The Nanny Arrangement by Lily George

Author:Lily George [George, Lily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780373282852
Google: qtJUBAAAQBAJ
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Goodreads: 21942823
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

’Twas good indeed to be walking out in this fine weather. Becky clasped Juliet’s hand more tightly in her own and pointed at a flock of birds, startled into flight by their approach. Paul strode along beside them, his head turned toward the ground. If he was upset by Juliet’s insistence that he accompany them today to Bible study, he didn’t say so. His silence was rather unsettling. They had eschewed the carriage in view of the fine weather and with an eye toward wearing Juliet out. Though it was nice to be out in the splendid weather, the silence of her companions was a trifle grating on her nerves.

She had learned so much about Paul over the past few days. So much about his past, and about life at Kellridge. It was strange how people with so much privilege had so many troubles. Once her parents died and they moved in with Uncle Arthur, her family’s troubles were simple and clear-cut. Survival. Even as Uncle Arthur squandered their last pennies, even as their uncle and aunt tried to force Susannah into marriage to a man of their choosing, the Siddons girls’ one thought as a singular family unit had always been trained on survival.

But the Holmes family? So much fodder for a romantic novel. Unsuitable swains, forbidden love, a baby born too quickly for decent society, a quick flit to Italy. And that was just Juliana’s life. No telling what escapades Paul had been up to while all this was going on. He had always been regarded as the bad influence on her brother-in-law. In fact, Daniel had been reformed once he’d found faith and Susannah, but rather in spite of his good chum Paul.

She snuck a sidelong glance at Paul. Yes, those scars suited him well. What secrets did he hide behind that laconic mask of sarcasm, or his precise method of managing his existence? He was a romantic hero at heart, surely. If she were an authoress, she would pattern her hero on him—the same lurking darkness beneath the smooth surface.

Juliet tugged at her hand as they neared the gates of Goodwin Hall, bringing Becky crashing back to reality. No more epic poems, or novels, or windswept moments on the moor. She must not roam the fields of her imagination any longer. She was needed here and now by a child who required her full attention.

“Yes, Juliet. We are here, at Goodwin. For Bible study.” She spoke in response to the little one’s squeeze. Though it sounded rather inane to keep repeating every trifling thing and making grand announcements about the obvious, it did seem to be improving Juliet’s comprehension of English. “Goodwin Hall is my sister’s home. And the little chapel in the woods here is where we are bound.”

“Daniel seems to be in the process of plowing the far field,” Paul remarked. ’Twas the first thing he’d said in a quarter of an hour.

“Yes,” she replied, for want of something intelligent to say.

“I wonder what he’s planting so late in the year.

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