Wicked and Wonderful by King Valerie

Author:King, Valerie [King, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: regency romance, jane austen, georgette heyer, Valerie King. regency england. historical fiction. traditional regency, historical regency, sweet historical romance. sweet romance
Publisher: Valerie King
Published: 2013-11-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Kelthorne traveled alone with Miss Currivard. He had not desired to do so but his sisters would brook no opposition on that score. In addition, there had arisen an understanding among the party that he was courting her quite seriously even though his heart was in no manner centered upon her. He had been unable, therefore, to avoid the intimate situation.

To her credit, she did not attempt to engage him in conversation. Rather she sat gazing out the window, her hands folded serenely on her lap. She seemed inordinately content, something he did not understand.

He found he was a trifle irritated. Did she not comprehend his attraction to Judith? Did she not understand in the least that when he was near Judith his heart pounded unreasonably? Had he, therefore, misjudged Miss Currivard’s intelligence?

He groaned inwardly. Would that he had never come upon Judith trespassing in his orchard that first night. He could have fought his desire for her otherwise. The truth was that had she been a lady of quality he would be courting her now and not Miss Currivard.

But she was not a lady of quality even if her speech bespoke her birthright. For reasons he did not know, nor cared to know, she had chosen life as a professional songstress. Little better than an actress, particularly since she had been traipsing about the country in the company of several healthy young men. She could not possibly be innocent for all her protests and yet, God help him, he wanted to believe she was. Not that any of it mattered, not one whit! Regardless of the truth, even were she to attempt to reenter polite society, she would never be able to overcome the stigma of her years of living in such a manner

He glanced sharply at Miss Currivard. “Why did you desire this picnic? I confess I did not understand it from the beginning. What did you hope to achieve?”

She smiled and shrugged. “Precisely what I did achieve.”

Now she would be evasive? He was irritated once more. “And what was that?” he snapped.

She lifted her brows to him. “Have I offended you in some wretched manner, my lord, for I vow from the moment of entering the coach you have been as cross as crabs. Yes, I know you have not spoken meanly to me, but everything about you is as prickly as a hedgehog from the time we departed Cheddar Gorge.”

He drew in a deep breath feeling quite guilty. “I do beg your pardon and no, you have not offended me, not by half. It is merely that, well, I suppose I am distressed by many things not least of which that Miss Lovington could have perished today and my shot was deuced fortunate.” There it was, he thought, the truth that was haunting him, just how close Judith had come to being killed by the wounded stag.

Miss Currivard leaned forward and caught his gaze, which he gave to her reluctantly. “I am not ignorant—” she began, but then checked her words.

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