Harlequin Historical September 2016, Box Set 1 of 2 by Julia Justiss

Author:Julia Justiss
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488023071
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

The yapping and howling of the hunting dogs and the calls of the trainers outside on the drive filled the schoolroom. The guests were gathered downstairs in the entrance hall to escape the misty day, drinking brandy and preparing to ride out. The ladies would accompany them, enjoying the fresh autumn air as they galloped with the men over the rolling hills of the Huntford estate.

Joanna hadn’t been downstairs since the incident in the hallway yesterday afternoon. It wasn’t Mr Selton she feared. He’d departed soon after leaving them, causing his sister to bitterly complain about it ruining her play. It was Major Preston Joanna didn’t want to see.

When she’d laid her finger on his lips, the passion which had sparked between them had stolen the air from the hallway and nearly carried off her resolve to keep her distance. She shouldn’t have touched him, but she didn’t want to hear his words, not when they contradicted everything in his eyes. She craved him as much as he did her and she could have rested her hands on his shoulders, risen up on her toes and kissed him, but she’d held back. His words in the library had been too fresh, the truth of his situation and hers too raw to allow either of them to weaken. His family’s hopes for a future rested on him and she wouldn’t be the one to wreck their expectations. If she did, they’d accuse her of ruining him in a quest to raise herself and their criticism would drive a wedge between him and them. He’d been willing to put aside their friendship for his family. He would deny his heart for them, too, and it was to her peril to ignore this.

‘I don’t want to study French. I want to go downstairs and see the guests getting ready for the hunt,’ Catherine whined. The twins joined in the chorus of complaints about being kept upstairs while everyone gathered below.

Joanna was about to change the subject, when she remembered Vicar Carlson’s words. If the girls wanted a reward, then she’d make sure they got it, but only if they did their work. ‘If you complete your lessons, we might have time to sneak down to the landing and watch the riders before they leave.’

Instead of fighting her as they usually did, they set to work. Joanna might not want to venture down from the third floor, but it wasn’t fair to keep the girls locked up here because of her fears. Besides, with so many people about, she and Major Preston weren’t likely to be alone together. She’d make sure they weren’t.

In a few minutes, the girls’ work was complete and they followed Joanna down the stairs to the first-floor landing overlooking the entrance hall. Joanna held tight to the banister as she watched the women in their dark riding habits stand with the men in their breeches and coats. They didn’t interest her as much as the possibility of seeing Major Preston, but he wasn’t here.

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