My Enchanting Hoyden (A Once Upon A Rogue Novel, #3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

idea.”
    “It should still be her decision whether she races or not,” Jemma argued. “But I digress and time is short.” Up ahead where two large oak trees met, she could clearly see the Duke of Scarsdale and Lord Harthorne on their horses. Sophia and a gathered group were standing in front of the men.
    Jemma took a deep breath. “I’m going to race against Lord Harthorne and His Grace!”
    Anne’s jaw dropped open. “Jemma, you cannot! They’d never let you, anyway.”
    Jemma frowned at Anne. “I can and they will. Oh, they may protest, but I’m going to challenge them. Their pride will be at stake, and I’d bet the pin money I have saved that neither gentleman will cry off. In fact, I shall wager with them ! That will be perfect! I’ll gain money to add to my bakery fund and cause a scandal with the same act!”
    Anne rolled her eyes. “I vow I’m the only sister alive who would not pitch a fit at such antics. Your rebellion could very well ruin my chances of making a good match.”
    Jemma sobered instantly. She honestly hadn’t thought of that. She’d been so focused on how to get what she wanted that she’d not considered the consequences to her sister. “If you want me to think of something else I will.”
    Anne patted Jemma’s hand. “No. There is no other way, though I’m loath to admit it. Grandfather does not appear to be the sort who will bend in his wishes for you or me. He wants us both married.”
    “To rich lords,” Jemma added.
    “According to Mother,” Anne said.
    “Yes, it was according to Mother, who ought to have known. But I also overheard the servants gossiping when we first arrived, and they confirmed everything Mother had always said.”
    Anne furrowed her brow. “What did you hear?”
    “That he was cold, inflexible, and determined to bend us to his will as he’d failed to do with Mother. Especially in light of Mother’s defiance in eloping to Gretna Green with Father.”
    “Why did you not say anything to me?” Anne asked.
    “It was nothing Mother hadn’t already told us, so you already knew.” Jemma shrugged, and Anne scowled at her.
    “Still, I wish you would have told me.”
    “Do you tell me everything?” Jemma demanded, suspecting Anne had been keeping a secret of some sort. Either that or her sister truly needed to see a physician. She’d claimed a megrim every day for the past two weeks and had disappeared behind their bedchamber door for hours. And locked the doors!
    Anne’s cheeks pinked, confirming Jemma’s suspicion, and then she cast her eyes away. “I will tell you my secret when I’m ready.”
    “How enigmatic of you, Anne, dear! I hate to say that England has been good for anything, but it has been good for you. You seem to be coming out of your shell.”
    “Jemma!” a woman called from the distance.
    Jemma glanced up the hill to where the Duke of Scarsdale and Lord Harthorne were and waved at Sophia, the Duchess of Scarsdale, who was her dearest friend. Jemma linked her arm with her sister’s. “Come. The time to perform is upon me.”
    Anne fell into step beside Jemma, and Jemma automatically matched her pace to her sister’s slower, uneven one. A breeze blew around them, making the loose tendrils of Jemma’s hair tickle her neck. She brushed her hair back as she walked and thought how to goad the men into taking up her challenge. “I think I’ll profess that I can best any man on horseback.”
    “I’d be remiss if I did not say you shouldn’t, so I’ll say it. But I know you won’t listen.”
    “That’s true,” Jemma replied.
    “Do you truly think you can best His Grace and Lord Harthorne?”
    “I don’t see why not. I always beat everyone in America. Why should the gentlemen of England be any different? Besides, I’ve seen His Grace ride. He’s excellent, but I’m better.”
    “Well, you’ve never seen Lord Harthorne ride.”
    That was true. She hardly knew the man. She’d only been around him a few times, but he