A Passionate Endeavor by Sophia Nash

Author:Sophia Nash
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: huntington, french revolution, lord, endeavor, charlotte, nurse, passionate, secret identity, nash, sophia nash, a secret passion, lord will, her grace
Publisher: Sophia Nash

Chapter Eleven

“One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it.”

—Pride and Prejudice

THE next morning, Nicholas exited the arched doorway of the abbey, forcing himself not to limp. His leg only cramped a little now as he walked down the stone stairs toward the stables.

He had just had a satisfying meeting with Owen Roberts, who had agreed to oversee the building of a large kiln for Miss Kittridge’s clay figures. He had also informed Owen of his decision to place it all—the brewery, the kiln, and the farmlands—in Owen’s capable hands. He was a man whose honesty and integrity could be counted on without question. Nicholas was at the point of wondering if there would be enough land to start a better flock of sheep when he heard a voice call out to him.

“May I have a word with you, my lord?” James Kittridge asked.

“Of course.” They walked into the stables, and Nicholas stopped in front of Phoenix’s stall to check the remarkable recovery of the horse. “I am going for a ride beyond the valley to look at progress on some land. Would you care to join me?” Nicholas knew full well that Kittridge would accept with alacrity the chance to try one of Wyndhurst’s superior hunters.

“Why yes, my lord. I would be honored!”

After feeling Phoenix’s legs and looking into her eyes, Nicholas arranged for a second horse to be saddled. Once they were both mounted on feisty geldings, Nicholas proposed a good gallop before anything else and was met with a broad grin that nearly split the younger man’s face in two.

As they reached the valley’s roiling spring, and turned to follow it upstream at a more sedate pace, James Kittridge spoke. “First, I must apologize for the discussion last night,” he began. “I would never have continued that miserable subject of reading had I known of your, of your… “ He had turned beet-red, and Nicholas relieved him of his misery as they road side by side.

“There is no need to feel any embarrassment. I accepted my deficiencies long ago. While I might prefer to have them remain unknown to others, I have finally learned not to fear the unveiling of any truths.”

“I shall have to remember that as a seed for a future sermon,” he said.

Nicholas threw back his head and chuckled. “Sermon-making does not appear to be a task you will take up with any real zeal.”

Kittridge snorted. “You have the right of it. I think everyone is aware that I would prefer the military. In fact, I want to be just like you—a decorated officer in the 95th Rifleman. But I shall not disappoint my father.”

“You and I are alike in many ways…”

For a few moments, neither said another word. Nicholas was glad that Kittridge did not choose to pry the meaning of his words from him.

“You mentioned that you wanted to discuss something— was it just about last evening?” asked Nicholas. “No,” Kittridge said, and paused. “There was something more… It is about my sister.

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