Almost a Bride (The Bride Ships Book 4) by Jody Hedlund

Author:Jody Hedlund [Hedlund, Jody]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Northern Lights Press
Published: 2020-08-24T23:00:00+00:00

FOURTEEN

“IT WAS A pleasure meeting you, Mr. Wood.” Kate pushed out of her chair and stood in front of the open window, praying for a breath of fresh air to blow inside the house but getting none.

“The pleasure was all mine.” Of medium build and fair features, Mr. Wood remained in his chair on the opposite side of the parlor by the fireplace. The heat of the early September evening made a fire unnecessary, but Mr. Peabody had lit one anyway and had continued to enter the room and add fuel to it throughout the evening until it was blazing and crackling, making the room nearly unbearable.

On several occasions, Kate had thanked Mr. Peabody for his kind efforts and informed him they were just fine. Unfortunately, he hadn’t taken her hint and had been in and out at least a hundred times—not only to replenish the fire, but to complete other chores he’d insisted needed doing—sweeping, dusting, washing the window, and more.

Each of the men who’d come calling had attempted to move his chair away from the fireplace and position it closer to the window. But Mr. Peabody had insisted they return to the spot upon the hearth, rebuking them for not keeping an appropriate distance from her, although she suspected they were merely attempting to find relief from the heat.

She used her hand to fan her flushed face, wishing again for a breeze to cool her down. Her gown clung to her body, and loose hairs stuck to the back of her neck. But she wasn’t perspiring quite as much as Mr. Wood, who had streams trickling steadily down his forehead and cheeks.

She’d expected Mr. Wood to rise and exit eagerly, as her other callers had done. But he remained in his chair, peering over at her with the same wide smile he’d worn for the entire visit.

At another thump and bang against the far wall followed by shouting, she cringed. Zeke had been short-tempered and moody all afternoon. After his glaring and sulking, she’d been relieved to finish her day with him and begin accepting callers.

He’d made no pretense that he loathed her plan to resume courting the men of Williamsville and had begged her not to go through with the meetings. But ever since the note he’d received two days ago, she’d made up her mind to put an end to the threats once and for all. To do that, she had to show everyone she wasn’t engaged to Zeke and that friendship was the only thing happening between them.

Another bang against the wall seemed to shake the house and brought Mr. Wood up out of his chair, his smile finally dimming under the shadows of concern. “Mr. Hart must still be in a great deal of pain.”

“He’s certainly acting that way tonight, isn’t he?” She had a hunch he’d been throwing things at the wall to disturb her, and she had half a mind to march into his room and scold him for his antics.

Mr. Peabody was standing in the hallway, glaring into the parlor at Mr.

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