Rebellious Heart Read Online Free PDF

responses were like a shot of energy in his veins. There was something entirely refreshing about a young woman who wasn’t afraid to voice her thoughts and spar intelligent words with a man. Most women he’d met didn’t have the slightest interest in the latest political situation involving the king, nor did they have any thoughts about treason or anything else important.
    Elbridge tugged gently on her arm. “My dear cousin, I must advise against any more discourse with Ross. Hisimpassioned speeches will only lead him to serious trouble one of these days.”
    “The greater the tyranny, the greater the treason.” Ben couldn’t prevent a parting retort.
    “There you are, Mr. Ross” came a cheerful voice from the doorway.
    In a glorious red gown, Hannah Quincy flounced into the room like a plump ripe apple ready for picking. She gave him the kind of smile that was meant to beckon him to her side.
    He was all too willing to accommodate her.
    “I came to congratulate you on your fine performance today at the trial.”
    “Why, thank you, Miss Quincy.” Performance? He had in no way performed at the trial. Everything he’d done had been genuine and straight from all the passion in his heart. Nevertheless, he closeted his response into the recesses of his mind. He gave a slight bow and returned what he hoped was an adoring smile of his own.
    Hannah Quincy was one of the most eligible young ladies inside and out of Boston. Not only was the Quincy family affluent, but they could trace their ancestry back to the founders of New England, to the landed gentry of England, and even to one of the signers of the Magna Carta.
    That Hannah had taken an interest in him on the couple of occasions they’d been together recently was more than a little flattering.
    It didn’t matter that she was Elbridge’s sister. She was as sweet as she was well-rounded. With her solid family connections and status, she was the kind of young woman he needed to marry if he wanted to increase his prestige.
    As he approached her, she held out her hand to him. “Idon’t care what Elbridge says, I think you have a very convincing way with words.”
    “Compared to your brother’s oratory skills, mine do seem rather convincing.”
    Cranch guffawed and sputtered out a mouthful of cider.
    Hannah only bobbed her pretty head while the hair coiffed high upon her brow remained perfectly still. Ben guessed she hadn’t understood the jibe he’d leveled at her brother.
    Surprisingly, Susanna’s lips had twitched into a smile, which she promptly hid behind her hand.
    Cranch wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “My stuffy old friend, I may hold out hope for you after all.”
    “Don’t bother.” Elbridge’s nostrils flared. “Ross is such a bore that I’m afraid no matter how refined he tries to be, he’ll always be nothing more than the son of a struggling farmer.”
    The words pummeled Ben in his gut just as Elbridge had likely intended.
    “Oh, do stop being so cranky, you two,” Hannah said, tugging Ben toward the door. “Let’s go play. Aunt Eve always has such fun games at her parties.”
    Even though Ben wanted to toss another insult at Elbridge, he reined in his rebuttal. The firm pressure of Hannah’s fleshy hand against his reminded him that he had too much at stake to alienate such a fine woman.
    Sure, he’d had plenty of women show interest in him over the years. Yet he’d followed the advice of his friends and mentors who’d encouraged him to pursue his study of law with unequivocal devotion and without the encumbrance of an early marriage.
    Now at twenty-eight years, with a growing practice, he’d decided it was time to find a wife. But not just any wife. Heneeded one with the right connections and social standing. So far he hadn’t found anyone quite as fitting as Hannah Quincy.
    He didn’t really care that she’d started showing interest in him only after he’d won the case in Boston regarding the young man accused of stealing a