A Country Flirtation by Valerie King

Author:Valerie King
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: england, historical romance, regency, regency romance, regency england, sweet romance, valerie king
Publisher: Twin Bridges Creations LLC

Chapter Nine

When Constance left Ramsdell to prepare the day’s entries for her ledger books, she had great difficulty concentrating on the task at hand. She enjoyed being with him so very much, more than she ought, but she could not escape a faint uneasiness that had seeped into her mind.

She knew he had meant only what would have been best for herself and her sisters by questioning her judgment in having refused Upton. Her strong reaction to his criticism had not been directed toward him, but toward the memories that the conversation had evoked. Upton’s offer had been a deep insult to her. She had been angry when she refused him. She was angry when Ramsdell hinted she should have accepted him.

Then he had been deeply apologetic and had meant to express his heartfelt regret at having recommended Upton by kissing her. She leaned her elbow on her desk, her mind falling backward. She could taste him still. Mr. Rose’s ale had been a pleasantly bitter flavor on her lips.

How thoroughly he had kissed her. How easily she had let him. How much she had wanted the kiss to go on forever.

Yet, he was far, far above her touch and always would be. She allowed herself to dream for a moment, that he was her equal and love had blossomed fully between them. She tried to imagine being swept into the usual course of events—a sweet courtship, a brief engagement, a wedding breakfast and formal nuptials shared with their immediate families, perhaps in the blue drawing room. She would leave with him on a honeymoon and return—where? Not to Lady Brook, but to his home.

The thought spun strangely through her mind.

Not to come home to Lady Brook?

How odd that would seem, how foreign, how unwelcome.

She found herself a little surprised by her thoughts. She remembered her former suitor, who had declared she would never love and never marry because she was already wed to

Lady Brook Cottage.

But what un-purposeful musings were these? What nonsense.

Ramsdell had already made it clear that he would never wed beneath his rank, so she was safe.

Why safe?

She felt so confused, even distressed in a way that made no sense to her.

She gave herself a strong shake and returned to attacking the ledgers. Within a few minutes, her inexplicable qualms were gone and her devotion to Lady Brook was fully upon her once more.

Two hours later, Constance was disrupted from her labors when Katherine peeked in and called to her, “There you are. You must come to the kitchens at once and see how many berries we found. We went to the usual place, the copse behind Whitley Wood, but you can’t imagine what happened!”

Constance replaced the lid on the inkpot and laid her pen on the silver filigreed tray directly in front of her. She rose from her chair, welcoming the domestic diversion. Her shoulders ached from having sat scribbling her numbers for such a long time.

“Tell me all,” she responded with a smile, aware of the sparkle in Katherine’s hazel eyes.

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