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She was a brave little thing, and everything about her was so very intriguing

“What hasat his bottom lip

Felicia said, “I think it is, in part, my fault I am not biddable, you see, and when he first wrote toand wished only to be left to my own devices He said he would come for me I told him that under no circumstances would I leave my home We went back ’n’forth, you see, on this point, and when I did not hear forht it was a concluded issue”

“And norote that he was coain Ashton frowned over the problem “Why now?”

“Scott and I believe that he must have an errant son … who has incurred insurmountable debts, and he decided he would secure hi me off to him I am not quite an heiress, but I do have a very nice incoe when I turn one and twenty No doubt the laould allow a husband to take charge of that” She h I would marry anyone like that”

There was a lie so more truth than prevarication He could not help but believe this part of her story She was probably correct in her belief that her guardian was after her fortune for a son … or a nephew At any rate, she believed it to be true; that was a certainty

“Felicia, he cannot force you to the altar,” he offered her

“Oh, but, Mr Ashton, he could do so I a melodramatic when I say that a woot hold of me, he could … hire a despicable person to marry me to his awful son, couldn’t he? He wrote that he means to take me to … well, Scott says it is a heathenish place, and I would have no one the

re to aid ht”

Ashton was puzzled She seeenuinely distressed, and yet, ould her parents have appointed such a uardian?

“Felicia, what you are suggesting is infamous It would take a certain kind of man to plan and execute such a dastardly deed Why, then, would either of your parents appoint such a man to look after your funds and estate and you?”

“I have given this a great deal of thought, and this is what I think,” she answered iain to hi the truth “They knew hio He went to school with my father, you see, and my mama was impressed with him, but they lost touch They probably wrote the hen they were younger and forgot … and he changed over the years That is what I think”

This ed Life did have a habit of intruding and es in a person’s ways Well, one last question “Who is this guardian of yours?”

“Ah, ah … I don’t know if I should say,” she answered, and this tiaze

He said encouragingly, gently, “Tell me, Felicia, so that I may help you in this matter”