A Counterfeit Wife (The Sirens Book 1) by Paullett Golden

Author:Paullett Golden [Golden, Paullett]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-10-09T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

There were few sounds happier to J’non than that of children’s laughter. The cool weather daunted no one. Children frolicked, gay and carefree, chasing each other across the green and dirtying their festival clothes. Parents were not immune to the call of freedom, for they too laughed, frolicked, and dirtied their clothes, quite a few foregoing customary attire altogether in favor of fancy dress. Today, there were no rules. Even Gunner romped and rolled with Sammy and Simon, darting between fairgoers and raising a ruckus with leaps, bounds, and barks. Reminiscent of her childhood but not wanting to dwell in the past, J’non treasured every moment of the October fête, here at last.

Tables of goods and food lined the perimeter of the green, the long stretch in between reserved for games and contests, ranging from three-legged races to strongmen competitions. At the farthest end, the assembly would be held to conclude the festival, complete with country dances. At the opposite side of the green to where J’non stood with Gwen, Trevor worked with the Reverend Harvey and Mr. Tillson to repair the makeshift pen for the sheep herding contest—the mischievous sons of the haberdasher thought it endlessly amusing to wrestle on the beams, testing each other’s mettle and to see who would fall off first. Trevor bore a smile, not the least bothered by the youngsters’ antics.

Only two months of marriage. J’non could not believe she had once thought Trevor stiff, cold, and humorless. Was it that he had changed, learning to loosen his cravat on occasion, or was this the Trevor as he had always been, perceived as stiff only because of the awkwardness of their first meeting and marital arrangement? Not that it mattered. All that mattered now was she was enamored by her husband.

“The bright of day yet I can see stars reflected in your eyes,” Gwen said from behind her.

J’non turned with what she thought might have been a sappy smile. “If one cannot be dazzled by their spouse, there’s no hope for the marriage.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. You’re still enjoying your honeymoon.” Gwen rearranged embroidered handkerchiefs on the table, each for sale, all proceeds for the village repair and recovery fund.

“Are you implying the dazzle fades?” J’non did not believe that for a moment. Her parents had always looked at each other with affection. “If you’re planning to convince me, you must first deny your own starry-eyed looks at Mr. Harvey.”

Gwen laughed but could not hide the tell-tale blush. “You wouldn’t know it to look at him, but he’s quite the charmer.” She watched the three men reassembling the pen. “The first time I laid eyes on him was at Sunday service. We arrived to find him at the door rather than our good Mr. Swensen. While my mother fussed not to be informed of Mr. Swensen’s absence, all I could think at first sight was, ‘a new Heaven is begun.’”

The haberdasher, who had set up her table next to Gwen’s in hopes

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.