Read Online The Governor's Daughter (Winds of Change Book 1) by Jerri Hines - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jerri Hines
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have only ridden in the Park with Reggie. And to be honest I can’t remember half the names that he has introduced me to,” Cathryn rambled on. “But, Grandmamma, we have thanked the Montgomerys for escorting me across the ocean, but there was another, a lieutenant who did Father a favor by looking after me. Do you suppose he can be asked to the ball?”
“It depends upon who he is, child,” she answered simply, looking up from her list. “He may be on the list already, but if his family…”
Cathryn sighed. She hadn’t thought of that. He had said he had attended social events so she had just assumed. Reggie caught her face.
“Tell us, cousin, what is the fellow’s name?” he said with a laugh. “I’m interested in whom this young man is that you feel you owe him a personal thank you.”
Cathryn wished she had never mentioned it in front of Reggie. She shot him a hard look. “I mention it only because Father asked him as a personal favor. I’m merely trying to show appreciation toward the favor he extended my father, Reggie. Do you know a Lieutenant Jake Pennington?”
Reggie sat back in his chair with a smug smile. “I believe I know the fellow. He went to school with your cousin, Lord Edmund Lyttleton. Didn’t he?”
Cathryn shrugged in a nonchalant manner. She didn’t want to say she knew he had. Then it would tell them both she knew him better than she pretended. “I wouldn’t know, Reggie. How would you know?”
“For I went to school with both.” Reggie laughed. “Do you find it funny that I went to school, cousin? I know at times it may seem that I lack intelligence, but it is just a front. Isn’t it, Grandmamma?”
“Stop your teasing, Reggie. Will it be appropriate to invite this lieutenant to the ball?” Grandmamma asked, giving her grandson a stern look.
“Of course, it will be. You can put my dear cousin’s mind to rest that she can thank him in person if she chooses. Is that what you want, Cathryn?”
If she had had anything in her hand, she would have thrown it at him. Grandmamma or not. He sat back with a half-cocked, knowing grin on his face, but she had what she wanted.
Jake wouldn’t dare refuse the invitation. At least, she would hope he wanted to see her.
Afterwards, Cathryn avoided her cousin. She refused to let Reggie ruin her moment. It was not until she was readying for the grand night did she see him again. Tacy had her twisting and turning in the mirror, making sure her gown had the desired effect. She had not noticed him until she looked up to find him smiling in the doorway.
“I’m sure Lieutenant Pennington will find you enchanting,” Reggie said.
“Lieutenant Pennington is coming?” Tacy questioned. “Do you think that wise, Miss?”
Cathryn could have slapped Tacy. She had not wanted Reggie to suspect she had an alternative motive this night. “It’s not what you think, Reggie. Please don’t act like it is. You will make him feel uncomfortable.”
Reggie laughed. “Well, it won’t be a boring ball. That I can assure you. Obviously you don’t know that Jake and Lyttleton aren’t the best of friends.”
“And why would that be a problem?” Cathryn said, aggravated. “I’m sure there will be numerous people here that don’t like each other.”
“Not like those two and especially if they are after the same thing,” Reggie countered.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Cathryn stepped off her perch. Tacy followed, for Cathryn wasn’t tied all the way up the back of her dress.
“Well, I’m not certain if I should say, since you are just thanking him as a favor to your father.”
“Come, Mr. Reginald, if you know what is good for you. You have never seen my lady here lose her temper. Come clean, please, so I can get my work done,” Tacy said.
“So you do like Jake?”
“Of course, she does,” Tacy answered, irritated. “Have you seen him? Handsome and all. On a ship for a month. Who could blame the poor girl? But if you
“It depends upon who he is, child,” she answered simply, looking up from her list. “He may be on the list already, but if his family…”
Cathryn sighed. She hadn’t thought of that. He had said he had attended social events so she had just assumed. Reggie caught her face.
“Tell us, cousin, what is the fellow’s name?” he said with a laugh. “I’m interested in whom this young man is that you feel you owe him a personal thank you.”
Cathryn wished she had never mentioned it in front of Reggie. She shot him a hard look. “I mention it only because Father asked him as a personal favor. I’m merely trying to show appreciation toward the favor he extended my father, Reggie. Do you know a Lieutenant Jake Pennington?”
Reggie sat back in his chair with a smug smile. “I believe I know the fellow. He went to school with your cousin, Lord Edmund Lyttleton. Didn’t he?”
Cathryn shrugged in a nonchalant manner. She didn’t want to say she knew he had. Then it would tell them both she knew him better than she pretended. “I wouldn’t know, Reggie. How would you know?”
“For I went to school with both.” Reggie laughed. “Do you find it funny that I went to school, cousin? I know at times it may seem that I lack intelligence, but it is just a front. Isn’t it, Grandmamma?”
“Stop your teasing, Reggie. Will it be appropriate to invite this lieutenant to the ball?” Grandmamma asked, giving her grandson a stern look.
“Of course, it will be. You can put my dear cousin’s mind to rest that she can thank him in person if she chooses. Is that what you want, Cathryn?”
If she had had anything in her hand, she would have thrown it at him. Grandmamma or not. He sat back with a half-cocked, knowing grin on his face, but she had what she wanted.
Jake wouldn’t dare refuse the invitation. At least, she would hope he wanted to see her.
Afterwards, Cathryn avoided her cousin. She refused to let Reggie ruin her moment. It was not until she was readying for the grand night did she see him again. Tacy had her twisting and turning in the mirror, making sure her gown had the desired effect. She had not noticed him until she looked up to find him smiling in the doorway.
“I’m sure Lieutenant Pennington will find you enchanting,” Reggie said.
“Lieutenant Pennington is coming?” Tacy questioned. “Do you think that wise, Miss?”
Cathryn could have slapped Tacy. She had not wanted Reggie to suspect she had an alternative motive this night. “It’s not what you think, Reggie. Please don’t act like it is. You will make him feel uncomfortable.”
Reggie laughed. “Well, it won’t be a boring ball. That I can assure you. Obviously you don’t know that Jake and Lyttleton aren’t the best of friends.”
“And why would that be a problem?” Cathryn said, aggravated. “I’m sure there will be numerous people here that don’t like each other.”
“Not like those two and especially if they are after the same thing,” Reggie countered.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Cathryn stepped off her perch. Tacy followed, for Cathryn wasn’t tied all the way up the back of her dress.
“Well, I’m not certain if I should say, since you are just thanking him as a favor to your father.”
“Come, Mr. Reginald, if you know what is good for you. You have never seen my lady here lose her temper. Come clean, please, so I can get my work done,” Tacy said.
“So you do like Jake?”
“Of course, she does,” Tacy answered, irritated. “Have you seen him? Handsome and all. On a ship for a month. Who could blame the poor girl? But if you
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