as he cantered down the drive toward the smooth highway.
    She watched him grow small and refused to acknowledge the uneasy knot in her chest. It was as if it had all been a dream. Carter would go back to his ship. There would be a new first lieutenant. The Persephone would head back out to sea, and somewhere from beyond George would watch over them all.
    Josette sighed deeply. The sun’s rays crested over the trees and swept across the grounds. Life would go on, and so would she. George would have ordered her to “make it so.” She smiled at the pale girl looking back at her in the glass.
    Poor Cousin Edward. He would not know what to do with the girls of Beddingfield Park.
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    One cloudy morning a commotion at the door echoed throughout the house. The happy sounds drew Josette and Amy hopefully out of the drawing room, for both were listless from the coverlet of mourning that had fallen over Beddingfield Park. Hannah was jumping up and down like a little girl, and Bernard was laughing his deep, throaty cackle.
    They found Edward Price standing at the door with his arms flung open wide. “Edward,” Josette cried.
    “Cousin!” he answered. “Your letter reached me just before I left town.”
    “We’re so happy you have come.” Josette saw uneasiness in Edward’s happy blue eyes. She took his hand. “There’s no need to be ill at ease,” she said, squaring her shoulders soldier-like. “Mama has aired out your room and Papa oiled his guns.”
    Edward blinked at the announcement that Sir Robert was polishing his weapons. “I haven’t been hunting in ages.”
    “But you love it so,” said Josette in disbelief.
    He smiled again, all care wiped from his face.
    Amy was hunkered down against the stairwell, as if trying to make herself small.
    “Miss Amy Price.” He gave her a deep bow. “My, you’ve grown.” He looked her up and down then back at Josette, who did not miss the sheepish blush on his cheeks.
    “Do come in,” she said, breaking the spell. They hurried him into the drawing room.
    It felt like Christmas with him there. Edward, with light brown hair tied back, had a fair complexion that George had once labeled milk- maidish . Although lean, fast, and just as boisterous, Edward did not like to get dirty. His attention leapt from one form of entertainment to another, which made him a fascinating conversationalist and attractive companion. Josette listened politely to his accounts of the London Theater, while Amy’s lips pursed in disapproval.
    “The stage?” she said, as if the words tasted bad.
    “I only dabble, though I’ve just finished writing my first play. I plan to pursue a tribute to Florizel and Perdita with another writer after Twelfth Night.”
    “A Shakespeare man,” said Josette.
    Amy added, “Our aunt must be very proud.”
    Edward broke out another charming grin. “You’re still angry with me, aren’t you, kitten? What happened