Never a Mistress, No Longer a Maid (Kellington Book One) by Driscoll Maureen

Author:Driscoll, Maureen [Driscoll, Maureen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-05-16T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ned’s carriage was everything Jane thought it would be. New, well-sprung with a plush interior and quite large. But Jane had a feeling it’d feel all too cramped, considering who the company would be.

Vi was in alt. Not only was she going on a journey, which would’ve been exciting enough regardless of the destination, she was going to London with her hero Ned. From the moment of her near abduction to their departure in the morning, Ned had barely let either of them out of his sight. But in the few moments when Jane and Vi had been alone, Vi had extolled his virtues: brave, handsome, kind, funny, very handsome, intelligent, an excellent climber of trees – Jane wanted to dispute that point since he’d fallen out of the one tree she’d seen him climb – honest, trustworthy, royal (or at least she thought he might well be) and very, very handsome.

“Perhaps, Mama, he is taking us away to a castle and we’ll live with him, always.”

Jane told her daughter in no uncertain terms that she should expect no castle and at the end of the journey, they would once again live in their own house in Marston Vale and Ned would live wherever it was he chose to go. And Jane had a feeling it wouldn’t be Marston Vale.

After their luggage had been loaded into a rented carriage, which also carried Rigg, Ned lifted a giddy Vi into the main carriage, then offered his assistance to Jane. She knew from experience that even the simple act of placing her hand in his caused a lamentable reaction on her part, so she ignored his assistance and tried to climb into the carriage by herself. Unfortunately, her skirt caught on the step and before she could do anything about it, he’d bent to release it, brushing her ankle as he did so. That so-called innocent touch coupled with his hand at her waist affected Jane much more than if she’d given him her hand in the first place.

It was a mistake she wouldn’t make again.

He followed her into the carriage with a cocky grin on his face – dratted man was much too attuned to her reactions – then he took the seat opposite Jane and Vi. He rapped on the ceiling and they were on their way.

“Why are you taking us to London?” Vi asked Ned.

“Your Mama has some business to take care of, so since I was also going to London, I thought I’d take you with me.”

“I’m glad you did. I should like to see London for the first time with you.”

“Sweeting,” said her mother as she pulled out a book, “it’s time for your lessons.”

“But we’re on holiday!”

“That doesn’t mean we can skip our studies.”

“Ned, do you think I should have to do lessons on holiday?”

Whether Ned thought so or not (and he thought not), he knew better than to push Jane on this subject, so he said there’d be a special treat when they stopped for luncheon if Vi obeyed her mama and tended to her lessons.

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