Tempting Mr. Weatherstone: A Wallflower Wedding Novella (Originally Appeared in the E-Book Anthology FIVE GOLDEN RINGS)

Tempting Mr. Weatherstone: A Wallflower Wedding Novella (Originally Appeared in the E-Book Anthology FIVE GOLDEN RINGS) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Book: Tempting Mr. Weatherstone: A Wallflower Wedding Novella (Originally Appeared in the E-Book Anthology FIVE GOLDEN RINGS) Read Online Free PDF
Author: Vivienne Lorret
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Regency, Romance - Historical
here,” said a familiar voice.
    Standing beside the display was none other than the source of all her angst and frustration. As usual, Ethan looked perfectly groomed, his cravat perfectly pleated, his shoulders perfectly straight. His unruly curls were tamed into submission. His pale camel coat made his features appear darker and accentuated the color of his eyes. This morning, she noted how they were an interesting mix of tea and firelit copper.
    However, she was sure it was simply another trick of the light coming through the shop’s window. “Good morning, Ethan.”
    “Good morning, Pen.” He grinned, flashing his pointed teeth as if laughing at his own private joke.
    She didn’t know what to make of that grin and didn’t particularly like the way it made her aware of how her heart fluttered. “Surely, you haven’t run out of handkerchiefs and are here for a fresh supply.”
    His grin remained. “Surely not. I have an entire drawer dedicated to the handkerchiefs you’ve given me over the years.”
    Ah yes. He would like that she’d given him the same gift each year. If she didn’t already know his middle name was Holbrook, she’d almost believe it was Same. Ethan Same Weatherstone. “Then why are you here?”
    He blinked at her terseness. “As I said, I knew you would be here.”
    She saw her own sameness as a mark of failure. When was she going to branch out? When was she going to alter her routine?
    Soon, she promised. Very soon. “Yes, of course.”
    As a matter of fact, she was one step closer. After hailing a hansom cab for this morning’s excursion, she proceeded to ask the driver a few important questions. She soon discovered that her idea of a private coach would be far too costly. However, the helpful driver made a quick suggestion of traveling by mail coach and offered to take her to the nearest posting station. Now, she had a new plan and the list of stops along the mail coach’s route tucked inside her reticule.
    “I knew you would want plenty of supplies for your needlework before we left for Surrey the day after tomorrow,” he supplied, as if this somehow made her predictability more acceptable. One of her regrets would be missing their combined families’ Christmas and the winter months in the country. When it snowed, their neighboring estates shared an expanse of land that resembled what she imagined heaven would look like if it drifted down to the earth.
    “I’m out running errands as well,” he continued.
    This was her cue to ask even though she already knew. His mother had spoken of the jewelry last night at dinner. “Oh?”
    “Mother is giving Edmund’s wife a portion of my grandmother’s jewelry for Christmas. She’s asked that I take it to the jewelers to have it cleaned and polished. I thought you would accompany me.” He gave her a look of uncertainty, as if this was the first time he thought of her not agreeing. “Unless you have another engagement.”
    If only. “No, of course not. I’d be happy to accompany you.”
    Ethan approached the clerk at the counter, asking to settle her full account. He knew her father would have seen to it, yet each year he paid for her needlework supplies. There was no use trying to talk him out of it. She’d tried before without any success.
    She would almost say he was generous to a fault, but she could find no fault in this particularity of his. Years ago, he’d explained that this was his gift to her. That, because she enjoyed her needlework so much, he could think of nothing better to give her.
    Her heart had tripped at the time, or perhaps even still.
    Foolish, foolish heart.
    Most likely, he did it because it was easier than shopping for her. Their families always celebrated Christmas together, and they exchanged small trifles. By doing this, Ethan didn’t have to worry about wrapping anything for her. Each year, he merely held her gaze for a moment and gave her a nod before he proceeded to unwrap his embroidered
Read Online Free Pdf

Similar Books

Slaves of the Mastery

William Nicholson

City of Lost Dreams

Magnus Flyte

What Dies Inside

James Craig

A Broom With a View

Rebecca Patrick-Howard

Hobby

Jane Yolen

Snare of the Hunter

Helen MacInnes