An Unusual Courtship (The Brazen Burrells Book 2) by Lynne Connolly

Author:Lynne Connolly [Connolly, Lynne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2023-01-16T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

The next day, Tuesday, Val called at Whiston House to take Juliet driving. He had sent a note later in the day after the race, apologizing for not returning to ensure her safety, but he’d been assured by her footman that she’d come to no harm.

Juliet wondered what had been so important as to keep him away. Had he received news that he had obtained the post he wanted? Did he even need her anymore? Juliet knew him better than she had, enough to know he wouldn’t abandon her, not now. But did he really want her, or would their marriage be one of duty, not the bliss she’d so briefly experienced?

She dressed in an ivory carriage-dress and pale blue spencer and waited for him in the hall nervously. He was on time at ten o’clock, early for a ride, but perhaps he wanted no witnesses to what he wanted to say to her. He was all smiles and handed her up with meticulous courtesy.

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t see you yesterday. I had important business which took longer than I wanted.”

“Oh? Did you get the post?”

“What?” He spared her a glance. “Oh, that,” he said as if it was of no importance. “Not yet. No, I went to Doctor’s Commons.”

“What?” She clung to the passenger rail as he took a corner a trifle too sharply. That didn’t make sense. Doctor’s Commons was where people went to obtain a special license to marry. Or perhaps he had other business there. That wasn’t all they did.

“After I saw the start of that mad race, I could not bear you staying in that house any longer. I don’t like you there, and I’m sorry if you don’t like it, but there it is.”

He took another corner, and they were back in Grosvenor Square. He slowed the horses to a stately walk, then came to a halt, and turned to address her directly. “I sent word to your brother-in-law and your sister. You might have noticed that they left the house.”

She shook her head. “I thought they were still abed.” They often were.

“They’re waiting for us.”

“Where? How?”

“In the chapel. You need witnesses, and I assumed you’d like them to attend. Your mother said she would see to the details.”

A conspiracy. But one so quickly and smoothly arranged she’d had no idea. She sat, hands folded in her lap, staring at him, trying to catch up.

He took one of her hands, folded it in his. “If you should mislike it, Juliet, then we will go ahead as planned. But I want you with me. After that farce of a race, I could not wait any longer. If you make me, I will wait. But you are the only person who can stop me doing this.” He smiled, and like always, her resolve melted. “So, Juliet Burrell, will you marry me? Now, today?”

She tried to marshal her emotions. She had thought he would retreat into his rational, calm character, the one he maintained with everyone else.

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.