Read Online The Engagement - Regency Brides 02 by Kimberley Comeaux - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kimberley Comeaux
Tags: Book 2 - Regency Brides
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she couldnʼt run. She was caught in a web of her own making—one she didnʼt know how to get out of
“Yes, of course I can,” she murmured, hating herself for being such a coward and not confessing the whole truth to him ..
“Look-why donʼt you come to the manor tomorrow?
Nicholas and his wife, Christina, should be arriving at noon.
I think it would help you to talk to him after all this time. I know he has some apologies he would like to make to you personally. “
“Oh, no,” she answered quickly, knowing she was not ready to face Nicholas. Not yet. Maybe not ever, if she could not find a way of backing out of the plan. “Iʼm sorry, Thomas, but I just canʼt.”
Thomas seemed disappointed, but he tried to hide it. “It is all right, Katherine,” he said; “There will be other times. And when the time is right, I will be with you.”
Katherine squeezed his hand and smiled at him, although she felt like crying.
Thomas waited until his brother and sister-in-law had reunited with Ty before he told them of his involvement with Katherine. Because they had both raised his son the irst few months of his life, when everyone had presumed he was dead, Thomas did not want his news to upset them right. Away.
As Christina and Nicholas played with the toddler and chatted with him, Thomas could see they were very happy in their marriage. Nicholas, though always retaining his regal bearing, was a more considerate person now, friendlier, with a ready smile, than he had been after their father had died.
The more Thomas talked with them, the more he began to think that maybe his news would not bother his brother at all.
Perhaps he would even be happy for him!
“By the way”-he decided to go for the nonchalant approach-“Katherine and her family are at their casde for the season.”
Thomas saw Nicholas turn to gauge Christinaʼs expression as if to see her reaction to his old fiancéeʼs name. When she merely smiled at him and continued to play with her nephew,
“ Nicholas responded. ʻʼIndeed. I am surprised they are not in London this time of year. The London season was always an event of great importance to the duke and duchess.” His voice was calm, and, in fact, he didnʼt seem interested in pursuing the subject, giving Thomas even more confidence in what he needed to say.
“Yes, well, I believe the Montbattens felt their stay in the country was more beneficial than attending the season.”
When he received no response from his brother, who had reached for the baby and was now holding him up in the air, he became more specific. “More beneficial to Katherine.”
Nicholas froze, then slowly lowered the baby, keeping his razor sharp gaze trained on his nervous brother. “Are you trying to tell me Katherine has a suitor?” Then to Thomasʼs amazement, he laughed. “And you thought this would bother me?”
Thomas cleared his throat. “Well, yes, but-“
“Thorn, this is the best news Iʼve heard all day! Do you know how guilty Iʼve felt knowing Katherineʼs name was so blackened over our engagement that sheʼs had no offers? This brings a sort of closure to that whole dreadful episode in our lives!”
“Tell us, Thomas! Who is he?” Christina piped up as she ran to sit on the sofa next to him. It amazed him to think this beautiful redhead had been the vicarʼs little daughter who gave them so much grief when they were younger. She still had that unchanging spark shining in her eyes and the impish grin he remembered so well. It was her hope and faith that had refused to give up on his brother, even when Nicholas tried to shut her and everyone else out of his life after the war.
“Yes, tell us! Do you know him?” Nicholas seconded.
Thomas took a deep breath. “Yes, and you know him, too. I am Katherineʼs suitor.”
There was a moment of stunned silence as both Nicholas and Christina stared at him, but then his brother leaned his head back and roared with laughter.
“Yes, of course I can,” she murmured, hating herself for being such a coward and not confessing the whole truth to him ..
“Look-why donʼt you come to the manor tomorrow?
Nicholas and his wife, Christina, should be arriving at noon.
I think it would help you to talk to him after all this time. I know he has some apologies he would like to make to you personally. “
“Oh, no,” she answered quickly, knowing she was not ready to face Nicholas. Not yet. Maybe not ever, if she could not find a way of backing out of the plan. “Iʼm sorry, Thomas, but I just canʼt.”
Thomas seemed disappointed, but he tried to hide it. “It is all right, Katherine,” he said; “There will be other times. And when the time is right, I will be with you.”
Katherine squeezed his hand and smiled at him, although she felt like crying.
Thomas waited until his brother and sister-in-law had reunited with Ty before he told them of his involvement with Katherine. Because they had both raised his son the irst few months of his life, when everyone had presumed he was dead, Thomas did not want his news to upset them right. Away.
As Christina and Nicholas played with the toddler and chatted with him, Thomas could see they were very happy in their marriage. Nicholas, though always retaining his regal bearing, was a more considerate person now, friendlier, with a ready smile, than he had been after their father had died.
The more Thomas talked with them, the more he began to think that maybe his news would not bother his brother at all.
Perhaps he would even be happy for him!
“By the way”-he decided to go for the nonchalant approach-“Katherine and her family are at their casde for the season.”
Thomas saw Nicholas turn to gauge Christinaʼs expression as if to see her reaction to his old fiancéeʼs name. When she merely smiled at him and continued to play with her nephew,
“ Nicholas responded. ʻʼIndeed. I am surprised they are not in London this time of year. The London season was always an event of great importance to the duke and duchess.” His voice was calm, and, in fact, he didnʼt seem interested in pursuing the subject, giving Thomas even more confidence in what he needed to say.
“Yes, well, I believe the Montbattens felt their stay in the country was more beneficial than attending the season.”
When he received no response from his brother, who had reached for the baby and was now holding him up in the air, he became more specific. “More beneficial to Katherine.”
Nicholas froze, then slowly lowered the baby, keeping his razor sharp gaze trained on his nervous brother. “Are you trying to tell me Katherine has a suitor?” Then to Thomasʼs amazement, he laughed. “And you thought this would bother me?”
Thomas cleared his throat. “Well, yes, but-“
“Thorn, this is the best news Iʼve heard all day! Do you know how guilty Iʼve felt knowing Katherineʼs name was so blackened over our engagement that sheʼs had no offers? This brings a sort of closure to that whole dreadful episode in our lives!”
“Tell us, Thomas! Who is he?” Christina piped up as she ran to sit on the sofa next to him. It amazed him to think this beautiful redhead had been the vicarʼs little daughter who gave them so much grief when they were younger. She still had that unchanging spark shining in her eyes and the impish grin he remembered so well. It was her hope and faith that had refused to give up on his brother, even when Nicholas tried to shut her and everyone else out of his life after the war.
“Yes, tell us! Do you know him?” Nicholas seconded.
Thomas took a deep breath. “Yes, and you know him, too. I am Katherineʼs suitor.”
There was a moment of stunned silence as both Nicholas and Christina stared at him, but then his brother leaned his head back and roared with laughter.
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