The Taming of Ryder Cavanaugh Read Online Free PDF Page A

got anywhere with Randolph yet. She wasn’t ready to even contemplate that she might be wrong and he might not be her one—perhaps she needed to spend time with him alone, or at least not in a group. “I’d rather stay.” She shifted to face Louise. “And Amanda and Amelia, and Portia, too, attend all the balls I would wish to go to.”
    Louise nodded. “I’ll send all three notes when we reach home. Provided they’re willing to act as chaperons, I see no reason you can’t remain and attend all the balls on our calendar.”
    “Good.” Facing forward again, Mary turned her mind to evaluating the sort of situations into which she could draw Randolph Cavanaugh in order to reveal his herolike nature. His true nature with respect to her.

Chapter Two
    “H ave a nice rest and don’t worry about anything!” Mary hugged her mother, then stood back so her older sisters, Amanda and Amelia, could sweep in and plant fond pecks on Louise’s cheeks.
    “Never fear.” Stepping back, Amanda cast an affectionate glance at Mary. “We’ll keep her in line.”
    Louise laughed and patted both twins’ shoulders. “I know I can rely on you both—and on Portia, too.”
    On cue, Portia stepped forward to hug Louise, then Henrietta, who had been in the library with her fiancé, James Glossup, wrestling with the question of where those of his more country-based family who were coming up to town for their wedding should be housed, came hurrying into the front hall, James in tow.
    “Good-bye, Mama! Papa!” Henrietta bussed Louise’s cheek, then turned to their father, Arthur, standing beside his wife, to repeat the process. “Have a lovely, restful time.”
    Arthur kissed Henrietta back, then released her. He and his brothers had elected to seize the opportunity to join their ladies for a few days of country peace—and shooting; while they’d waited for Louise to don her coat, the other girls had farewelled him.
    It was an hour after breakfast, and Amanda, Amelia, Simon, and Portia had arrived to see Louise and Arthur off, and to ease any concerns they might have; with the whole family gathered in London to celebrate the upcoming wedding, everyone was eager to do their part.
    Looking at his son, Simon, Portia’s husband, who, smiling benevolently, was standing to one side of the hall, James, his best friend, alongside him, Arthur rumbled, “You’re the effective man of the house, my boy—make sure you keep this gaggle in line.”
    Simon laughed.
    So did everyone else.
    “I’m sure everything will run perfectly smoothly,” Amanda stated in her best haughty-matron voice. “And, after all, you’ll only be gone for three days.”
    “Don’t be anxious.” Amelia squeezed Louise’s hand. “Just enjoy the rest—you and the others have earned it.”
    Hudson, the butler, swung open the door and the jingle of harness reached them. Louise glanced outside. “Excellent—the carriage is here.” Turning back to her brood, she swept them with a mother’s eye. “Now be good and take care—in whatever manner those injunctions apply.” Turning to Arthur, she smiled into his blue eyes, then let him twine her arm with his.
    “Come along,” Arthur said, then dramatically lowered his voice. “I think it’s safe to leave them to it.”
    Louise laughed and allowed him to lead her down the steps.
    The rest of the family followed them outside, gathering on the narrow porch to wave them away.
    Once the carriage had turned the corner, Simon and Portia took their leave, Henrietta and James returned to the library and their delicate task, and Amanda, Amelia, and Mary retreated to the front hall to decide on their social arrangements.
    “I can’t go with you tonight.” Amanda grimaced. “A rather dull dinner with some relatives of Martin’s—it’s been organized forever. But if you want to take a turn in the Park this afternoon, I could pick you up at four o’clock.”
    Mary nodded. “Yes, all right. It looks like it’s