Read Online The Wedding Affair (Rebel Hearts series Book 1) by Heather Boyd - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Heather Boyd
Ads: Link
all grow and make your own mistakes.”
She gripped his arm tightly. “You are my favorite uncle.”
“I am your only uncle living.” He sighed, and the scent of brandy hung thick about him. He drank when his foot ached, which seemed often of late. “I am lucky to have married for love, you know. My siblings were not so lucky in that respect.”
Sally was not sure how to answer that. Her parents were famously not in love.
He chuckled softly. “There is nothing better than a blazing row to reveal how deep feelings run between two people.”
“I was not arguing.”
“Were you not? Could have sworn I heard a commotion on the lawn as I was taking a stroll. Perhaps not…” He frowned. “Never go to bed angry, Sally. Remember that in the years to come.”
She could not imagine arguing with Ellicott the way she had just done with Felix Hastings, so it was utterly unnecessary advice. “I will remember.”
He patted her hand. “You were always such a wonderfully unorthodox child. Always wanting to do what the boys could, no matter what was considered proper. You used to make me laugh at your antics.”
Her cheeks heated as she was chastened by the reminder of her former hapless ways. “The days of making mistakes are far behind me.”
“A pity. I miss that impulsive young woman.” He met her gaze as they walked along. “Everyone makes bad decisions and can be forgiven. Sometimes you do not even have to say the apology to convey that you are very sorry indeed for a grievous mistake. Think on that tonight.”
He led her into the drawing room where the other women of her family waited and took a chair nearest the doors without another word. The other men were still taking port, so Uncle George lapped up the attention of her mother and aunt as was his due as the only gentleman in the room.
Sally thought long and hard about his advice. In her endeavors to act a lady, had she been too good at it and lost something of herself in the bargain? She had tried to be so well behaved until Felix’s arrival had loosened her tongue. The contrast was striking. She rubbed her temple as she took a chair.
She had been so very aware that everything she did in the past years reflected on her character and her sister’s good reputation. She had been determined to hide her fiery nature from everyone, believing at heart that with her past behavior she had set herself up for disappointment.
And yet one moment alone with Felix and she was right back where she started, wearing her heart on her sleeve, demanding her voice be listened to. Her emotions had been barely contained as they flowed from her along with her harsh words.
Ellicott had no idea who she was. She was not going to be the perfect bride he might expect on their wedding night, and she realized she had to reveal some of her true nature to him soon. She also had to tell him about Felix before someone else mentioned her former betrothal. She did not want to embarrass Ellicott, but she also did not want to lose his good opinion.
A daunting precipice to negotiate. Unfortunately, she had no notion of how to reveal her sad history to her future husband without appearing shockingly fast.
But what could Ellicott say about it now that the date was set?
He might wish to call off their engagement, but only a woman could do that. Her reasons for marrying were still the same. She wanted a home, and one day she wanted children.
Sally bit her lip and glanced around. Everyone said she could not do better than Ellicott at her age, and they might be right. But if Ellicott was the right man, surely he would understand she was only human and had made mistakes.
But the small voice inside her heart that had waited six years in vain for Felix to come back to her laughed. The hope that refused to lie down and die no matter how much she tried or how good she acted rejoiced. She had enjoyed arguing with Felix in the dark garden.
She had relished the fact that she had spoken her mind and
She gripped his arm tightly. “You are my favorite uncle.”
“I am your only uncle living.” He sighed, and the scent of brandy hung thick about him. He drank when his foot ached, which seemed often of late. “I am lucky to have married for love, you know. My siblings were not so lucky in that respect.”
Sally was not sure how to answer that. Her parents were famously not in love.
He chuckled softly. “There is nothing better than a blazing row to reveal how deep feelings run between two people.”
“I was not arguing.”
“Were you not? Could have sworn I heard a commotion on the lawn as I was taking a stroll. Perhaps not…” He frowned. “Never go to bed angry, Sally. Remember that in the years to come.”
She could not imagine arguing with Ellicott the way she had just done with Felix Hastings, so it was utterly unnecessary advice. “I will remember.”
He patted her hand. “You were always such a wonderfully unorthodox child. Always wanting to do what the boys could, no matter what was considered proper. You used to make me laugh at your antics.”
Her cheeks heated as she was chastened by the reminder of her former hapless ways. “The days of making mistakes are far behind me.”
“A pity. I miss that impulsive young woman.” He met her gaze as they walked along. “Everyone makes bad decisions and can be forgiven. Sometimes you do not even have to say the apology to convey that you are very sorry indeed for a grievous mistake. Think on that tonight.”
He led her into the drawing room where the other women of her family waited and took a chair nearest the doors without another word. The other men were still taking port, so Uncle George lapped up the attention of her mother and aunt as was his due as the only gentleman in the room.
Sally thought long and hard about his advice. In her endeavors to act a lady, had she been too good at it and lost something of herself in the bargain? She had tried to be so well behaved until Felix’s arrival had loosened her tongue. The contrast was striking. She rubbed her temple as she took a chair.
She had been so very aware that everything she did in the past years reflected on her character and her sister’s good reputation. She had been determined to hide her fiery nature from everyone, believing at heart that with her past behavior she had set herself up for disappointment.
And yet one moment alone with Felix and she was right back where she started, wearing her heart on her sleeve, demanding her voice be listened to. Her emotions had been barely contained as they flowed from her along with her harsh words.
Ellicott had no idea who she was. She was not going to be the perfect bride he might expect on their wedding night, and she realized she had to reveal some of her true nature to him soon. She also had to tell him about Felix before someone else mentioned her former betrothal. She did not want to embarrass Ellicott, but she also did not want to lose his good opinion.
A daunting precipice to negotiate. Unfortunately, she had no notion of how to reveal her sad history to her future husband without appearing shockingly fast.
But what could Ellicott say about it now that the date was set?
He might wish to call off their engagement, but only a woman could do that. Her reasons for marrying were still the same. She wanted a home, and one day she wanted children.
Sally bit her lip and glanced around. Everyone said she could not do better than Ellicott at her age, and they might be right. But if Ellicott was the right man, surely he would understand she was only human and had made mistakes.
But the small voice inside her heart that had waited six years in vain for Felix to come back to her laughed. The hope that refused to lie down and die no matter how much she tried or how good she acted rejoiced. She had enjoyed arguing with Felix in the dark garden.
She had relished the fact that she had spoken her mind and
Similar Books
