A Valentine Wedding
Chapter One
Grantley Manor, England
December, 1810
"It's outrageous! Insufferable! I absolutely will not tolerate it."
Emma Beaumont tore at the lace-edged handkerchief between her hands
as she paced the elegant salon. The flounced hem of her gown of dove
gray crepe swung with every step.
"Oh, Emma, dearest, you cannot talk so," declared a middle-aged lady
in a round gown of dark silk. The lappets of her cap trembled
against her cheek as she shook her head decisively.
"Oh, can I not, Maria?" exclaimed the infuriated Lady Emma. "Mr.
Critchley, something must be done about this. I insist upon it. I
cannot imagine what Ned can have been thinking."
An embarrassed silence followed her declaration. Mr. Critchley
coughed behind his hand and rustled his lawyer's papers. The
middle-aged lady plied her fan vigorously. An elderly couple seated
side by side on a sofa with guilded scroll ends stared into space.
The man thumped his cane on the Aubusson carpet with monotonous
thuds, while his spouse pursed her lips and gave a sour little nod,
as if vindicated in some way.
"Emma ... Emma!" ... read full excerpt from: A Valentine Wedding ebook
