The Unexpected Bride ; Unlawfully Wedded Bride by Debra Ullrick

Author:Debra Ullrick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-08-21T17:45:42+00:00

Chapter One

Three weeks later

Kate felt Ellie’s side of the bed dip, then rise. She listened to her sister’s small feet pad against the wooden floor of the farmhouse loft. She turned on her side to watch Ellie drag a chair to the window. The soft blue light of morning spilled through the glass as Ellie pushed back the curtains for a better view. Kate sighed then sat up in sleepy curiosity. “What are you doing?”

“I can see the road from here,” Ellie said, then jumped down from the chair with a decided thump. She ran to kneel in front of the bed and lifted her sparkling green eyes to meet Kate’s. “Do you have a feeling that today will be a very special day?”

“No, not particularly,” she said. Seeing Ellie’s crestfallen expression, she amended, “I suppose that every day can be a very special day if we let it.”

Ellie gave her a half smile seemingly more out of politeness than anything else. Kate hid her bemusement as she turned away from Ellie and quickly dressed. Her siblings seemed to have made a concerted effort to behave since she’d managed to stop their plan to marry her off. While she was relieved to see such an improvement in their behavior, she found it unnerving. How could they possibly not be up to something?

Kate smoothed her hair into an upturned twist as she watched her sister suspiciously. The girl had gone back to her post at the window. “Are you looking for something, Ellie?”

“Hmm? Oh, no,” she said absently.

“Then please get ready for school.”

“Yes, Kate.”

Sean and Ellie stepped into the kitchen just as she set the food on the table. Kate packed their lunch pails and set them in the usual place, then turned to survey their progress and was satisfied to find them nearly done eating. “Do you both have your slates and your homework?”

“Yes.” They answered as they deposited their empty plates in the sink.

“Don’t lollygag on the way or you’ll be late again,” she warned, then sank into an empty chair and sent them a smile. “Be good and have fun.”

Sean grabbed the lunch pails and slates before hurrying out of the kitchen. Ellie began to follow him then paused to look at Kate. She met the girl’s measuring stare. “Yes, Ellie?”

“Are you going to wear that the rest of the day?”

She looked down at her serviceable blue dress. “Why? Is something wrong with it?”

Ellie stepped farther into the room. “Wouldn’t it be nice to get dressed up this once?”

“I’ll be doing the wash all day. Why would I dress up for that?” she asked in confusion.

Ellie shrugged. “If someone stopped by, you would want to look presentable. Don’t you think—”

Sean appeared at the door and frowned at Ellie. “Let’s go. We’re going to be late.”

Ellie nodded then sent Kate a hopeful smile. “Perhaps just your hair—”

“Bye, Kate.” Sean grabbed Ellie’s arm and pulled her toward the door. As they left Kate heard him whisper, “What are you trying to do, anyway?”

The door slammed shut behind them leaving Kate in perplexed silence.

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