The Mistress of Black Grove Manor Read Online Free PDF Page B

attended balls and knew all the dances. What was so wrong about her that he had to flee London?
    Jonathon was handsome in a different sense. When they had first met, his eyes were the color of stormy waters, a gray blue bordered by thick eyelashes. Eyelashes she was envious of. Now there was a softness to his eyes that pulled her in whenever they had the opportunity to spend time together. He was older, not quite forty, the wrinkles on his face gave him character. She loved how his smile was slightly higher on one side of his mouth and that his nose crinkled whenever he read something disagreeable to him.
    What was happening to her? She had never paid this much attention to a boy, never mind, grown men before. Maybe it was her age and lack of experience with the opposite sex that was causing these peculiar feelings. At her tender age of nineteen, she had kissed only one boy.  Calvin Moore was the farm hand employed by the Abbey’s neighbor. She had been told by the
    vicar to give him a wide berth, and she dutifully followed his warnings.
                  Whenever he would come to the fence she ignored him. However, he persisted. He would leave field flowers on the cottage doorstep and still she ignored him. Then much to her surprise, he walked up to her one day, took her by the shoulders and kissed her. She was too stunned to slap him. He then shook her hand and announced he was leaving to go home to Scotland, and that was the last she saw of Calvin Moore.
                  ‘What am I doing’ she wondered to herself, both of these men were off limits. Jonathon was her father’s cousin, second or third cousin, yet family nonetheless. He was her benefactor, her friend. She needed to stop thinking about his crinkles and how comforting the timbre of his voice was. She had to get Charles out of her head too. He was clearly a love them and leave them kind of lad and could not be trusted.
     
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    When Jonathon left that afternoon, she felt a sense of foreboding. There was nothing to justify what she was sensing, yet, the feeling clung to her like a wet blanket. She looked out the window of her bedroom, the sun was high and nary a cloud on the horizon. On today’s schedule was another horseback riding lesson and a visit from Mr. Ellcroft.
    He had visited thrice since she arrived at the manor. He had explained to her that in less than a year, ten months to be exact, she would be able to come into her inheritance. As he had told her many times, the once vast estate had been cut up into parcels of land and sold to the highest bidder which diminished her holdings significantly.
    She would be coming into an annual income of five thousand a year which would ensure her a comfortable living for many, many years. There was also the summer home of the Baroness, which was a Tudor style country cottage featuring a wraparound porch, an elevator, and a lush wild flower garden.  They had not yet visited the property as Mr. Ellcroft hadn’t the time to make the three-hour journey to Bath.
    A knock on her door captured her attention. She turned to see Charles leaning against the door in his riding gear. “You are a little early don’t you think? I haven’t put on my riding habit.”
    “You said you wanted to ride after lunch. It’s after lunch. Get dressed and meet me at the stables. I’ll get the horses ready.”
    “Ok, I will get ready.” She tried to close the door, but he remained against it. “Charles, I have to get dressed.”
    “Yes, I know. But you’d have to get undressed first.” He flashed his devilish grin, “I’m going.”

Chapter Nine
    Imogen met Charles at the stables as planned and they set off for the pasture. This was only her fourth outing, and she was still uncomfortable in her sidesaddle. The weight of her velveteen riding habit and lack of experience made it difficult to balance and direct her mount. She was perfectly fine with the mare’s natural walking