Will She Be Mine Read Online Free PDF

be my pleasure.”
    He watched a pretty blush color her cheeks. “Will eleven
o’clock be a good time for us to set off?”
    “Yes. Yes, thank you,” she murmured.

Chapter Six
     
    Amelia wore her favorite blue gown for the fête. Though, in
truth, she wore her favorite gown for Thaddeus. She loved the tiny yellow dots
she’d embroidered across the bodice. She waited in the entrance hall, perched
on the very edge of a straight-backed chair, wearing a straw bonnet trimmed
with a blue ribbon. A buttery-yellow cashmere shawl was draped across her
shoulders and over her elbows. A small handbag in the new style, of soft kid,
dyed blue, dangled from her wrist.
    She felt strange, all dressed up and waiting for a
personable gentleman to arrive just as if she were still an innocent maiden
going courting. Strange, but excited and also somewhat apprehensive. What would
their neighbors think of her attending the fête with Thaddeus? She feared they
would be shocked. Very shocked indeed.
    Mrs. Edley came through from the kitchen carrying a large
basket whose contents were hidden beneath a pristine white linen cloth. Amelia
raised her eyebrows.
    “It’s my lemon curd, mum. And my famous Yorkshire barmbrack.
I’m aiming to win a prize this year. Mrs. Wartle can’t win every year.”
    “Both the curd and the fruit cake are delicious. I do not
know how the judges can fail to award you first place.”
    “If it’s the same gormless lumps judging as last year,
anything’s possible.”
    Amelia hid a smile behind her gloved hand.
    A firm knock sounded.
    “About bloody time,” Mrs. Edley muttered, forgetting
herself. She opened the door and dropped a curtsy for their neighbor. “Mr.
Milborough. Miss Amelia is ready.”
    “Excellent. Thank you, Mrs. Edley.”
    Amelia came around the door and gave a slight curtsy while
gifting Thaddeus with a soft smile. She thought he looked very nice in his dark
brown coat over a green paisley waistcoat. His tan trousers were long and
strapped beneath his black, square-toed shoes. He seemed to prefer a softly
styled cravat, for today he wore the bronze length of silk tied in his usual
Byron knot. He grinned at her and held out his hand. She shook it but when she
would have pulled back he urged her forward, drawing her hand through the crook
of his arm.
     
    “Good morning,” Thaddeus murmured. A gleeful note
underscored his simple words because, within, his entire being was dancing a
jig. Amelia and I are going to the fête , his inner voice sang. Like a
child before Christmas, he had barely been able to sleep the night before.
“It’s a beautiful day for a fair and you look very pretty.”
    “Thank you,” she replied, blushing.
    “And you are wearing my favorite color too,” he added,
leading her down the path to the road. Mrs. Edley brought up the rear.
     
    When they entered the lane, Angus joined them. He walked
beside the housekeeper. They exchanged knowing glances. But their
conspiratorial looks soon changed to glowers as they watched the expressions on
the faces of their other neighbors, who were also making their way to the
church. Shock and indignation warred with incredulity for place of honor. The
two faithful servants heard the titters and it soon became apparent to them
that the sensitive Miss Amelia heard them too.
     
    Amelia’s footsteps lagged. Humiliation ground through her.
She’d been a fool to accept Thaddeus’ invitation. Their own neighbors did not
even acknowledge her with simple nods. How could they expect the remaining
villagers to accept them? Mortified, Amelia wanted to find a nearby bush and
crawl underneath it like a rolled-up hedgehog. What sweet, incredible madness
had driven her to subject herself, and Thaddeus too, to their community’s
criticism? He didn’t deserve this. He was much too fine a gentleman to
acknowledge that he had made a mistake in asking her. She must save him from
his noble principles. However, before she could open her mouth to