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

be an incriminating smell?
    He raised the muffin, aimed and was about to toss it in the fire when feminine footsteps sounded in the hall. He dropped the muffin, turned toward the open doorway and saw four smartly dressed females advancing toward him, smiling.
    The hairs on the back of his neck rose. Why the devil were they grinning at him like that? What did they know? What did they want?
    He had a powerful urge to flee. But he’d made that promise to Max. He rose, brushing crumbs from his fingers. “Ladies,” he said warily.
    “Freddy, my dear boy, so sorry to keep you waiting.” Lady Beatrice eyed him with approval. “Always so elegant.” She glanced at the plate of muffins and frowned. “Were the muffins not satisfactory? Featherby, you must have a word with Cook—”
    “No, no, they were delicious, as was the coffee,” Freddy assured her. “But I wasn’t hungry. Late breakfast, you know—large breakfast. Positively enormous,” he added when she seemed inclined to argue.
    She sniffed. “You need feeding up. Oh, well, come along. I trust the weather is holding?”
    “Yes indeed, a fine day. The breeze is a little on the brisk side, but quite refreshing.” He ushered the ladies to the front door. The landau and driver were waiting in the street.



Chapter Two
    “It is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are the result of previous study?”
    —JANE AUSTEN, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
    T he landau only fitted four people comfortably. Freddy offered to ride beside the carriage so it wouldn’t be such a squash but the old lady wouldn’t hear of it. “I prefer you close by, dear boy.” At first he’d thought she meant for protection or some such thing but then she’d winked at him. “I want to flaunt you, such a fine, handsome lad you’ve turned out to be.”
    The old girl was always trying to put him to the blush. Freddy hid a grin.
    With the aid of a muscular footman, he helped the old lady into the landau. She was frail but indomitable. Freddy turned to assist the young ladies, first Miss Jane, who bounced lightly up the steps, then Miss Daisy, then he held out his hand to assist Miss Damaris.
    “I’m sorry, I’ve changed my mind,” she said, snatching her hand back before he’d even touched it.
    “Damaris?” Lady Beatrice said sharply.
    “It’s nothing, just a slight headache. If I just lie down for a while I’m sure the headache will pass.”
    Freddy was sure it would; in fact, he was pretty sure the headache didn’t exist. She didn’t look the slightest bit pale or heavy eyed; she looked blooming, as usual, possibly even a little flushed. But judging by the looks and surreptitious nudges being exchanged, there were feminine undercurrents swirling around, and Freddy’s policy was to affect an unawareness of such things. Safer that way.
    “Nonsense. Fresh air and sunshine is the best cure for what ails you,” Lady Beatrice decreed. “In you get, my dear. That headache will be gone before you know it.”
    Damaris didn’t argue but obediently climbed into the carriage. Freddy got in after her, signaled to the driver and they were off. As expected, it was a bit of a squash. Freddy’s thigh pressed against Damaris’s.
    It shouldn’t matter—if he’d sat next to Jane or Daisy he wouldn’t have thought twice about it, but somehow, because it was Damaris, he couldn’t get his mind off it.
    She shifted a little closer to Daisy. Freddy moved, pressing himself against the side of the carriage to give her more space, but with three on the seat, there was simply not enough room. He could feel the warmth of her body down the length of his thigh. As she could no doubt feel his. Not that she gave any indication of it.
    She gazed serenely out of the carriage, as lively as a damsel encased in glass.
    She was always like that, somehow distant, untouchable. It disturbed him in ways