Touch the Sun Read Online Free PDF

curls.
    "What a marvelous adventure this is! I am looking forward to practicing this small deception on your self-assured fiancé!"
    Priscilla was wild-eyed. "It will never work! He will know—"
    "Not if you can manage to collect your wits and stop acting so guilty! Besides, what does it matter to him who your maid is so long as you have one?"
    Lion came through the door then and Meagan immediately stared at her feet, assuming an attitude of meek subservience.
    "I thought I told you to call your maid," he said sharply. "What trunks have you decided on?"
    In her panic Priscilla pointed to two of them at random, then hurried over to Meagan's side. For a moment Meagan feared she might attempt to hide behind her. Lion stared at the two of them while the coachman carried out the cowhide trunks.
    "What the devil is going on here? Where is your maid?"
    "H-here," Priscilla gasped and Meagan wanted to pinch her.
    He strode across the floor to peer at her, then drew off the hood on her pelisse. The long black hair spilled down her back and recognition sparked in Lion's eyes.
    "It's you!" He turned to Priscilla, who shrank back against the paneled wall. "I've seen your maid this past week and I distinctly recall that her skin was a different color," he said caustically.
    Meagan could see that her friend was on the verge of a teary confession so she impulsively stepped between them and smiled sweetly at Lion.
    "Lily has lived at West Hills all her life, Captain Hampshire. Her family is here and Miss Wade is far too kindhearted to separate her from them. Whereas I—" she attempted a forlorn expression, "I am merely an orphaned waif who knows no life but service to my betters. Also, Mr. Wade thought that I might provide some small female companionship for Miss Wade. We are nearly the same age and it is sure to be difficult for her, moving north and beginning a new life among strangers..."
    She knew that her speech had been excessive; no servant would ever be so bold, but since Priscilla was obviously incapable of acting her part, Meagan had no choice but to act it for her.
    Lion was eyeing her suspiciously, but finally he let out a harsh sigh. "Something isn't right here, but I have neither the time nor the interest to sort it out. Half this day is wasted and we have a long journey ahead."
    Once inside the richly upholstered carriage and with her betrothed riding outside, Priscilla seemed to relax.
    Meagan was grinning as she bubbled inside with relief and her sense of victory. "Don't worry so, Priscilla," she laughed, "it will get easier from now on. Just try to keep your head!"
    "I don't know why I ever let you talk me into this," she replied miserably. "He's going to find out and then we'll both be sent home! James will murder me and you'll be forced to go to Boston in the end and—"
    "Oh, do stop it. No such thing will happen. You may believe that your Captain Hampshire is somehow superior to ordinary people, but I have complete confidence in my ability to outwit him. Besides, after we reach Philadelphia I'm sure I'll hit on a new course of action. I certainly do not intend to pass the rest of my days as your maid, you goose."
    "But what about James? What will happen when he discovers that Lily hasn't come with me and the news of your disappearance reaches him?" Priscilla began to panic anew at this latest thought.
    "I told Lily to inform James that Captain Hampshire decided there was not enough room for her and promised to find you a new maid in Philadelphia. As for me—no one would expect me to sit by and accept my fate in Boston, but James certainly would never guess that we could outmaneuver this nonpareil you are betrothed to." A fresh burst of laughter escaped Meagan's impish mouth, but Priscilla was not amused.
    Barely an hour later Meagan's own confidence suffered its first shock when she realized that their carriage was approaching Mount Vernon. They ascended the hills on which the mansion stood and Priscilla gazed out the