Read Online An Unlikely Love by Dorothy Clark - Free Book Online

gave a soft cackle and flapped his elbows. “Chicken!”
    Her laughter was like music. She patted her head. “Hat!”
    â€œWe shall see.”
    â€œIndeed, we shall.” She looked back toward the canopy. “This is much better than if we had stayed in the back. I can see over the heads of everyone.”
    â€œGood.” He removed his coat, spread it over the leaf-strewn ground at their feet and made her an exaggerated bow. “Your seat awaits—if you don’t mind sitting on the ground, that is.” He held his hand out to her. She looked at it, caught at her lower lip with her teeth. The impression came again that she was about to refuse. He braced himself.
    â€œAs long as the ground doesn’t quiver.” She gave a little laugh and placed her hand on his.
    It was trembling. The slight tremors traveled all the way to his toes.
Blushes. Trembling. Miss Marissa Bradley was not as calm and detached as she acted. So why was she feigning disinterest?
He curled his fingers around her soft, delicate hand, helped her seat herself on his coat, then lowered himself to the ground as close to her as he dared.
    â€œIt’s my hat!”
    A woman on a front bench shrieked out the words.
    â€œYou’re right, madam. And this...is you.” The artist connected two lines, and the face of a woman appeared beneath a hat trimmed with feathers. The audience burst into applause.
    Marissa shot him a smug look from the corners of her eyes and grinned.
    His pulse leaped. He returned her grin and shrugged. “I’ll get this next one.” He pulled his face into a mock frown, stared at the new lines on the blackboard and stroked his chin. “I’ve got it!” He leaned forward and placed his lips close to her ear. “It’s a chicken.”
    She burst into laughter.
    He sat and drank in the sight of her. He could look at her all night.
    â€œIt’s amazing how Mr. Frank does that.” She tilted her head, studied the blackboard, then looked at him and shook her head. “I believe,
this time
, your ‘chicken’ is a man.”
    He narrowed his eyes at the blackboard. “And I believe you may be right.” He pulled his eyebrows into another mock scowl. “It’s beginning to look like President George Washington—with a
chicken
feather in his
hat
.”
    She glanced over at him, her eyes twinkling. “A plume straight from his plantation no—”
    Two quick blasts from a steamer’s whistle rent the air. A few people rose from their seats and made their way into the aisles between the rows of benches.
    â€œAlas, we shall never know. That’s the warning from the
Colonel Phillips
.” He looked up at the sky and frowned. “The lanterns make the canopy area so bright I lost track of the time.”
    He rose and helped her to her feet. His pulse raced at the feel of her hands in his. He locked his gaze on hers and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to make you miss the rest of the entertainment, Marissa, but I’ve only time enough to walk you to your tent before I leave.”
    â€œThat’s not necessary.” She lowered her gaze and gave a little tug. He relaxed his grip, and she slipped her hands from his, stepped back and shook out her long skirts. “You’d best hurry.”
    It sounded like a dismissal. He nodded, leaned down and picked up his coat. He’d never had to beg to court a woman and he wouldn’t start now. But right was right. “A gentleman doesn’t leave a lady to find her own way home, Marissa. So, unless you have made plans for another escort, I’ll see you to your tent on my way down the hill.”
    â€œPlans for another
escort
? You think—” She stiffened and tugged at the waist of her gown. “Good evening, and
goodbye
, Mr. Winston.”
    He stared at her rigid posture, hastened to apologize. “I didn’t mean to offend, Marissa. I