Read Will She Be Mine for Free Online

agreed to accept us
as companions of the road.”
     
    “They are kindness itself,” Amelia murmured graciously. She
squeezed Thaddeus’ arm in apology for having thought him insensitive.
    He patted her hand before offering his other to Miss Sadie.
Miss Ann, instead of taking her sister’s arm, moved to Amelia’s side.
    “May I take your other arm, Miss Horton?” she enquired and
lifted an imperious eyebrow. “The heat is rather too much this morning.”
    “Of course, ma’am,” Amelia said, offering her elbow. She
tried to withdraw her arm from Thaddeus. “Perhaps it would be better if we
walked behind. Four abreast is an awkward arrangement.”
     
    “There is plenty of room,” Thaddeus insisted. I must send
a dozen of my best roses to the dears , he thought.
    “Certainly there is,” Miss Sadie agreed, nodding firmly. She
waved her open parasol down the lane. “Shall we? I’m parched and I’d like some
lemonade.”
    “I shall fetch you all some the moment we arrive,” Thaddeus
promised. He wanted to kiss the quarrelsome old cat. He’d squeeze the lemons
himself if necessary. Their public acceptance of Amelia and, by default, his courtship
of her, would cause a stir. But he knew that their approval of the match would
lead others to accept it as well. Now all he had to do was convince Amelia.

Chapter Seven
     
    Hinderwell’s church green hosted a large gathering and still
had room for a variety of fun races for both the young and the more mature.
Dozens of chairs were set around trestle tables erected in the shade. Canopied
booths offered home-grown produce, cut flowers, baking, lemonade and even
fossils collected off the beach at Runswick Bay. Local craftsmen and women had
their wares displayed to advantage. A maypole awaited the dancers come late
evening.
    A number of attendees had already found perches for
themselves among the tables. One small group drew Thaddeus’ attention and
elevated the local fête to unexpected social heights, for sitting beside Squire
Minton and his lady wife were Raven Caxton, the Duke of Lipton, Kathryn, the
Duchess of Lipton, and Kathryn’s son—Raven’s stepson—Lord Justin Leakesly.
Thaddeus’ surprise could not have been greater. He eagerly approached his
cousins, drawing his three companions after him.
    “Raven, Kathryn, Justin,” he said, grinning at them. The two
men stood. The squire’s wife nudged him with her elbow and he automatically
stood. Everyone bowed, nodded and curtsied. “May I introduce you to my dear
friends the Misses White? Justin, I believe you have met them before. Miss
White. Miss Ann White. This is His Grace, the Duke of Lipton. This is my
cousin, his wife, Her Grace, the Duchess of Lipton, and their son, Lord Justin
Leakesly, who is also my cousin.” More nods and curtsies. “Everyone, this is
Miss Horton.”
     
    Amelia, feeling herself blush from the roots of her hair
down to the tips of her toes, curtsied awkwardly and wished that she could
somehow disappear entirely, leaving not a hair or a thought behind. Lord
Leakesly, a handsome, fair-haired man a few years younger than Thaddeus, drew a
chair out for her. The Duchess, a strikingly beautiful mature woman with
cascades of red hair, asked her how she fared after the walk to the green. The
duke, dark and dressed rather oddly all in black, like a valet, smiled kindly
at her and mentioned that his dear Kathryn also enjoyed a rather interesting
condition. This child would be their seventh and was due near Christmas. Rather
overwhelmed by their kindnesses, Amelia could only smile and nod and utter
incomplete nothings in response.
    “Another little Caxton?” Thaddeus exclaimed, pounding Raven
on the back. “Congratulations. We must toast the good news. Come, let’s find
some lemonade and salute your prowess.”
    “Thaddeus!” Kathryn cried, rolling her eyes. He merely
laughed at her and carried Justin and the duke off to help him with the
refreshments. She turned her attention back