Will She Be Mine Read Online Free PDF Page B

speak, he
did.
     
    “Miss Horton. I am walking too fast for you. I do apologize
and can only offer as an excuse that my feelings of exquisite pleasure in your
company momentarily distracted me from your comfort.” Flushed with his own
eloquence, Thaddeus directed her over beneath a towering maple where a cast
iron bench awaited the weary. “Please, sit and rest a moment before we proceed.
Truly, if necessary, Angus can return with the Tilbury and we can ride the
remaining distance.”
    “I am not tired, Mr. Milborough,” Amelia assured him, though
her heavy tone belied her words and he frowned at her. She looked up and
yielded to his entreaty to rest. “Mrs. Edley must walk on. I do not want her to
miss her chance to win first prize in any baking contests. I would appreciate
the courtesy, however, if Mr. McLeod would stay on to maintain the
proprieties.”
    “Of course.” Thaddeus moved off to give direction to their
servants.
    “The wee lass is not tired, sir,” Angus whispered after they
watched Mrs. Edley move briskly off toward the green. “She works in the garden
most days for long hours. She’ll not be tired after a few minutes’ walk.”
    Thaddeus tore his eyes from Amelia’s pale countenance and
concentrated on his manservant. Angus looked pointedly at the few straggling
neighbors who hastily looked away without touching their hats or nodding their
heads or smiling or lifting a finger or in any way acknowledging their
presence.
    The cut indirect.
    Anger erupted to life in Thaddeus’ spleen. Seldom had he
wanted to wreak vengeance on his fellow human beings but today he might make an
exception. How any of these sanctimonious prigs could knowingly upset as sweet
a woman as he could ever hope to hold in his arms made him want to… Well, he
did not know quite what he wanted to do, but he wanted to do something. His
blazing scrutiny alighted on the Misses White, who strolled behind the rest.
    “We’ll just see,” Thaddeus uttered in a low forceful voice.
Plastering a welcoming smile on his face, he approached the two spinsters.
“Ladies,” he said, bowing to them.
     
    They drew up short, unable to ignore him and unwilling to
give him the cut direct. Not that ignoring him held any attraction for these
two women who knew themselves to be societal leaders in Hinderwell. They too
had seen the behavior of their neighbors and their hackles had risen. What
right did these nobodies have to censure Miss Horton and Mr. Milborough’s
behavior? Evidently, he wished to make it known that he was courting Miss
Horton. They would otherwise not be openly attending the fête together. An
unmarried woman in a delicate state was to be deplored, but efforts to get her
married were to be applauded and assisted by any appropriate means.
    “Mr. Milborough,” the ladies chorused. They inclined their
heads graciously. “We see that you are escorting Miss Horton to the fête?” Miss
Ann continued.
    “I am. I saw you both and hoped that you would do us the
honor of accompanying us to the church green.”
    Stiffly, Miss Sadie said, “We would be delighted.”
     
    Thaddeus did not think they looked delighted, but they
looked determined and he could accept that gratefully. He guided the two
sisters to the bench. Amelia’s eyes shone with pain as she looked from him to
the Misses White and his heart ached as he realized she thought he was
deliberately subjecting her to further scorn. He gave her an encouraging smile.
    “Miss Horton, look who I have come upon—Miss Sadie and Miss
Ann. Without an escort.” Thaddeus held out a hand to assist Amelia in rising,
which she accepted. Thank you, God , he thought, having feared that in
her anger she would refuse his assistance. When she would have pulled away, he
once again tucked her hand within the crook of his arm. She nodded at the
spinsters. “Self, I said, this will not do,” Thaddeus continued. “I know that
you will be as pleased as I, my dear Miss Horton, that they