Read Online An Unwilling Baroness by Harris Channing - Free Book Online
Authors: Harris Channing
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times,
but I find that to be the case only with you. But you're so lovely
and so sweet. I could smell your perfume, see the sorrow in your
eyes and I wanted nothing but to make you smile."
His confession touched her, but it was his
obvious admiration that warmed her soul. It felt strange and
glorious to be adored by him. "And you did. You made me blush."
"I know, and may I add, you're quite
charming when you turn pink."
"You're doing it again," she scolded, the
heat inching uncomfortably into her cheeks.
"Yes, I am." He stopped walking and held
tight to her hand. "I would adore making you blush for the rest of
my life." He shifted, maneuvering his body until he blocked her
way. "I know it's rather soon for you to say yes to my proposal.
I’m usually a thinking man. But I find I cannot think of anything
but you."
His confession had her nerves tingling. It
was too fast, but she realized it was going to happen sooner or
later. Glancing over his shoulder, she could just see Jude at the
mouth of the path. The man she loved only feet away, the glorious
sunlight shimmering in his hair. The image of him shattered
forever, for, a beautiful blonde creature clung to his arm. The
fiancée had arrived and her heart broke. Shocked, she leaned into
Fredrick to keep from stumbling backward.
"I agree to the engagement," she mumbled and
he swept her into a snug embrace. His touch was warm, but almost
too much, too strong, too confining.
He kissed the top of her head and she clung
to him, hoping to find comfort.
"You have made me a happy man, Chloe. We
will have a wonderful life, you’ll see."
He spun her around as if she was a rag doll
and she let him, praying his happiness contained a contagion. It
was wonderful that he was joyful. If the bride couldn't be pleased,
at least the groom should be. Of course, there would be no shortage
of celebration. Both Father and Dorothea would be ecstatic. She bit
back the bile that tickled her throat. How she loathed doing
anything that would please that vile woman.
As he set her down, uncertainty poked at her
and she knew now the bitterness of a marriage entered without love.
Still, with her acceptance, she'd saved her family from untold
humiliation. Had rescued Pembridge House and kept Father from
debtor's prison. Like many women before her, she'd walk down the
aisle and martyr herself in her marital bed.
Fredrick leaned forward and gently placed
his hands on both sides of her face. "Everything is going to be as
it should be. And when we are old and gray with our grandchildren
playing about us, you will wonder why you were ever hesitant to be
my wife. Please don't be sad."
"I'm not sad." And she wasn't, for she hoped
she'd soon wake from her dream and instead of Fredrick holding her,
Jude would be.
He chuckled and placed as soft kiss on her
forehead. "I know better, but I intend to make certain that your
sorrow is short lived."
She gazed upon this kind man's countenance
and smiled, for in the depths of his eyes she recognized his tender
determination. "I believe you will try and that is more than I can
expect from this arrangement. I thank you Baron, for your
generosity."
"Darling," he whispered, his breath warm on
her skin. "This is no longer an arrangement for me. You have
touched my heart and before long we will be the couple that
everyone envies. There will be love between us."
"I hope you’re right." But judging by the
chill in her heart, she doubted it.
Taking her hand, he led her toward the
clearing and to where Jude and his lady strolled toward them. So
deeply involved in his conversation with the golden goddess, Jude
didn't look at her until they were nearly upon them.
"Fredrick, Chloe, may I present to you Miss
Belle Lockwood." Jude's gaze slid to Chloe as his stunning fiancée
offered Fredrick her gloved hand. Every aspect of the woman
screamed wealth and refinement. Everything from the top of her
beautiful straw bonnet with soft pink silk ribbons to the tips of
her tiny
but I find that to be the case only with you. But you're so lovely
and so sweet. I could smell your perfume, see the sorrow in your
eyes and I wanted nothing but to make you smile."
His confession touched her, but it was his
obvious admiration that warmed her soul. It felt strange and
glorious to be adored by him. "And you did. You made me blush."
"I know, and may I add, you're quite
charming when you turn pink."
"You're doing it again," she scolded, the
heat inching uncomfortably into her cheeks.
"Yes, I am." He stopped walking and held
tight to her hand. "I would adore making you blush for the rest of
my life." He shifted, maneuvering his body until he blocked her
way. "I know it's rather soon for you to say yes to my proposal.
I’m usually a thinking man. But I find I cannot think of anything
but you."
His confession had her nerves tingling. It
was too fast, but she realized it was going to happen sooner or
later. Glancing over his shoulder, she could just see Jude at the
mouth of the path. The man she loved only feet away, the glorious
sunlight shimmering in his hair. The image of him shattered
forever, for, a beautiful blonde creature clung to his arm. The
fiancée had arrived and her heart broke. Shocked, she leaned into
Fredrick to keep from stumbling backward.
"I agree to the engagement," she mumbled and
he swept her into a snug embrace. His touch was warm, but almost
too much, too strong, too confining.
He kissed the top of her head and she clung
to him, hoping to find comfort.
"You have made me a happy man, Chloe. We
will have a wonderful life, you’ll see."
He spun her around as if she was a rag doll
and she let him, praying his happiness contained a contagion. It
was wonderful that he was joyful. If the bride couldn't be pleased,
at least the groom should be. Of course, there would be no shortage
of celebration. Both Father and Dorothea would be ecstatic. She bit
back the bile that tickled her throat. How she loathed doing
anything that would please that vile woman.
As he set her down, uncertainty poked at her
and she knew now the bitterness of a marriage entered without love.
Still, with her acceptance, she'd saved her family from untold
humiliation. Had rescued Pembridge House and kept Father from
debtor's prison. Like many women before her, she'd walk down the
aisle and martyr herself in her marital bed.
Fredrick leaned forward and gently placed
his hands on both sides of her face. "Everything is going to be as
it should be. And when we are old and gray with our grandchildren
playing about us, you will wonder why you were ever hesitant to be
my wife. Please don't be sad."
"I'm not sad." And she wasn't, for she hoped
she'd soon wake from her dream and instead of Fredrick holding her,
Jude would be.
He chuckled and placed as soft kiss on her
forehead. "I know better, but I intend to make certain that your
sorrow is short lived."
She gazed upon this kind man's countenance
and smiled, for in the depths of his eyes she recognized his tender
determination. "I believe you will try and that is more than I can
expect from this arrangement. I thank you Baron, for your
generosity."
"Darling," he whispered, his breath warm on
her skin. "This is no longer an arrangement for me. You have
touched my heart and before long we will be the couple that
everyone envies. There will be love between us."
"I hope you’re right." But judging by the
chill in her heart, she doubted it.
Taking her hand, he led her toward the
clearing and to where Jude and his lady strolled toward them. So
deeply involved in his conversation with the golden goddess, Jude
didn't look at her until they were nearly upon them.
"Fredrick, Chloe, may I present to you Miss
Belle Lockwood." Jude's gaze slid to Chloe as his stunning fiancée
offered Fredrick her gloved hand. Every aspect of the woman
screamed wealth and refinement. Everything from the top of her
beautiful straw bonnet with soft pink silk ribbons to the tips of
her tiny
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