Read Online A Timeless Romance Anthology: European Collection by Annette Lyon, G. G. Vandagriff, Michele Paige Holmes, Sarah M. Eden, Heather B. Moore, Nancy Campbell Allen - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Annette Lyon, G. G. Vandagriff, Michele Paige Holmes, Sarah M. Eden, Heather B. Moore, Nancy Campbell Allen
Tags: Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Short Stories, Anthologies, Novellas, sweet romance, clean romance
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carriage, Melissa felt her stomach grow increasingly tight at the thought of greeting her parents. They were certain to be angry about the scandal she had undoubtedly caused by running off to the Border with one man while engaged to another. By the time they pulled up in front of Kent House, she had a pounding headache.
Chapter Two
Papa was not pleased. Thomas stood beside Melissa, his arm securely about her waist, as her father bellowed, “This man may be an earl, but he hasn’t a sou! I didn’t think any daughter of mine could be such a ninnyhammer.”
“Papa, please. Calm yourself.”
“Your mother and I are not blind, Melissa. We know you had a preference for Trowbridge. Why do you think we made certain we secured him for you?”
Melissa could not stop the blush flooding her face so violently that she became dizzy.
Her husband withdrew his arm. “Is this true, Melissa? You had a tendre for Trowbridge?”
She could not be less than honest. “At one time. Before I found out that he was in love with Sophie.” Turning to face Thomas, she looked into his somber, dark eyes and took both of his hands in hers. “You know I love you, Thomas. If I did not, I can assure you I never would have married you.”
He stood tall and straight with indignation, his full mouth set in a grim line. Even so, she loved his aristocratic face with its noble forehead, cleft chin, and high-bridged nose. “I tumbled into love with you at my come-out ball. I stood in this very room and told Sophie about you. I even danced around, holding your posy of yellow roses as my partner.”
His look softened. “I sent them because they reminded me of your hair.”
Lord Kent grumbled. When it came right down to it, her father could deny her nothing.
“I guess we had better go to the library, my lord, and talk settlements,” her father said. Turning to her, he murmured, “I certainly hope you know what you are about, Melissa. It is too late now to do anything about it.”
She gave him her sunniest smile. “I love Thomas, Papa. Let there be no doubt of it.”
During dinner, her mother’s eyes were red rimmed, and Melissa could almost hear her thoughts. I have but one daughter, and now I am to be denied seeing her married at St. George’s in satin and lace. My beautiful girl. How could she be so cruel?
Melissa dreaded the time they would spend in the drawing room while the men were at their cigars and port. Thomas had winked at her when he came out from the conference in the library, so she knew the money was all right. Papa would never let her live like a pauper.
She was right about her mother. When the two of them sat at opposite ends of the sofa in the drawing room, she let fly all of her complaints and recriminations.
“You thought of no one but yourself. It has always been the same. You are an unnatural daughter; that is what you are. A mother always looks forward to her daughter’s wedding. Just you wait and see. I hope you will have but one daughter, and I hope that she will flee off to Scotland in the midst of a scandal!”
“Come, Mama. I know it is a disappointment to you, but my wedding is not the end of my life! And I shall be but two streets away in Grosvenor Square when we open up Oaksey House. There is nothing to say you cannot throw a ball, as elaborate as you please, for Thomas and me.”
“I do not even know where his estate lies,” her mother said.
“In Suffolk. Quite a beautiful old home, he tells me. Sixteenth century, and not far from London. See? I know you and Papa prefer to live here year round. We shall not go down to Bury St. Edmunds until the end of the Season, and it is only April. We have two more months together at least.”
Lady Kent made a great to do of inhaling over her vinaigrette and dabbing at her eyes. Finally, the gentlemen appeared.
“Well, my dear,” Thomas said. “You father has invited us to stay on here until we get Oaksey house opened up.”
Melissa’s heart sank. She
Chapter Two
Papa was not pleased. Thomas stood beside Melissa, his arm securely about her waist, as her father bellowed, “This man may be an earl, but he hasn’t a sou! I didn’t think any daughter of mine could be such a ninnyhammer.”
“Papa, please. Calm yourself.”
“Your mother and I are not blind, Melissa. We know you had a preference for Trowbridge. Why do you think we made certain we secured him for you?”
Melissa could not stop the blush flooding her face so violently that she became dizzy.
Her husband withdrew his arm. “Is this true, Melissa? You had a tendre for Trowbridge?”
She could not be less than honest. “At one time. Before I found out that he was in love with Sophie.” Turning to face Thomas, she looked into his somber, dark eyes and took both of his hands in hers. “You know I love you, Thomas. If I did not, I can assure you I never would have married you.”
He stood tall and straight with indignation, his full mouth set in a grim line. Even so, she loved his aristocratic face with its noble forehead, cleft chin, and high-bridged nose. “I tumbled into love with you at my come-out ball. I stood in this very room and told Sophie about you. I even danced around, holding your posy of yellow roses as my partner.”
His look softened. “I sent them because they reminded me of your hair.”
Lord Kent grumbled. When it came right down to it, her father could deny her nothing.
“I guess we had better go to the library, my lord, and talk settlements,” her father said. Turning to her, he murmured, “I certainly hope you know what you are about, Melissa. It is too late now to do anything about it.”
She gave him her sunniest smile. “I love Thomas, Papa. Let there be no doubt of it.”
During dinner, her mother’s eyes were red rimmed, and Melissa could almost hear her thoughts. I have but one daughter, and now I am to be denied seeing her married at St. George’s in satin and lace. My beautiful girl. How could she be so cruel?
Melissa dreaded the time they would spend in the drawing room while the men were at their cigars and port. Thomas had winked at her when he came out from the conference in the library, so she knew the money was all right. Papa would never let her live like a pauper.
She was right about her mother. When the two of them sat at opposite ends of the sofa in the drawing room, she let fly all of her complaints and recriminations.
“You thought of no one but yourself. It has always been the same. You are an unnatural daughter; that is what you are. A mother always looks forward to her daughter’s wedding. Just you wait and see. I hope you will have but one daughter, and I hope that she will flee off to Scotland in the midst of a scandal!”
“Come, Mama. I know it is a disappointment to you, but my wedding is not the end of my life! And I shall be but two streets away in Grosvenor Square when we open up Oaksey House. There is nothing to say you cannot throw a ball, as elaborate as you please, for Thomas and me.”
“I do not even know where his estate lies,” her mother said.
“In Suffolk. Quite a beautiful old home, he tells me. Sixteenth century, and not far from London. See? I know you and Papa prefer to live here year round. We shall not go down to Bury St. Edmunds until the end of the Season, and it is only April. We have two more months together at least.”
Lady Kent made a great to do of inhaling over her vinaigrette and dabbing at her eyes. Finally, the gentlemen appeared.
“Well, my dear,” Thomas said. “You father has invited us to stay on here until we get Oaksey house opened up.”
Melissa’s heart sank. She
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