Tempted By His Secret Cinderella by Bronwyn Scott

Author:Bronwyn Scott [Scott, Bronwyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Victorian Marriage of Convenience, wedding vows, Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Regency & Victorian Romance, London Society, England & Britain, 19th century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Hearts Desire, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Beautiful & Feisty, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Sensual Story Theme, Allied At The Altar, House Party, Disguise & Charade
Publisher: Harlequin Historicals; Original Edition
Published: 2019-06-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

His mother looked worried. Sutton glanced up from his correspondence. He’d stolen a few moments after breakfast to sift through the mounting pile of letters that had accumulated during the house party. ‘What is it, Mother? Have the guards thrown another girl out of my chambers?’ He smiled, but his mother didn’t laugh.

‘I want to talk about Princess Chiara. You were indiscreet last night at the musicale. I have been entertaining arguments all morning from concerned and angry parents. Lord Wharton has been most vociferous.’ His mother took the chair across the desk. Her gaze was steady, but she looked drawn, giving truth that her words were not exaggerated. ‘She offers you nothing, Sutton, but a distraction from the real task at hand. It insults the other guests.’

Sutton sat back in his chair, ready to defend his position. ‘If I was staking a claim to her, she is noble—that’s all she needs to offer. It seems people are too quick to admit defeat if they’re already assuming I’ll marry the Italian Principessa.’ The Marquis and Lord Wharton would only be too thrilled to know Chiara had resisted his efforts to court her affections. They’d rest far easier if they’d heard the conversation on the balcony last night instead of seen it. ‘For the record, however, you’re wrong on the other account, too. She does offer me more than just a title that satisfies my uncle’s will.’ How did he describe what she offered? There was peace in her presence, a chance to be himself, to express himself in ways he did not share with others. He tried to explain. ‘We have things in common. Surprising things. She makes me laugh, she speaks her mind. She’s the one girl here who appears to like me, not my money.’

A tempting realisation flickered to life, taking shape from the amorphous, nameless something that had flared between them from the start. I could be happy with her. We could build a life.

His mother read the trajectory of his thoughts. ‘Can you truly see a princess rusticating with your camels at your dairy?’

Sutton did not hesitate. ‘Yes. Not any princess, but I can see her. She rescued a gosling on our boating expedition. His foot was hurt and she scooped him in up in her palm and brought him home.’ The more he argued, the more the idea grew and took form.

His mother arched a brow coolly. ‘A gosling is not a stable full of camels. It’s not like you to be irrational. Think, Sutton, how unnecessarily complicated it would be. How would you live together and satisfy your uncle’s conditions? Your uncle’s will doesn’t allow for more than three months apart. Will she give up living in Italy? Will she expect you to spend part of the year at one of their many villas? You can’t even spend two weeks away from your stable. You’re chafing to be down there even now. How would you manage months at a time?’ She gave him a pitying stare.

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