Read Online Undercover Bride by Margaret Brownley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Margaret Brownley
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mutely and, encouraged by his smile, decided to raise the subject of his bedroom. “I measured some of the windows for new curtains.” The sun had faded the gingham curtains almost white. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“This is your home now.”
The word
home
sliced through her like a knife. She never really had a home. Not a real one. For the first twelve years of her life, her family had been on the run. They traveled from town to town, state to state. Sometimes they shacked up in a deserted cabin and once even lived in a cave.
After her father’s death on the gallows, her mother couldn’t keep the family together any longer. Maggie spent her teen years in a cold, drafty, and regimented orphan asylum, run by a head mistress determined to pound the three Rs into her charges’ heads. She wasn’t unkind, just strict and had no patience with anyone who slacked off. Fortunately, the woman also taught her how to sew, though she never attempted to make anything so complicated as a dress or shirtwaist.
“Do you have a sewing machine?” she asked.
He nodded. “Yes. In the attic. I’ll fetch it down for you.”
“Thank you.”
“You aren’t going to hang lace curtains, are you?” he asked.
“Certainly not,” she said, with unfeigned indignation. “That’s like hanging one’s undergarments in the windows for all the world to see.”
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than she grimaced. Now why did she have to mention something so personal in his presence?
His gaze slid down the length of her, and his mouth softened. “We wouldn’t want to do that.” Something intense flared in his eyes. “Hang undergarments in the windows, that is.”
Face blazing, she cleared her throat. The air between them suddenly seemed thick with double meanings, but she refused to be deterred.
“I would like to measure the windows in your bedroom.” Her voice wavered even as she struggled for control. “If… if that’s all right.”
“Yes, of course. It’ll soon be your…” He corrected himself. “
Our
bedroom. Do you want to measure the windows now? I’ll help you.”
Since she had no intention of marrying him, it never occurred to her to think of his room as theirs. Having him help her measure for undergar… uh… curtains was the last thing she wanted.
“Th—that’s all right,” she stammered. “I need to see that the children have finished their schoolwork. Tomorrow will be soon enough.” Tomorrow when everyone was gone, including him.
“I’ll leave the door unlocked. Like I said, it will soon be our room.”
He watched her closely as he spoke. The smooth, rich timbre of his voice was both soothing and disconcerting. She felt guilty for her deceit, and that was odd. Working undercover had never bothered her before. But neither had children been involved, and for some reason that made her feel worse.
Folding the now wrinkled apron, she managed to squeak out a thank you. She left the apron on the counter and backed toward the open doorway.
“I—I better go and check on Elise and Toby.” They’d been playing outside and both could use a bath.
“Would you mind taking them to school in the morning? I have an early delivery to make.”
Grateful for the change of subject, she nodded. “I’d be happy to.”
His mouth curved. “Much obliged. I’ll hitch the horse to the wagon before I leave.”
“That… would be most helpful.” She turned and fled down the hall. Gaining access to his room had been easier than she expected, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Dashing into the children’s room, she turned to find two pairs of eyes watching her.
Chapter 11
W hen Maggie awoke the following morning, Elise’s bed was empty. She quickly attended to her ablutions, dressed, and wound her braided hair into a coronet at the back of her head. Thus braced, she stepped into the hall.
The door to Garrett’s room stood ajar. She hesitated briefly but didn’t dare search it until everyone
“This is your home now.”
The word
home
sliced through her like a knife. She never really had a home. Not a real one. For the first twelve years of her life, her family had been on the run. They traveled from town to town, state to state. Sometimes they shacked up in a deserted cabin and once even lived in a cave.
After her father’s death on the gallows, her mother couldn’t keep the family together any longer. Maggie spent her teen years in a cold, drafty, and regimented orphan asylum, run by a head mistress determined to pound the three Rs into her charges’ heads. She wasn’t unkind, just strict and had no patience with anyone who slacked off. Fortunately, the woman also taught her how to sew, though she never attempted to make anything so complicated as a dress or shirtwaist.
“Do you have a sewing machine?” she asked.
He nodded. “Yes. In the attic. I’ll fetch it down for you.”
“Thank you.”
“You aren’t going to hang lace curtains, are you?” he asked.
“Certainly not,” she said, with unfeigned indignation. “That’s like hanging one’s undergarments in the windows for all the world to see.”
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than she grimaced. Now why did she have to mention something so personal in his presence?
His gaze slid down the length of her, and his mouth softened. “We wouldn’t want to do that.” Something intense flared in his eyes. “Hang undergarments in the windows, that is.”
Face blazing, she cleared her throat. The air between them suddenly seemed thick with double meanings, but she refused to be deterred.
“I would like to measure the windows in your bedroom.” Her voice wavered even as she struggled for control. “If… if that’s all right.”
“Yes, of course. It’ll soon be your…” He corrected himself. “
Our
bedroom. Do you want to measure the windows now? I’ll help you.”
Since she had no intention of marrying him, it never occurred to her to think of his room as theirs. Having him help her measure for undergar… uh… curtains was the last thing she wanted.
“Th—that’s all right,” she stammered. “I need to see that the children have finished their schoolwork. Tomorrow will be soon enough.” Tomorrow when everyone was gone, including him.
“I’ll leave the door unlocked. Like I said, it will soon be our room.”
He watched her closely as he spoke. The smooth, rich timbre of his voice was both soothing and disconcerting. She felt guilty for her deceit, and that was odd. Working undercover had never bothered her before. But neither had children been involved, and for some reason that made her feel worse.
Folding the now wrinkled apron, she managed to squeak out a thank you. She left the apron on the counter and backed toward the open doorway.
“I—I better go and check on Elise and Toby.” They’d been playing outside and both could use a bath.
“Would you mind taking them to school in the morning? I have an early delivery to make.”
Grateful for the change of subject, she nodded. “I’d be happy to.”
His mouth curved. “Much obliged. I’ll hitch the horse to the wagon before I leave.”
“That… would be most helpful.” She turned and fled down the hall. Gaining access to his room had been easier than she expected, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Dashing into the children’s room, she turned to find two pairs of eyes watching her.
Chapter 11
W hen Maggie awoke the following morning, Elise’s bed was empty. She quickly attended to her ablutions, dressed, and wound her braided hair into a coronet at the back of her head. Thus braced, she stepped into the hall.
The door to Garrett’s room stood ajar. She hesitated briefly but didn’t dare search it until everyone
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