Winter's Wild Melody by Emma V Leech

Author:Emma V Leech [Leech, Emma V]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-12-25T00:00:00+00:00

Odette’s heart was beating hard and fast. She was uncertain why, for nothing she would say should make him think any worse of her. He knew the worst already. What he didn’t know was just who she was, or, more to the point, who her uncle was.

“I do not know where to begin,” she said, smoothing her skirts over her knees.

“Wherever you think best. You said you were staying with your uncle’s friends, yes?”

She nodded. “Oui. My uncle, he is Guy André Félix, Marquis de Layon, or at least he was.”

Chance stared at her, his mouth a little open. She could only hope the title did not intimidate him. He was clearly a gentleman, but who knew if he had simply learned how to act the part from fellows in the army, or if he was born to such a world? Not that she cared, but… but if he was afraid of her uncle…. She swallowed down a wave of nausea, unable to blame him if he was. Most people were.

“It is difficult for a man who had such absolute power, such vast wealth, to have been brought so low by the war. We are by no means penniless, but the comparison, you see….” She shrugged. “He is no longer the man he was, and this has made him bitter and angry. It worsened when André died, his only heir, and now his niece has ruined herself.”

“No,” Chance said, taking her hands. “We will go to Exeter, to the cathedral, and I shall buy a licence and we shall marry. It will be done before we face them. There will be no talk of you being ruined. I won’t allow it.”

Odette let out a little laugh, still unable to believe her good fortune, that this man, this good man, would save her.

“So, tell me what happened. What made you run away from him?”

Odette bit her lip. “We ’ad a terrible row. He wanted me to—”

Charlie moved closer to her and put his arm about her shoulder as she broke off, her nerves getting the better of her. What would he say when he realised the powerful family she had offended so gravely was one of his neighbours? They must be. He’d told her he lived not three miles from here, likely on the Blackdown estate, even. He would know the Blackdown name, might know them as friends, might not want to risk offending them.

“He told me I must marry,” she said in a rush, determined to get the words out. “I was given no choice. I was to marry Lord Blackdown’s heir, Viscount Debdon. We went to stay with them. The earl was polite enough, but… but the wretched viscount didn’t even have the decency to come and meet me. I was so afraid, so unhappy, and yet I made myself go, I made myself act the part of dutiful niece. I promised I would behave as a young lady and do what was asked of me, and he… he couldn’t even stir himself to come and see me.

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.