Song Of The Nightingale (DeWinter's Song 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

resentment toward the two men who had so readily abandoned Raile. “They don’t know about your fighting spirit. They have never seen you come through against impossible circumstances. You’re going to come out of this, Colonel. I know you will. You have faced harder.”

4
     
    Kassidy was in the garden when she heard the church bells in the village begin pealing the joyous news. England was celebrating her victory. At last the war was over and Napoleon had been defeated!
    She smiled as she remembered the officer she had met as a young girl at the park across from Aunt Mary’s house. She had once childishly called him her champion, but she had come to think of him as just that. Even though she had forgotten what he looked like, it had become her habit to say a prayer for his safety each night—she only hoped he had come through the war alive. It was a pity that she would never know for certain if her champion had survived.
    She went into the bedroom she shared with Abigail, moved to the mirror, and stared at her image as she removed her bonnet. Without vanity, she could see that she was pretty. Gone were the freckles; her skin was now creamy and flawless. Her hair hung across her shoulders in spiraling curls and was a burnished blond in color. She was slender and delicate. Her fighting spirit was not gone, but was often tempered with reserve. A child no longer, she was a young lady.
    She had become accustomed to seeing admiration in gentlemen’s eyes. At church, she could feel them watching her. But none of the men of the village was considered suitable by Henry. And none would dare approach her because they feared her brother.
    Abigail and Kassidy had never been alone with a gentleman, and if Henry had his way, they never would. He ruled his house as if he were king, and his sisters were little better than unpaid servants. Even Aunt Mary’s pleas to allow the girls to have a London Season at her expense went unheeded.
    Kassidy knew there would be dancing and merrymaking in the streets of the village, and the celebration would go on well into the night. She sighed regretfully. She would not be joining in the festivities. Henry would never allow it.
    Kassidy threw open a window and listened to the sound of cheering. After lighting a candle, she moved back to the window, pulled aside the curtains, and looked at the dying rays of the sun. She anxiously searched for her sister. She was worried because Abigail had not yet returned. Perhaps she was among the merrymakers in the village.
    Henry, God-fearing man that he was, was permitting Abigail to help tend the vicar’s children until his sickly wife gave birth to their fifth child. When Kassidy had seen the vicar at the market today, he had inquired about Abigail and had implied that he had not seen her since last Sunday. If Abigail wasn’t going to the vicarage when she left the house, then where was she spending her days?
    Kassidy heard steps in the hallway, and she moved quickly to the door to find Abigail, face flushed as if she’d been running.
    “Where have you been?” Kassidy asked in a whisper, dragging her sister into the room and closing the door behind them. “Henry wanted to know where you were. He was in a temper.”
    “Little 1 care about Henry’s temper.”
    Kassidy looked at Abigail closely. “You had better care. I saw the vicar today.”
    Abigail avoided looking into Kassidy’s eyes. “Oh.” She untied her bonnet and allowed it to dangle from her fingers. “I suppose he told you I haven’t been to the vicarage all week.”
    “Abigail, we’ve never kept secrets from each other. Why are you doing so now? Are you in trouble?”
    “Oh, Kassidy, I can no longer keep it to myself. I’m in love!” Abigail laughed and hugged her sister. “He is more wonderful than you can imagine. I’m happy just being with him.”
    Kassidy was astounded. “When did you have a chance to meet anyone? I know every gentleman of your acquaintance, and not one of