A June Bride Read Online Free

know whereof we speak, I believe.” To her horror, his steady look accused her of knowing more of the facts of life than a well-brought-up maiden ought to know, and she knew, miserably, that he could confirm the truth of this by her own telltale blushes.
    She sputtered for a moment, wanting to explain that sisters and schoolgirls spoke of these things because they were perceived to be important, and because they were subjects so carefully avoided by their parents—all the while knowing she would look even more hoydenish if she tried to explain.
    “It is as well, my dear,” he soothed, laughter in his voice yet again. “I should not care for making a bargain where you did not know what you were giving up.” She stared at him quite frankly. Did he think he was such a wondrous bargain? Why was he teasing her so? If they married, would they go on in this manner?
    Meeting his gaze squarely, she belatedly saw by the twist of his mouth that it was likely he was teasing himself as much as her.
    To her surprise, she found her anger sliding away and she was laughing, and then he was laughing gently with her.
    “Such a conversation,” she said.
    “Peculiar, yes. Well,” he said, shaking his head without losing his grin, “I think we must say we have struck an accord.”
    She shook her head as well, still smiling a little, though her voice became meditative as she changed the shake to a nod and said, “I believe we have.”
    “There is nothing left for it then, but to shake on it.” He extended his hand, and she offered her own. His grip was firm, her hand small against his, and with a sigh of mingled amusement and uncertainty she knew her future had been decided.
    She watched as he moved her hand from where he clasped it, turning the back of it up, and raised it to his lips. He gave the gallant’s kiss, his lips not even really touching her skin. He did not release her hand as he straightened, and his eyes were now once again sober as he looked down at her.
    “I would clarify one thing.”
    “Yes?” she said somewhat unsteadily, for courtly gestures, until this moment, were only things her mother had tried to tell her about. She had found out quite suddenly that they were ever so much more gratifying in reality than they were in practice.
    “I would that we will treat each other with respect. I’m not just speaking of taking lovers, but in all matters. As you know, I was raised in a home where there was constant bickering, and constant pettiness. My parents did their best to misunderstand one another in a hundred spiteful little ways, and often too publicly. It was really for the best when they chose separate homes, as then at last my father had a little heart and energy to bestow upon my brother and myself. And we could visit mother in a home that had some semblance of peace to it.
    “So, although as newlyweds we must make the effort to reside together at first, I do not care to live in such a strife-filled home. If we find we cannot live together peacefully, I would ask that we do as my parents have done.”
    He still held her hand, perhaps a little too hard, so that she had the distinct impression this was very important to him. Her youthful heart felt for his suffering in years past, and she answered readily, “Of course. I, too, could not care to live where there is no harmony.”
    “Thank you,” he said quietly, raising her hand once more for the gallant’s kiss.
    The double doors of the front parlor swung open wide, and in marched a pretty lady still clad in her traveling clothes, her features suspiciously like Alessandra’s. “Well?” she demanded, her hands on her hips, her pelisse winding around her skirts in a swirl of activity that indicated she had wasted no time entering the room.
    Geoffrey looked at the woman, at Alessandra’s delightedly welcoming face, and then back at the other woman, whom he finally recognized. “Cousin Emmeline.”
    She ignored him except to nod, and marched up to her