Rebel Baron by Henke Shirl

Author:Henke, Shirl [Henke, Shirl]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Shirl Henke
Published: 2012-01-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“This shall be ever so exciting,” Lorilee exclaimed as the ladies made their way across the open field where Brand was offering Jon his choice of weapons for their contest “I understand Lord Rushcroft is quite famous for his marksmanship.”

“Considering how many men he must've killed in that barbaric war, I don't doubt he's a crack shot,” Abbie said sourly, clearly displeased that the women had been forced to take a carriage such a distance from the house for something as boring as a shooting contest.

“A man tested on a battlefield is ever so romantic, don't you think, Mother?” Lorilee asked.

“From what I've read about modern warfare, marksmanship has little to do with victory,” Miranda replied. “The objective is simply to overpower one's foe, usually by throwing more men into the field, regardless of casualties. That is one reason why the Union forces were able to defeat the Confederates. Their war was as senseless a bloodbath as ours in the Crimea.”

It was not the reply Lori had hoped for, but she could still turn it to her advantage. “You and Lord Rushcroft understand history so well. I'm certain Abbie and I never will.”

“Nor do we wish to,” Abbie added with a flippant toss of her curls. Then she smiled sweetly at Lori and asked, “Oh, would you mind terribly if Jon accepted an invitation from Mr. Winters and his wife for tea tomorrow...now that you're practically affianced yourself and all?”

Miranda could have pulled Abigail's artfully coifed hair out by the roots. The petty girl knew how Geoffrey Winters' betrayal had hurt Lori. “I'm not certain—”

But her daughter surprised her, shrugging with seeming indifference. “I would be happy to meet the baron's new neighbors. Since Pelham Manor is adjacent to Rushcroft Hall, it would be impolite to decline, wouldn't it, Mother?”

Unsure, Miranda nodded. Was Lori so taken with Brandon Caruthers that all thoughts of Pelham's worthless son had been banished? That would be wonderful. It would, she repeated to herself.

“I understand they have a houseguest visiting them from the baron's home...someplace called Kentuck, I believe.”

“That is Kentucky,” Miranda corrected the girl, whom she was growing to dislike more by the moment.

“Mother knows so much more of the world. Just as the baron does. I've never been interested in geography or politics, much less warfare,” Lori said with an ingenuous smile.

Miranda wondered at that odd pronouncement. Her daughter had always been a bright and curious student. But before she could consider it further, they were hailed by the men. Brand wore a simple hunting coat and riding breeches that emphasized his broad shoulders and long, powerful horseman's legs. He looked quite ruggedly masculine compared to Jon Belford's dandyish appearance in an expensive woolen suit with high starched collar. The baron's face was darkly tanned, burnished by sun and wind, while the younger man's pale complexion indicated that he spent a good deal more time in drawing rooms than he did outdoors.

To any proper Englishwoman, the earl's son should have been far

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