Read Online Winning Miss Wakefield: The Wallflower Wedding Series by Vivienne Lorret - Free Book Online Page B

it was for him—a temporary madness. If that were true, then Eve’s plan was bound to work. Yet more distressingly, she couldn’t help wondering why the idea didn’t make her feel any better. After having her own indiscretion, could she forgive him his?
    “What I want is . . .” not to have my greatest fear come to fruition, not to face my future alone, not to live each day in uncertainty . The words clogged her throat, and she had to clear them away. “Mr. Clairmore, of course.”
    “There is one way to know for sure,” Emma said and reached over to place a small parcel on Merribeth’s lap.
    “What’s this?”
    “It’s from all of us,” Penelope said, and the others nodded. “We’ve noticed how you’ve lost interest in needlework.”
    Merribeth untied the string and unfolded the paper. Inside were a gentleman’s handkerchief, a length of silver embroidery thread, and a shiny new needle. “Thank you, but I don’t understand.”
    “Do you remember the handkerchiefs Penelope embroiders for Mr. Weatherstone each year?” Emma asked. “I did the same for Oliver for a wedding gift.”
    Merribeth looked to her friends, not quite understanding. “You think I should put Mr. Clairmore’s initials on this?”
    “No . . . well, only if Mr. Clairmore is the man you truly love. This is a way to be certain. If you love him, that is.” Which, apparently, Delaney didn’t believe for an instant.
    Merribeth had to wonder—did she?

C HAPTER F IVE
    L ady Eve Sterling’s country manor was located in Suffolk, not far from the harbor. As Merribeth exited the carriage, a cool breeze rushed over the peony blossoms, and a sweetly scented caress stirred the raven locks escaping her bonnet. She stared in awe at the sprawling stone manor that would be her home for the next two weeks.
    According to Sophie, the land and property had been in Eve’s family since the sixteenth century, a gift once bestowed on a knight of the realm. The manor came complete with gatehouse, stables, chapel, and a pond that had been a moat centuries ago.
    Ahead of her stood a wide oaken doorway. Recessed into the stone façade, narrow mullioned windows lined the first and second floors, catching the early afternoon light. The third story hosted dormers that resembled eyebrows arched in speculation.
    Merribeth knew a thing or two about that. “How many guests did you say were attending?”
    Sophie directed the footmen with their luggage and then turned to answer her. “I believe there will be twelve in total.”
    Only a dozen guests in a house this size would seem a paltry amount, although Merribeth was thankful the number was relatively small. “I imagine more of her friends have stayed in town, as it is not yet the end of the Season.”
    “Perhaps, though it will be her first house party in many years. She wanted to keep this party more intimate,” her aunt said, gathering her knitting satchel from within the carriage. “She has rooms and servants aplenty to accommodate us all very well.”
    “To have such a home, I wonder why she does not have parties often,” Merribeth mused.
    “Likely due to the fact that her most-recent late husband did not care for the place. In fact, he did his part to ensure it was stripped from her, scoundrel that he was. He left her with a hillock of debts, abusing her abominably.” She lowered her voice. “Although I try not to speak ill of the dead, I will say that I am glad he is no more.”
    Merribeth leaned in to whisper in her aunt’s ear. “Then how is Eve able to keep such a fine house, in addition to the one in town and servants to fill them?” She knew from their own financial woes that people in dire straits were forced to make difficult decisions. Keeping a smaller house with only one or two servants was one of them. In fact, their home in Berkshire was little more than the size of Eve’s gatehouse, and they could only afford to keep a cook. If it hadn’t been for Eve’s generosity,