Read Online Sandra Madden by The Forbidden Bride - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: The Forbidden Bride
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tone decidedly petulant.
"Our aunt suffered from the journey. She is rather weak."
"Pray pardon, but Aunt Cordelia has never been weak a day in her life."
At that, Aunt Cordelia, resting heavily on Kate's arm, appeared in the doorway. "I have come to dinner," she announced with a blink and a smile.
Suppressing a grin, Edmund's gaze flickered to Kate, who also suppressed a smile, if he weren't mistaken. The twitch of her lips gave her away.
Wearing the simply styled gown of a merchant-class woman, Kate's overdress of peach sarcenet with its snug bodice and slim sleeves flattered her tall, graceful figure. The soft shade of her gown heightened her roses-and-cream complexion. With every movement, her underskirt of ivory silk rustled gently like the song of a siren.
Kate's natural beauty captivated. She required no ruff, farthingale, or ropes of pearls to capture a man's eye. More than likely Digby had already fallen in love with her.
From across the room, her wide-eyed gaze met his, causing his heart to bolt. 'Twas as if he'd been thumped by a tilting lance during a jousting contest, though he seldom took part in the tournaments any longer. He considered them old and tired competitions.
Was that promise gleaming in the deep amber pools of Kate's eyes? Nay, not for him. There could be no promise of anything between the Earl of Stamford and the gardener's daughter.
With great effort, he dragged his gaze away, turning to his sister, who jostled him as she sailed toward their ever-suffering relative.
Jane had reached her full height at the age of fourteen, and she'd had the misfortune to have doubled in weight since the birth of her daughter, Frances. As a consequence, she moved more like a wherry than a sleek seagoing vessel.
"My dear aunt, it gladdens my heart to see you," she fawned.
" 'Tis been too long, dear Jane, eh?"
Cordelia shifted half her weight from Kate to Jane, allowing both women to escort her to the table.
Edmund quickly stepped up to assist. "Do you remember Kate, Sister?"
"Kate?" Jane regarded Kate with a tilt of her head and a blank stare. "I do not believe so."
"By your leave, allow me to make introductions, as Mistress Kate Beadle is serving as Aunt Cordelia's gentlewoman."
Jane's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she leaned across her aunt to examine Kate. She applied the same sharp scrutiny she might to a strand of pearls she considered acquiring.
"Kate Beadle." Jane said the name slowly, as if searching her memory. "Surely you are not the gardener's daughter?"
"Aye, Lady Chumley. I am the gardener's daughter."
Edmund's throat went dry. Every muscle in his body tightened. Dismissing his tension as natural with a new game, in this instance matchmaking, Edmund made fast work of finishing the introductions, drawing both Kate and Digby together.
As they made for the table, Jane drew him aside. Her dark, highly arched brows gathered in a menacing frown. "Could you find no other suitable to serve as Aunt Cordelia's gentlewoman?" she hissed beneath her breath.
"Kate is suitable," Edmund informed his sister softly. He did not wish to make a scene in front of Digby and hurt Kate's chances with the man. "She has earned our aunt's affection."
Pulling away, he directed his guests to their seats at the table. Digby was seated next to Kate, and opposite them, Jane and her husband. Edmund sat at the head of the table with Aunt Cordelia to his right, so that she might readily converse with Jane.
A white cloth covered the oak table set with salt cellars, trenchers, silver tankards, goblets, and spoons. Placed in the center of the table, long tapers of beeswax shed flickering candlelight. Roasted beef and pheasant were served on pewter platters along with bread, cheese, and berries, all supervised by the chief usher. The yeoman of the buttery and the cellar stood at the ready with beer and ale, and sack for the ladies.
‘Twas a sumptuous display, yet Edmund lacked appetite. He experienced a curious
"Our aunt suffered from the journey. She is rather weak."
"Pray pardon, but Aunt Cordelia has never been weak a day in her life."
At that, Aunt Cordelia, resting heavily on Kate's arm, appeared in the doorway. "I have come to dinner," she announced with a blink and a smile.
Suppressing a grin, Edmund's gaze flickered to Kate, who also suppressed a smile, if he weren't mistaken. The twitch of her lips gave her away.
Wearing the simply styled gown of a merchant-class woman, Kate's overdress of peach sarcenet with its snug bodice and slim sleeves flattered her tall, graceful figure. The soft shade of her gown heightened her roses-and-cream complexion. With every movement, her underskirt of ivory silk rustled gently like the song of a siren.
Kate's natural beauty captivated. She required no ruff, farthingale, or ropes of pearls to capture a man's eye. More than likely Digby had already fallen in love with her.
From across the room, her wide-eyed gaze met his, causing his heart to bolt. 'Twas as if he'd been thumped by a tilting lance during a jousting contest, though he seldom took part in the tournaments any longer. He considered them old and tired competitions.
Was that promise gleaming in the deep amber pools of Kate's eyes? Nay, not for him. There could be no promise of anything between the Earl of Stamford and the gardener's daughter.
With great effort, he dragged his gaze away, turning to his sister, who jostled him as she sailed toward their ever-suffering relative.
Jane had reached her full height at the age of fourteen, and she'd had the misfortune to have doubled in weight since the birth of her daughter, Frances. As a consequence, she moved more like a wherry than a sleek seagoing vessel.
"My dear aunt, it gladdens my heart to see you," she fawned.
" 'Tis been too long, dear Jane, eh?"
Cordelia shifted half her weight from Kate to Jane, allowing both women to escort her to the table.
Edmund quickly stepped up to assist. "Do you remember Kate, Sister?"
"Kate?" Jane regarded Kate with a tilt of her head and a blank stare. "I do not believe so."
"By your leave, allow me to make introductions, as Mistress Kate Beadle is serving as Aunt Cordelia's gentlewoman."
Jane's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she leaned across her aunt to examine Kate. She applied the same sharp scrutiny she might to a strand of pearls she considered acquiring.
"Kate Beadle." Jane said the name slowly, as if searching her memory. "Surely you are not the gardener's daughter?"
"Aye, Lady Chumley. I am the gardener's daughter."
Edmund's throat went dry. Every muscle in his body tightened. Dismissing his tension as natural with a new game, in this instance matchmaking, Edmund made fast work of finishing the introductions, drawing both Kate and Digby together.
As they made for the table, Jane drew him aside. Her dark, highly arched brows gathered in a menacing frown. "Could you find no other suitable to serve as Aunt Cordelia's gentlewoman?" she hissed beneath her breath.
"Kate is suitable," Edmund informed his sister softly. He did not wish to make a scene in front of Digby and hurt Kate's chances with the man. "She has earned our aunt's affection."
Pulling away, he directed his guests to their seats at the table. Digby was seated next to Kate, and opposite them, Jane and her husband. Edmund sat at the head of the table with Aunt Cordelia to his right, so that she might readily converse with Jane.
A white cloth covered the oak table set with salt cellars, trenchers, silver tankards, goblets, and spoons. Placed in the center of the table, long tapers of beeswax shed flickering candlelight. Roasted beef and pheasant were served on pewter platters along with bread, cheese, and berries, all supervised by the chief usher. The yeoman of the buttery and the cellar stood at the ready with beer and ale, and sack for the ladies.
‘Twas a sumptuous display, yet Edmund lacked appetite. He experienced a curious
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