Read Online A Bride Most Begrudging by Deeanne Gist - Free Book Online
Authors: Deeanne Gist
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clothing?
Setting down the pail, Drew walked to the wall behind her and plucked the skirt she’d worn last night off a peg. “Is this what you are in need of?”
She whirled around. Snatching it out of his hands, she held it up against her like a shield. He smiled. Sweet heavens, he had not one dimple, but two.
“Where is the bodice?” she asked.
His eyes flickered. “I fear it’s not of much use to you. Wear the skirt and chemise without it.”
She gasped. “ ’Twould be indecent!”
He arched a brow. “Not nearly as indecent as if you tried to stuff yourself into that bodice again.”
Saints above, these ill-bred colonists would say anything. Even the grandmother’s presence did not temper their wagging tongues. “If you’ve but a length of cord, I can manage fine.”
He chuckled. “It’s not just a length of cord you’re needing but an entire bolt of cloth.”
Suppressing a groan, she dropped the issue and quickly searched for a place in which she could dress. Grandma and Mary bustled around the fire. Sally sat on the floor grinding meal with mortar and pestle. Did they do everything together in this primitive little room?
She turned back to Drew. “Be gone. I must dress.”
“Miss Constance, Lady of the Realm, have you still not grasped the essence of your position here? I am the master and you are the servant. When you would like to request something of me, I suggest you couch it in the sweetest of terms.”
“I am not a lady of the realm.”
“That is right. You are a servant. The sooner you accept that, the more pleasant you will find your lot in life here on my farm.”
“The devil’s dung in thy teeth.”
His smile vanished. “You will watch your language.”
“I will do as I please.”
“You will do as you are told or you will have no privileges.” She narrowed her eyes. “What are you saying?”
“Baths, food, and so forth are privileges awarded to those worthy of receiving them.”
She didn’t think so. Leaving one’s servants in filth and starving them was counterproductive. “Get out. I need to dress.”
He stepped forward and gently grabbed her chin. “Lesson number one: Ask with meekness and servitude.”
A pox on meekness and servitude. If he were a gentleman, she wouldn’t even have to ask. She kept her lips firmly sealed.
“Constance, you were bought and paid for. I have the receipt to prove it.”
She jerked her chin out of his hand. “You said you would send word to my father.”
“It will be at least six months until we hear back from your father.” She gasped. “Six months?!”
“Six months. Until then, you are my possession.”
“Only in your own sluggish brain.”
“Dear girl, it is within my rights to marry you at any time. Once that happens, you will be bound to me forever under God—father or no father.”
She blanched. It had only been within the last few years that England allowed women a veto in matrimonial affairs. Had this current not penetrated the colonies? She wasn’t at all sure.
“Wish you to marry me?” he asked.
“I do not!”
“Then ask me to leave in a proper manner.”
In a pig’s eye, I will . Hugging the dress closer to her, she opened her mouth.
He gently placed his finger over her lips. “Think, girl, before you speak.”
His callused finger abraded her lips. She pushed the offending appendage away. “I wish you to go.”
“Phrase it with respect.”
Gritting her teeth, she impaled him with her stare. “Will you please do me the honor of leaving the cottage for a moment or two …” you wretched, poisonous, bunch-backed toad ?
“Excellent.” Removing a worn but clean homespun dress from a peg on the wall, he handed it to her. “Josh should be back from the creek by now. You may follow the same path as last night for your cleansing in the water. Make sure you return before the breakfast bell is rung. There’s some soap on the shelf, there above the trunk.”
“What of the bucket and
Setting down the pail, Drew walked to the wall behind her and plucked the skirt she’d worn last night off a peg. “Is this what you are in need of?”
She whirled around. Snatching it out of his hands, she held it up against her like a shield. He smiled. Sweet heavens, he had not one dimple, but two.
“Where is the bodice?” she asked.
His eyes flickered. “I fear it’s not of much use to you. Wear the skirt and chemise without it.”
She gasped. “ ’Twould be indecent!”
He arched a brow. “Not nearly as indecent as if you tried to stuff yourself into that bodice again.”
Saints above, these ill-bred colonists would say anything. Even the grandmother’s presence did not temper their wagging tongues. “If you’ve but a length of cord, I can manage fine.”
He chuckled. “It’s not just a length of cord you’re needing but an entire bolt of cloth.”
Suppressing a groan, she dropped the issue and quickly searched for a place in which she could dress. Grandma and Mary bustled around the fire. Sally sat on the floor grinding meal with mortar and pestle. Did they do everything together in this primitive little room?
She turned back to Drew. “Be gone. I must dress.”
“Miss Constance, Lady of the Realm, have you still not grasped the essence of your position here? I am the master and you are the servant. When you would like to request something of me, I suggest you couch it in the sweetest of terms.”
“I am not a lady of the realm.”
“That is right. You are a servant. The sooner you accept that, the more pleasant you will find your lot in life here on my farm.”
“The devil’s dung in thy teeth.”
His smile vanished. “You will watch your language.”
“I will do as I please.”
“You will do as you are told or you will have no privileges.” She narrowed her eyes. “What are you saying?”
“Baths, food, and so forth are privileges awarded to those worthy of receiving them.”
She didn’t think so. Leaving one’s servants in filth and starving them was counterproductive. “Get out. I need to dress.”
He stepped forward and gently grabbed her chin. “Lesson number one: Ask with meekness and servitude.”
A pox on meekness and servitude. If he were a gentleman, she wouldn’t even have to ask. She kept her lips firmly sealed.
“Constance, you were bought and paid for. I have the receipt to prove it.”
She jerked her chin out of his hand. “You said you would send word to my father.”
“It will be at least six months until we hear back from your father.” She gasped. “Six months?!”
“Six months. Until then, you are my possession.”
“Only in your own sluggish brain.”
“Dear girl, it is within my rights to marry you at any time. Once that happens, you will be bound to me forever under God—father or no father.”
She blanched. It had only been within the last few years that England allowed women a veto in matrimonial affairs. Had this current not penetrated the colonies? She wasn’t at all sure.
“Wish you to marry me?” he asked.
“I do not!”
“Then ask me to leave in a proper manner.”
In a pig’s eye, I will . Hugging the dress closer to her, she opened her mouth.
He gently placed his finger over her lips. “Think, girl, before you speak.”
His callused finger abraded her lips. She pushed the offending appendage away. “I wish you to go.”
“Phrase it with respect.”
Gritting her teeth, she impaled him with her stare. “Will you please do me the honor of leaving the cottage for a moment or two …” you wretched, poisonous, bunch-backed toad ?
“Excellent.” Removing a worn but clean homespun dress from a peg on the wall, he handed it to her. “Josh should be back from the creek by now. You may follow the same path as last night for your cleansing in the water. Make sure you return before the breakfast bell is rung. There’s some soap on the shelf, there above the trunk.”
“What of the bucket and
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