Summer's Knight by Virginia Brown

Author:Virginia Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BelleBooks Inc.
Published: 2015-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

TIDWELL STOOD at the open front door, and Summer paused. Jamie stood behind her, but she didn’t turn around. Early morning mist lay upon the street in gauzy tendrils that lent the world an eerie silence. Muffled noises drifted in the still, cool air. She shivered.

“I suppose you know that this is ridiculous.” Her voice sounded much too loud. “And quite possibly illegal.”

“I’ll grant you ridiculous,” Jamie replied, “but ’tis not illegal in Scotland.” When she turned to look at him in surprise, his dark, somber eyes studied her.

“Of course not.” Summer sighed and gripped the edges of her cloak tightly. A thrum of apprehension whirred in her chest as she stepped out onto the portico.

A gleaming black coach with ornate fittings had rolled to a halt in front of the house, and a coachman wound the leather ribbons around his gloved fist and waited. Hooves scrabbled on the paving stones, and the jangle of metal bits and harness sounded harsh in the gray, foggy morning.

Jamie spread a hand on her back and nudged her forward with a slight urging that indicated his impatience—and obstinacy. There was nothing to do but surrender to the inevitable. Her earlier arguments for reason had been met with firm resistance, until she had exhausted any attempt at persuading him to abandon his plan. Only alone at last in her bed, had she given in to frustrated tears and wondered why she continued fighting. Did the end justify the means? No, she had decided, she could not let him marry a lie, and to tell him the truth ended any hope.

She descended the townhouse steps, and her footsteps scraped over the walkway, pebbles grinding underfoot. Dallas and Ian already waited for them by the coach, holding three horses saddled and ready.

Both tall Scotsmen stood silent but no less resolute. Dallas was big and blond, Ian whip thin, with hair a shade lighter than Jamie’s and riveting blue eyes. So different, yet so similar.

It was apparent from the third horse that Jamie did not intend to ride in the coach with her, a decision she found relieving. It was difficult to think clearly when he looked at her with something like regret in his dark eyes. She wished she knew if he regretted rescuing her or if he regretted his marriage offer. Whichever it was, his brothers seemed determined to see it through to the end. Dallas, the older brother, reminded her the most of Jamie, with his humorous manner and good-natured jibes directed at those around him. Most seemed reserved for Jamie, and breakfast had been uncomfortable. Only Ian had been immune to the barbs his brothers traded. No doubt, he was more accustomed to it, but Summer’s appetite had quickly fled.

Jamie stepped forward to open the coach door and put out a hand to help her. She hesitated before placing her gloved fingers in his palm, and as he lifted her up the step she said softly, “If you knew the truth, you would not want this wedding.

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