With His Ring (Brides of Bath Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

and the warm sun now revealed itself for
the first time in days. "A good day for a ride," she said.
    "But I thought you were terrified of
horses."
    She sighed. "My dear Mr. Blankenship---"
    "Blanks." His eyes glittered.
    She ignored him. "Must I continually remind
you I am no longer that child you persist in remembering me
as?"
    His slow, sensuous grin dissolved her. "Are
you not still waiting for your prince?"
    "The past two seasons, yes, but I assure you
I no longer harbor such childish illusions."
    "A pity," he said with a bit of moroseness,
his warm chestnut eyes studying hers.
    She selected a scone from beneath the
covered salver on the table. "I admit being surrounded by the
boundless love of George and Diana and Felicity and Thomas is a bit
daunting. I suppose being party to such devotion would be pleasant,
but I cannot aspire to such."
    His brows lifted. "So jaded at
nineteen?"
    She placed her scone on the dish and
directed an icy glance at the man she loved. "I am not a child, Mister Blankenship, but a woman with realistic
expectations."
    "Somehow I miss the girl who believed in
happy endings."
    His words cut through her like a rapier. She
did so believe in love and happy endings, but she knew Blanks
wanted no part of them. She had to convince him she shared his
abhorrence of being shackled. Only then could she cultivate his
love.
    "Please say that you'll ride with me this
morning," she said, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.
    "It will be my pleasure."
    After breakfast, she took great pains with
her toilet. With help from Patty, her abigail, Glee donned her
emerald green riding habit. Emerald was most definitely her best
color. A good match for her eyes. For years she had lamented that
she was not blonde with periwinkle eyes like her sister Felicity.
But after two seasons of unequaled success, Glee had discovered
that her auburn hair and ivory skin were as appreciated as her
sister's blonde fairness.
    She hoped her success had nothing to do with
the fine wardrobe she had been able to acquire since Felicity had
married a man with the means to restore to them the lifestyle of a
viscount's family. How she had detested wearing Felicity's
well-worn hand-me-downs and having no funds for abigails or
slippers without holes. Most of all she had hated having no money
for subscriptions to the lending libraries. Now, thank heavens, she
was able to read whatever she liked whenever she liked. At least
when she was in Bath.
    Patty gingerly placed the green velvet hat
askance on Glee's swept-back hair, then plunged in a hat pin to
secure it. She stood back to appraise her charge. "The master's
friend is sure to swoon when he takes a look at you."
    Glee's brows lowered. "What makes you think
I care a fig about what Mr. Blankenship thinks?"
    "'Cause I know you too well."
    "Is it that obvious?" Glee asked, her lips
puckered into a pout.
    "To a woman, yes. But men don't think of the
same things we do. I'm sure your Mr. Blankenship will never notice
any change in you."
    Glee sighed with relief, then dabbed rose
water on the soft side of her wrists. She cast a glance in her
looking glass, satisfied with her reflection. Riding habits
revealed her trim waist far better than the dresses dictated by
fashion. She smiled mischievously at Patty. "I should like it
excessively if Mr. Blankenship swooned over me."
    With a wink, she disappeared through the
door.
    * * *
    They had not spoken as they rode through the
thicket, Blanks considerately lifting low-hanging tree branches to
clear her path. When they entered the glen still bleak from
winter's cold, he spoke. "I return to Bath tomorrow."
    Her heart stampeded. When it stilled enough
for her to speak, her voice was low and not without disappointment.
"So soon?"
    He smiled and nodded. "George is much too
busy to entertain me in the ways he once did."
    While George's new responsibilities
diminished the pleasure he had once given Blanks, Glee took pride
in her brother's transformation from reckless