Her One True Love by Rachel Brimble

Author:Rachel Brimble [Brimble, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2016-01-11T05:00:00+00:00

After a fitful night, Jane stared through her drawing room window as she waited for Matthew to arrive at the house. Guilt over her passionate feelings for another woman’s husband had clawed at Jane’s conscience throughout breakfast and even now as the day neared midmorning. Not once had Elizabeth treated her with derision or rudeness. Not once had she referred to Jane’s admiration of Matthew. Yet, deep in her soul, Jane was certain the squiress had known how Jane wanted him for her own. Didn’t all women know when another desired their lover?

The admiring glances, the slight change in her voice whenever she spoke to him. A look, a gesture . . .

Jane turned from the window, her heart heavy. Now Matthew had come to the conclusion they should be together. Would that ever become true?

She was not foolish enough to believe his feelings for her had always been there. Her feelings for him had gone unnoticed for months, years, but she did not hold him to blame for that when she had done little to change or alter his knowledge. She had cared for her parents, looked after the house and tenants, and acted like a damsel waiting to be saved by her knight in shining armor.

The notion was laughable.

Now was a new time. She, a new woman.

What happened now, and in the future, would be decided by her and Matthew’s actions, no one else’s. They were of age. Their parents had passed. It was time they determined their own destinies without obligation to the previous generation—without guilt.

Jane walked from the drawing room into the hallway and picked up her hat from a small table beneath the wall mirror. She twisted and turned it into position, cursing the trembling in her fingers.

Jeannie came down the stairs, and Jane turned and smiled.

“My goodness, you look lovely. I can see why you insisted you didn’t need me there while you shopped for a new dress,” Jane teased. “You are clearly adept at picking colors and cuts to suit you.”

The younger girl blushed. “Do you not recognize it? It was one of Miss Monica’s. She sent it to me from Marksville.”

Jane widened her eyes. “So it is. You have altered the collar and added additional buttons! It looks beautiful, Jeannie, truly.”

“Thank you.” Jeannie came forward and joined Jane at the mirror. “I hope everything goes as you want it at the boardinghouse.”

Jane sighed. “So do I. I know by having Squire Cleaves with me, the Board will be more apt to listen to what I have to say, if nothing else.”

“The squire will do everything he can to help you. He is one of the kindest men I know.”

Jane dragged her gaze from Jeannie’s reflection and picked up some pins from a small ceramic dish. She set about securing her hat into position. “He is. Most kind.”

“I couldn’t help overhearing some of your conversation with the squire last night . . .”

Heat warmed Jane’s cheeks as she forced her gaze to Jeannie’s. “And?”

Jeannie smiled, youthful hope shining in her pretty eyes.

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