The Summer Bride (A Chance Sisters Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

me.”
    She heaved herself to her feet, using her cane as a lever.Flynn leaped forward to help her but she batted his hands away impatiently. “Four o’clock sharp, d’ye hear me?”
    “But I know how to dance.”
    She gave a scornful snort. “Nonsense! You’ve been at sea most of your life—they don’t dance the hornpipe at Almack’s, you know!”
    He opened his mouth to inform her that he might be a seaman, but he knew all the fashionable dances, but at that point Daisy arrived, buttoning her pelisse, a bonnet dangling by its strings from her arm. “Mornin’, Flynn. Sorry to keep you waitin’.”
    Lady Beatrice leveled her lorgnette at Daisy. “You are dressed to go Out.”
    Daisy nodded. “ ’S’right. I’m goin’ somewhere with Mr. Flynn.”
    “Going somewhere? To where, pray tell?” When Daisy just grinned the old lady turned to Flynn. “You are honored, Mr. Flynn, honored, I say. The wretched gel has refused to accompany me anywhere of late! She refuses to make morning calls, turns her nose up at the most delightful events, and only occasionally will she even consent to walk in the park with the gels and me.”
    “Pooh, you hardly ever walk anyway.” Daisy finished buttoning her pelisse, crammed her bonnet on and tied the strings. “You just sit in your carriage and take people up to gossip with. I ain’t got time to waste on that sort of thing.”
    Flynn watched her tying the strings of her bonnet with no apparent care. The hat sat rakishly on her tousled brown locks, and yet the final effect was both stylish and flattering to her pale, angular, vivid little face. Her whole outfit was simple—plain with none of the frills and bits that other women seemed to like, but neat as a new pin, and somehow elegant. She was a tidy little package, young Daisy.
    Daisy turned to Flynn, her eyes bright with anticipation. “Righto, Flynn, I’m ready.”
    “Mr. Flynn hasn’t yet finished his tea,” Lady Beatrice pointed out acidly, disregarding the fact that she had herself been on the point of leaving the room.
    Daisy frowned at him. “Did you come to drink tea? I thought you was in a hurry to get to the docks.”
    “The docks?” Lady Beatrice repeated in a tone of faint horror. “You’re going to
the docks
?”
    “One of my ships has just arrived, m’lady—”
    “And he’s givin’ me first pick of the loot,” Daisy announced with glee. “Come on then, Flynn. No time to waste.”
    *   *   *
    D aisy stepped outside, pulling on her gloves. She glanced at the leaden sky. “Brr, call this spring? Still bloomin’ freezing!” Wisps of fog clung to the cold ground, a blanket of ethereal gray feathers. When she’d risen that morning and peered out of the window, the fog had been so thick the gas lamps in the street were barely visible, a mere glimmer in the dark.
    Flynn had a hackney carriage waiting. The horses tossed their heads, snorting clouds of smoky breath in the chill air, and shifting restlessly, their hooves clattering on the cobbles.
    Daisy climbed into the carriage, settled herself in the corner and grinned at Flynn as the carriage moved off with a jerk. “Thanks for askin’ me along, Flynn.”
    He gave a shrug of acknowledgement. “It’s no trouble. Thanks for not keepin’ me waiting too long.”
    “ ’S’all”—she broke the sentence with a huge yawn—“right.”
    He smiled. “Wishing you were still in bed, are you? Hope I didn’t disturb your lie-in.”
    “Lie-in?” She made a scornful sound. “I been up since four.”
    “Four? In the
morning
? Good God, why?”
    She shrugged. “I’m up at four most days. I don’t have time to lie abed like a fine lady.”
    “Why on earth not?”
    She shrugged. “Habit, mostly,” she lied. “I get bored lyin’ in bed ’til all hours.”
    He raised one dark, winged brow in a way that suggested he saw straight through that one, so she added, “I’d’ve thought you of all people would understand, Flynn.