Charity Read Online Free Page A

already back on his current writing project. To his way of thinking, the problem with Charity was resolved.
    She watched him go, her expression troubled.
    “Why are you still frowning?” asked Mercy. “You heard him. You’re going to London.”
    “I know.” Charity sighed heavily and looked at her twin. “Do you think what Madame said is true? That I’ll never find a husband?”
    “Don’t be ridiculous!” Amity slipped an arm around her sister’s shoulders. “We’re going to find a couple of lovely gentlemen with whom we’ll fall hopelessly in love, we’ll have our perfect double wedding, and they’ll build us quaint little country homes right here in Pelthamshire so that we never have to be away from one another or our family. Just like we’ve always planned.”
    Charity gave both of her sisters a smile that only wobbled a little. “Yes. Just like we’ve always planned,” she echoed, but there was still a tiny shade of doubt in her voice.

Four
    Scotland, 1815
    Asheburton Keep, after a couple of hundred years of neglect and misuse, was once again a sight to behold. A jewel nestled in the emerald hills above the small Scottish village of Ashton, the ancient castle managed to be both intimidating and stunning. It was a far cry from the near ruin in which Lachlan had been raised.
    Mounted on his favorite stallion, Apollo, aptly named for the god of the sun because of his glowing golden coat, the Marquess of Asheburton gazed across a small valley at the home he’d restored. So regal was his bearing, pride stamped into every inch of his powerful frame, one could easily have pictured him in full armor, preparing to storm the castle upon which he set his sights. It was time to think of the future.
    Well pleased with the empire he’d created, Lachlan now longed for more. He wanted the laughter of children ringing through the hills surrounding the keep. His children. He would wait no longer.
    Two years ago he had almost married, choosing a young girl from the village named Beth Gilweather, daughter of the blacksmith. She was a beautiful young woman with the coloring prominent in Ashton, pale hair and light eyes, but in her case her hair was the golden blonde of newly minted coins, and her eyes flashed a brilliant green that rivaled theemerald hillsides of Scotland. He’d fallen hard for her, but when he approached his parents with his intentions, his mother’s reaction had been instantaneous and negative.
    “Out of the question! You will not marry a commoner from the village.”
    He’d bitten back the retort that rose to his lips. It would not do to remind Lady Eloise Kimball that she was once a villager herself. Not when the stakes were so high. Instead, he’d looked to his father, who shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
    “Perhaps if you traveled a bit first, my boy. Go to London, or Edinburgh. Meet women of your class.”
    “I don’t consider Beth below my class, Father.”
    “Then you’re a fool, Lachlan, who cannot see past her physical beauty and understand that she sees you as nothing more than a way to improve her circumstances. Especially now that both the keep and the village are prospering.” Lady Asheburton had folded her lips and stared at him. The marquess had looked as though he might speak, but Eloise placed a restraining hand atop his. He’d closed his mouth and given Lachlan a look of apology.
    Without another word, Lachlan left the room. He’d stalked out to the stables, saddled Apollo, and rode to the village. When he saw Beth sitting outside her father’s shop, he’d reined in the stallion and swung down. He approached and knelt before her. “Marry me, Beth. Today.”
    She laughed softly. “Lachlan, my goodness! You look like a thundercloud. A girl likes to be asked for her hand in marriage, not have it wrenched from her arm.”
    He stood and ran a hand through his hair. He turned and looked back up the hill to the distant keep that overlooked the village. “I know,” he