Read The Wagered Heart: Signet Regency Romance (InterMix) for Free Online

woolen mill owner in the district, happily indulged his wife’s continual demands to refurbish the place. All of the best families in Chippenham were invited to the Thorncrofts’ home every year after the sheepshearing was done. It pleased Mrs. Thorncroft to no end to have her neighbors marvel as she unveiled the latest improvement to the Manor. Often Mariah would visit the Allards just to find relief from the hammering and dust that seemed a constant state at her house.
    Julia was within half a mile of the Thorncrofts’ when she saw Mariah’s familiar figure coming toward her in the distance.
    As if in accord, both young ladies hurried their steps toward one another with smiles of greeting.
    Mariah Thorncroft was a lovely young woman with sparkling eyes and glorious wavy brown hair. As she drew near, Julia admired her friend’s elegant sea-foam green walking gown. This was not unusual, as Mariah always dressed in the highest kick of fashion. The shawl she wore at her elbows was a marvelof intricately embroidered flowers. Julia had long thought Mariah was the perfect height—tall enough to be considered fashionable, but not so tall as to be remarked upon. Julia envied her friend’s shorter stature and often told her so.
    “Julia! I vow I left the house when you left yours, but as your strides are so much longer than mine, it takes you half the time to cover the same distance.” Mariah Thorncroft’s hazel eyes danced with an ever-present tease for her friend.
    With her free hand, Julia reached out and clasped the other girl’s arm with great affection.
    “My dear Mariah, you have used that excuse for years. I think it is more likely that you stand looking out an attic window until I come into sight,
then
you leave your home,” she teased back.
    “I shall never admit to it,” Mariah said, giving Julia’s arm an answering squeeze as they stood in the middle of the lane. “What shall we do today?”
    “As it is so fine outside, I thought a walk to the village would do us both good. And, I have these books that should be returned to the lending library,” she suggested. “We can also go to Fitch’s and see how Johnny Potts is getting on in his new position.”
    “Oh, let’s. I am so proud of him. I know he will blush scarlet when he sees us, but will be pleased nonetheless.”
    Julia agreed. For the last six or seven years, Julia and Mariah had taken it upon themselves to teach some of the children in the village rudimentary requirements of reading, writing, and sums.
    Johnny Potts, the youngest son of a poor sheep farmer, had turned out to be their prize pupil. Though he had at first been embarrassed and self-effacing at being instructed by women, over time he had flourished under their gentle guidance.
    Recently, Julia and Mariah had each received anote from Johnny, in his very careful and precise handwriting, informing them that he had been offered a position at Fitch’s Mercantile. His gratitude had been deeply touching, and it had fueled the two young ladies’ desire to instruct any child who had the desire, but not the means, to learn.
    “Oh, I have not told you the latest news from my home,” Mariah offered. “Mama is having the workmen start on her latest project. I have been combating the headache all day,” Mariah said, slipping her arm through her friend’s.
    The two young women turned and left the lane, taking a wider road that led to High Street.
    “What is your mama having done now?” Julia asked in sympathy as she shortened her stride to better match her friend’s steps.
    Mariah gave a heavy, exasperated sigh. “She has decided that nothing will do but to have a Greek temple overlooking the pond. Thank heavens the architect convinced her that a full-scale temple might overshadow the Manor. So we are to have a diminutive marble temple to lounge in.”
    “A Greek temple?” Julia tried to picture such a thing with the Thorncrofts’ half-timbered Tudor mansion in the background. She