To Tame a Scoundrel's Heart by Collette Cameron

Author:Collette Cameron
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: 0
Published: 2016-05-29T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Katrina managed to drag a shallow expanse of air into her lungs. And then another slightly bigger breath. Though only due to Nic’s reassuring hand clasping hers and his thumb trailing back and forth across her knuckles, calming her fitful pulse and even more juddery thoughts. Scandalous and ruinous if anyone caught them holding hands beneath the lattice-patterned tablecloth.

Propriety be hanged.

She squeezed his fingers and rejoiced in the immediate counter-pulse. Stunned from the verbal pummeling she’d just endured, Katrina required the strength he lent. Springing from her chair and bolting from the room, though tempting, would give Phoebe Belamont a satisfaction Katrina would never permit. And tearing the burgundy ribbons from Phoebe’s perfectly coiffed curls, though immensely gratifying, would shame Katrina’s parents.

Was Richard in Stratford-Upon-Avon?

No, no, the Belamonts must be mistaken.

She’d not jump to hasty, emotional conclusions without evidence.

They’d seen him.

Perhaps they’d only thought the man was Richard.

“Men oft’ look similar in uniforms,” Simon said, leveling Miss Belamont a cold stare.

“Yes, indeed,” Shona piped in, nodding enthusiastically while marshalling a how-could-you? scowl for Phoebe. Fork in hand, Shona looked ready to stab her across the table. “That might very well be the case. Why, half the time, I cannot tell one officer from another unless I stand directly before him.”

Precious, loyal dear.

“Surely a plausible explanation exists if, indeed, the Belamonts are correct.” Patting his mouth with his serviette, Nic murmured the comment for Katrina’s ears alone, and she gave a jerky nod.

So Richard had absentmindedly named the wrong township?

Unlikely as snow in July. Pink snow.

Stop.

Richard hadn’t lied to her before. Had he? His many absences—a week or two at a time ... Not uncommon for an officer, but a faultless defense against a woman’s qualms and suspicions.

“Trust him.” Another whispered encouragement from Nic amidst the stilted conversations the others attempted in order to cover the dreadful awkwardness.

The diners could no more have ignored the Belamonts’ insinuations than they could’ve a singing, dancing goat upon the table. Bless Nic for trying. Once more, he sought to reassure Katrina, this man she’d known but three days.

She had trusted Richard. Until now. She loathed the suspicion tangling her thoughts, cramping her lungs, barraging her middle with jagged-bladed knives.

Swallowing hard, her mouth gone dry as summer grass and her voice sure to crack if she spoke, Katrina summoned every ounce of pluck she possessed and, with a steady hand and nonchalant glance at Papa, casually took a sip of wine.

True, humiliation beleaguered her, by Miss Belamont’s calculated design, but without evidence, Katrina refused to convict Richard. Appearances weren’t always what they seemed, and besides, they weren’t actually betrothed. He owed her nothing except, perhaps, an explanation.

Not entirely accurate.

Richard had asked her to marry him, had promised he’d ask Papa for her hand, had begged her to be patient while he put his affairs in order. Mayhap she, the unnamed woman, was the affair he’d needed to order? If Richard were involved with another woman—God help me bear the shame—one in the family way .

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.