For the Lady of Lowena (A Cornish Romance Book 2) by Deborah M. Hathaway

Author:Deborah M. Hathaway [Hathaway, Deborah M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance, Clean Romance, Historical Romance
Publisher: Draft Horse Publishing
Published: 2019-09-22T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

There was no reason for Sophia to accept Mr. Hawkins’s proposal to attend a social gathering, even if it was something as simple as a country picnic.

Yet, there she was, standing at the open gates of Fynwary Hall, willing herself to move toward the house, her house. Her eyes caressed the beige stone piled three stories high in the center of the house as it reached a grey, turreted roof. Two-storied sections followed next on either side of the main edifice. The windows glinted in the sunlight, and the double doors stretched the height of the ground floor.

Her stomach churned.

This was all Father’s doing. He was the one to blame for her accepting Mr. Hawkins’s invitation, for her returning to her childhood home, for her raging nerves to be as on edge as they were days before, as she dangled from the cliffside.

She did have some fault in the matter. She was the one who had told her parents about the invitation. Though, she’d only mentioned it in passing.

“You saw Mr. Hawkins?” Mother had asked from her bed when Sophia had told her she’d returned home.

When Mother’s nostrils had flared, Sophia was glad she hadn’t mentioned Gwynna and the mine. Mother obviously held a grudge against Mr. Hawkins, though she’d done her best to hide it until that moment. Who knew what she’d say about her daughter befriending a miner’s child.

“And what did he have to say to you?” she’d asked next.

“He inquired after the family,” Sophia had embellished, “and then he invited us all to a picnic.”

Mother had barked out a derisive laugh. She had shown more emotion in that moment than Sophia could recall since they’d moved to Lowena.

“The nerve of the man,” Mother had said. “He no doubt wishes to flaunt his wealth before us again. Will he never leave us alone?”

Sophia hadn’t known what to say. She certainly wouldn’t have told Mother that she’d apologized to him.

“I’m sorry you had to see him, Sophia,” Mother continued, “but I will not force you to go to the picnic.”

“Picnic?” They’d both turned to see Father entering the room, his eyebrows drawn together. “What picnic?”

Sophia explained Mr. Hawkins’s proposal. Father had scratched at his chin before nodding. “I think you’d better go, Sophia.”

“But, my dear,” Mother had protested, “she will be without a chaperone. And Mr. Hawkins—”

“Is our landlord,” Father had finished. “What if we cause offense to him and he chooses to retaliate? No, we would do well to do as he wishes. Besides, I’m certain the group will be large enough for them all to keep watch over our Sophia.”

A panic had sparked within Sophia at her father’s words. “Will you not come, though, Papa?” she’d asked, desperate for some ounce of comfort.

He’d firmly shaken his head. “No, I have matters to tend to here.”

He’d had enough socializing at the ball and now wished to hide away like Mother. What did it matter if they sent their daughter out in the world to fend for herself, so long as their landlord was kept happy?

Sophia stifled a groan as she stood outside her old home.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.