To Love and Protect by Tammy Jo Burns

Author:Tammy Jo Burns [Burns, Tammy Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: regency romance, Historical Romance, Scottish romance, Lords romance, mystery romance
Amazon: B00IX3UL1O
Publisher: Tammy Jo Burns
Published: 2014-03-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

The next morning, they announced to all present their engagement. Justin’s family kissed and hugged them both. Clarissa’s father merely shook Justin’s hand then quickly bussed Clarissa’s cheek with a fatherly peck. Hurt assailed her, but she quickly pushed it aside.

The rest of the day was taken up with talk of wedding plans. Justin remained attentive to her throughout the following days. Each night, after the house fell quiet, he would sneak into her room. They would spend the night talking, cuddling, or making tender love. In the back of her mind she knew it was wrong, but she couldn’t help the attraction she felt for this man. And in her mind, it would all be all right, for soon they would be married.

After the end of the first week, Clarissa felt like she would scream if she heard one more thing about the wedding. The entire group had moved to the keep. It looked like a medieval castle with additions added on here and there. She had yet to have an opportunity to explore because of all the talk about the wedding. Everywhere she turned, someone wanted to speak to her about the wedding. She realized most girls dreamed of planning their wedding, but she no longer cared. They could merely tell her when to show up and all would be well with her. They attended church in the small village that morning and heard the first posting of the banns. Megan would slip away, leaving Clarissa, more often than not, to her mother’s questions and guidance. All the talk of the wedding had begun to drive Clarissa mad, causing her head to pound regularly.

“Lady Southerby, won’t you please excuse me?” Clarissa asked one afternoon, unable to stand anymore talk about the details.

“Wouldn’t you like to help with the wedding preparations?” she queried, confusion marring her features.

“I leave everything in your very competent hands,” Clarissa bowed her head and left the room. She made her way outside and began wandering the gardens. They had celebrated the New Year, and there was a nip in the air, but the afternoon had turned pleasant and the bright sun warmed her. A gazebo stood in the back of the gardens, hidden by shrubs and trees. Clarissa made her way towards it.

As she walked, her mind drifted. Time had passed so swiftly since she and Justin had set out in search of her father. It had taken almost a month for them to even locate her father. They had spent over a week on that horrible boat ride. She promised herself she would never ride on another boat again. Over two months had passed since they arrived in Scotland. Papa was finally on the road to recovery, gaining weight, and looking more himself. Although they had their differences, she was very glad that he had recovered. And somewhere along the way she had found a man that wanted to marry her for herself, and not who or what she brought to the marriage.

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