Read The Engagement - Regency Brides 02 for Free Online Page B

too, looked back at him. One second passed; then two. Thomas caught his breath for the brief span that she gazed at him, and his heart felt as though it were racing away.

    It was soon over when she turned and followed her cousin deeper into the wooded area of the park. Thomas turned, also-his heart filled with hope she would soon be his bride.

    “God must surely be vexed with me,” Katherine whispered to Theodora as they sat in the small village abbey on Sunday morning.

    Theodoraʼs patience was clearly reaching the straining point as her thin nostrils flared. “It is only a sermon,” she stressed.

    Katherine shook her head, a panicked feeling building in her chest. “It is a sign, Dora! It must be!”

    “Shh!” Lady Montbatten admonished, causing both ladies to face immediately toward the vicar.

    As the vicar spoke on how Joseph forgave his brothers for their betrayal and how it paralleled the betrayal of Jesus, and yet He also forgave, Katherine leaned again toward Theodora.

    “It is a sign from God!” she repeated in a whisper.

    “Angels appearing out of nowhere are a sign. Dreams as Joseph had are a sign. Sermons are not!” She shook her head.

    “Now hush and peek around to see if Thornton has arrived.”

    Though not convinced by Theodoraʼs words, Katherine pretended to adjust her bonnet, giving her the chance to glance about. Upon meeting Thomasʼs gaze, Katherine turned back so quickly, she earned another disapproving look from her mother.

    Thomas, as usual, appeared very handsome sitting beside North. She had noticed he wore a dark green coat and his hair was slightly disheveled, possibly done so by the breezy morning sheʼd also experienced when riding in their open carriage to the abbey.

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    “Heʼs here,” she told her cousin under her breath.

    “Excellent,” Theodora answered, still giving the impression of listening to the vicar, her lips curved in a satisfied grin.

    Katherine, too, looked back at the vicar, but unlike her cousin, she could not sit there calmly and not feel the meaning of his sermons and the guilt it rained down on her soul.

    And now that she knew Thomas was only a few feet from her, the feelings were compounded. She tried to take calming breaths but found it did not help. Suddenly, she could take it no more. Jumping up from her seat, Katherine all but stumbled past her family to the aisle, then hurried out the door, not daring to acknowledge Thomas as she passed him.

    Katherine ran until she reached a small grove of trees, then with a heartfelt groan fell to the fresh green grass. Covering her face with her hands, she wished she could cry and release all the pent-up feelings that had been building in her heart the bitterness, anger, betrayal, and, lately, guilt.

    But she couldnʼt, and she thought maybe she didnʼt deserve the luxury of a good cry-not when she was set ʻon a course that was so contrary to her character.

    “Are you all right?” a voice asked from up above her. A voice she knew was Thomasʼs.

    And for some reason, Katherine became highly irritated at his presence. Lowering her hands, she peered up to find his handsome face swathed with worry and concern. “Are you always like this?” she blurted out, her tone none too friendly.

    He froze for a moment, seemingly stunned by her abruptness.
    “I beg your pardon?”

    She stood up, ignoring his outstretched hand. “Do you always do the right things?” When he continued to appear puzzled, she let out a breath of frustration. “Are you always such a gentleman? Do you ever do anything---well-wrong?”

    He studied her, then asked carefully, “Katherine, are you feeling all right? Perhaps I could see you home so you might lie down for a-“

    “I am not sick!” she interrupted, childishly stomping one foot. “What I am trying to ask is if you are always this nice?
    Do you ever say the wrong thing or do something you are not proud of-“

    “Are you saying you want me to act