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 You are until I turn you back over to your father.
 Of course you are too practical to even consider the possibility of love, Emily
accused.  I am old enough to know what that is.
 Constance, take Emily inside. And Alice, you report to the kitchen where they
need help. Kate thought putting Emily in the charge of her own maid and sending her
co-conspirator to the scullery was the best she could do at the moment.
Evers watched Emily go up the back steps with a pained expression. Kate wished
she could read his mind, but since he d lied so successfully to Kate, he could just as
easily be lying to Emily.
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Barbara Miller
 Have you some gem of a threat to offer me that is too sinister for her delicate
ears?
 Of course I do. Persist and you will find yourself bloodied. But if it comes to
Dancy finding out about this and a fight between you, I tell you to your face I will kill
you myself rather than risk his life again.
 You? He actually laughed at her.
 I have shot pirates for lesser crimes. Believe what you choose but keep away from
Em until you have approached her father. Certainly until she is of age.
 See you tomorrow. He tipped his hat in a mocking way, then got into his curricle
and drove smartly out of the yard.
Upstairs Kate confronted her soon to be sister-in-law.
 You can t lock me in. And where is Alice?
 Helping in the kitchen.
 Please, Kate. Just because you have no experience of true love, don t ruin it for
me.
 True love would involve someone to play a hero to your heroine and I don t see
one on your horizon. So locked up you will stay until it s time to leave for the church
tomorrow. I ve sent a note to your father.
 You told?
 No. I asked him to pick us up since my carriage is still at Dancy. What I tell him
and when depends entirely on your actions from this moment forward.
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Viscount for Hire
Chapter Six
 This is a terrible wedding, Emily said,  Not enough flowers, hardly anyone came
and it s raining.
 Shut up, brat, her father mumbled.  If you re looking for disaster, we are one
groom short.
 No doubt that is why I am so upset. What could Hugh be thinking?
Kate pretended she did not hear them and was sure her aunt did not where she sat
in the front pew box. Lady Winterhaven had been put to bed with a sick headache. At
least Kate would be spared a second set of strong hysterics if anything went wrong. It
was a few minutes before eleven. The candles had been lit but they failed to take the
chill off the air or lift the gloom from the church. Fortunately she had chosen a long-
sleeved gown that buttoned up the neck, and she wore a shawl so she wasn t shivering
like Em. She shook her head and took the shawl to drape it over Emily s arms.
The curate cleared his throat for the fiftieth time, which was annoying but
understandable. She thought of one more question she could ask Lord Winterhaven. He
had come for them in his town carriage and she appreciated his support.  Sir, did
anyone come to your residence yesterday with a license?
 No, yours?
 No, but I begin to wonder if I heard Meacham right. Perhaps he meant he had
arranged for our license, but had not obtained it yet.
 We ll know in a few minutes. Didn t you say Meacham would be here?
 Yes and it is very curious that he is not. I have always found him absolutely
reliable and prompt.
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Barbara Miller
She turned once more toward the few soldiers gathered in the pew across the aisle,
one of them Colonel Cox, who was checking his pocket watch. Kate looked at the
pendant watch around her neck and felt she surely knew how a condemned man felt
waiting for execution. Then she shook her head and laughed. The wedding had to be
before noon, not by eleven. They had a whole hour yet. Of course that meant a whole
hour to wait.
 One more question, sir.
 Only one? Lord Winterhaven attempted a smile.
 Is there anyway anyone could have found out that Emily now has a dowry?
 No. I have spoken of it to no one, not even my man of business or Hugh. Certainly
you did not and Emily does not know.
 Your wife?
 She is the last person I would trust with a confidence. Why all the questions?
 Evers interest in her persists. I fear they may actually be in love.
He laughed.  Love? Come now. No one believes in that anymore.
 I own to being a skeptic myself, but an open-minded one.
 Not one question about how I could have given breath to a crack-brained son who
would schedule his own wedding such that he is late for it?
The bells started to toll, causing everyone to look up.
 I completely understand how Dancy came to be. As for his timing& 
She thought she heard hoofbeats outside the church and Em started up as though
she would run to find out who it was, when the door burst open and Dancy strode in,
looking feverish and soaking wet, but full of life. Dancy tramped up the aisle with a
swagger, took her hands and kissed them just as the bells stopped chiming.
 I d say it s perfect.
She heard the doors close less dramatically and saw Meacham turning to smile at
her. He too was soaked but present.
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Viscount for Hire
 You have the license? the curate asked as he looked down at the water puddling
on the marble floor.
Meacham produced the document from his coat, then shook a bit of water off the
paper.
 Very well, the cleric said after scrutinizing it. He began to read the marriage
services that would bind Kate to Dancy forever. Perhaps she was being a fool. There
were turning points in your life when you had to make a decision without enough
information to be logical about it. This was one of them. Even though Dancy and
Meacham both dripped puddles on the floor, even though Meacham sneezed and
Dancy smelled of brandy, she somehow knew she was doing the right thing.
* * * * *
 Inflammation of the lungs, Colonel Cox said as they passed the bottle around the
big dining room table at her house.
 I ve been wetter than this in the Peninsula, Dancy said.
His face was bright, either from fever, excitement, or from the wine. Kate did not
think it was joy.
 I was talking about Mr. Meacham. Even after borrowing dry clothes, he may be
laid low by tomorrow. By the way, what possessed you two to ride horseback in such
weather.
 My curricle broke a wheel ten miles short of London. It seemed like the fastest way
at the time. He looked around the table and smiled.  What happened to Em? She was
at the church and sat down to eat with us but I do not see her now.
His father cleared his throat.  She went home in my carriage to give her mother a
report of the wedding. Actually she had her things loaded into the carriage. She thought
now that you two are married she would leave you unencumbered by guests tonight.
Though Lord Winterhaven smiled when he said this, the news turned Kate s blood
cold. Her relief at Dancy s arrival had caused her to drop her guard about his sister.
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Barbara Miller
Now she wished she had snitched on Emily. What if she hadn t gone home?  Excuse
me a moment. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]