Read Online The Wrong Woman by Kimberly Truesdale - Free Book Online Page A

from his friends or the other way around.
    “Do it now. Apologize.” Jack leaned over the table toward Riley, knocking cards and glasses out of the way in the process.
    Riley stood up. “No.”
    Miles did not see this ending well. He began to tug at his brother's shoulders. “Come on, Jack. Let's go home. It's late and you've been drinking.”
    Jack growled one more time at Riley and then backed out of the room. Miles saw the other three visibly relax as they left. When they were out in the street, Jack slumped against him.
    “Miles?” Jack lifted his head up and looked at his older brother.
    “Yes, Jack?”
    “Do you like Miss Isobel?”
    Miles remained silent, unsure how to answer.
    Jack pressed him. “Why didn't you stand up for our friend?”
    Silence still.
    “Of course you like her.” Jack answered his own question. “She is a good sort. A very good sort. Not what they said about her.”
    Jack stayed silent as they stumbled together down the street.
    Why didn't I say anything? Why did Jack speak up so vehemently in defense of a friend and I was unable to utter even one word in her defense?
    Because he was afraid of their ridicule. Because they expected him to laugh at her. I am just as guilty as they are . He thought of every stupid thing he'd ever called Isobel Masters behind her back. For ten years they'd been picking at her, calling her names like the one they used tonight and Miles had never thought twice about the real person. They’d thought they knew all they needed to about her.
    It had taken Jack to finally stand up and call them all on their rude behavior, including Miles. Jack with his kind and loyal heart. If Jack hadn't been there tonight, would Miles have said anything? He was ashamed to think that he would have laughed it off and gone on his way, that he would not have defended her.
    When the brothers finally stumbled up the stairs to their beds, it was early morning. Miles stayed awake for hours replaying all that had happened that evening. He did not know what to make of his rediscovered conscience and the fact that his chest ached with more than just the exercise of his earlier laughter.
     

Chapter 9
    In the early hours of the morning, before the household had started its day, Cat tiptoed to Aunt Hetty’s bedroom and gave a soft knock. She knew her aunt was used to rising earlier than the rest of the household, but Cat remained wary of disturbing the peaceful silence.
    “Enter,” came a quiet voice from inside the room. Cat opened the door and saw Aunt Hetty sitting in bed with her knees drawn up and a large book open in her lap.
    “Aunt Hetty?” Cat whispered, still mindful of the early morning stillness.
    “Cat? What are you doing up at this hour after your late night last night?” Aunt Hetty looked over her glasses at her niece.
    “May I speak to you about something?”
    “Of course, child, come in.” Aunt Hetty lifted her covers and beckoned Cat in. “Wiggle in here and tell me what it is.”
    Cat made herself comfortable in the warm bed as she thought about how to speak to her aunt.
    “I don’t really know how to say.”
    “Hmmm…” Aunt Hetty mused. “Does it have to do with Lord Revere?”
    Cat nodded.
    “I suspected as much. What about him?”
    Cat was careful with her words. “How should I know if I love him?”
    Aunt Hetty chuckled and put her arms about her niece. “I’m not sure you should ask your spinster aunt about love. I hardly know what to answer.”
    “Did you never love someone in your life, aunt?”
    “It was a very long time ago.”
    “But you did love. What was it like?”
    “Oh,” sighed Aunt Hetty. “Wonderful and frightening and maddening. When I was with him, everything was right in the world. But when we were apart, I hated it. Everything was wrong.”
    “That’s what I had imagined love would be. Like in stories.”
    “But life is not always like a story, my dear,” Aunt Hetty laughed.
    “Not even if I want it to be? I want love