Page 16 (1/2)

Chapter 8

"Ayou"

Amelia pulled the damask counterpane farther over her head "Go away, Miss Pool Please!"

The bed sagged next to her and a hand came to rest on her shoulder "Amelia, it breaks my heart to see you so distressed"

"How else should I feel?" She sniffled, her eyes burning and gritty, her heart broken "Did you see what she went through? How she fought to coer"

"Lord Welton has no reason to tel you untruths," Miss Pool soothed, her hand stroking down her spine "Lady Winter does have a soarments and the men at her service Toback the blanket, Alared at her teacher "I saw her face That was not the look of a woleeful y accepts coin to stay away from me She did not look like a conscienceless monster ishes to train me into the life of a courtesan or similar such nonsense as my father has accused"

Miss Pool frowned, her pale blue eyes fil ed with confusion and concern beneath her blond brows "I would not have stopped you fro with her if I had known she was your sister I saw only a young boy running toward you I thought it was a lovelorn swain" She sighed "Perhaps if you had exchanged words, you would not hold these il usions about her strength of character Also, I’ to Lord Welton ise"

"Thank you for saying nothing to ht up her teacher’s hand and squeezed The coach been with her fro, they had a tendré for her, and while they stopped short of all owing her to leave, they did their best to roomsman Colin, the object of her affection, who spent all of his tied h to refuse"

"No hare from him I am here in Lincolnshire with you" Deep in her heart, Aly that if her father learned of Maria’s actions, everything in her life would change She doubted it would be for the better

"I read the papers, A is not one that would be conducive to your instruction in ladylike pursuits Even if everything else your father said was…eree that the chances of her being a suitable influence are very small "

"Do not insult Maria, Miss Pool," Ah to cast aspersions upon her character"

Ae ruffian who had crushed Maria to the ground and then pierced her with a knife Tears hung on her lower lashes and then fel to water the flowers that decorated her own "Dear God, I hope she is Well"

All this ti her fro she knew for certain was that her sister’s voice had carried a note of desperation and longing that would be in

Miss Pool pulled her closer and offered a shoulder to cry on, which Arateful y accepted She knew Miss Pool would not be with her for long

Her father changed her governesses every ti in her life was perarden pathways Not this lovely room with its floral décor in her favorite shade of pink

Then her thoughts paused

Siblings were permanent

For the first time in years, she realized that she was not an orphan There was so to die for her

Maria had risked life and limb in an attempt to speak with her What a drastic difference that was froh third parties

Suddenly, she felt as if so for had final y coh she did not understand why She would have to explore it, come to terms with it, then decide how she would act upon it After years of days that blended one into another with nothing new to offer, a mystery had been revealed, one that offered the hope to end her loneliness

The tears that fel next were tinged with relief

Maria stared up at the canopy above her bed and attempted to find the fortitude within her to bear the pain ofShe needed to see to Si care of himself, but she also kneould be worried about her and she could not all ow him to fret unnecessarily

She was about to slip out of bed when the door froain, her breath caught at the sight of him He was beyond uncommon handsome, yes, but it was the absolute confidence hich he carried himself that she found most attractive Sied differently Where Sihter and becaerous

"Move and I will turn you over my knee," Christopher rasped

A smile hovered, but she held it back The fierce pirate was so It balanced out his otherwise overbearing and curt deportment She could tel she set hi that she was able to penetrate beneath his skin

"I h the space, then he stalked to the adjoining door Opening it, he said loudly, "Lady Winter is Well Do you understand this, Quinn?"

Grunts and incensed mumbles accompanied Christopher’s stateantly, "Do you feel better now?"

"Si as the expansion of her lungs caused her shoulder to burn

Violent thuainst the floor was her reply