A Fateful Wind by Suzette Stone Read Free Book Online Page A

anxious to hear her response.
    Fiddling with the cuff on her sleeve, she willed herself to appear ecstatic and proud of Trystan and his achievements, but she saw through the thin veil of what his premature promotion entailed. She brought her gaze up to meet his, trying in earnest to blink back the tears that were already starting to sting. The frightened tears, tears of hopelessness over how her life from henceforth would be beholden to that dreaded rascal of an employer. Lord Edwin might have thought himself clever with his well-timed promotion of her betrothed, coinciding with Sir Jack’s demands for his American Mine workers, but she could see right through his sly and conniving praise of Trystan. No man was ever promoted to junior mine boss at such a young age. Lord Edwin wanted Trystan here because of her. How foolish of her to hope this would all go away. It was apparent that Lord Edwin had no intention of letting his lust for her dissipate. The feeling of dread in her heart deepened as she realized that until she had a child and could leave employment, her safety in Penrose Manor House would be severely questioned.
    “Jenna, aren’t you proud of me?” Trystan's voice began to sound angry and hurt.
    “Yes, Trystan.” She lied. “Of course, I am. I am so proud of you! I just felt so overcome.” She moved her hand up and stroked his face, the creases of his smile now dimpling his ruddy cheeks. “I just can’t wait to marry you and bear your children.”

Chapter Six
    The late afternoon sun enlivened Sir Jack during his tedious carriage ride home from the market town of Launceston. The excursion proved most interesting for he and his cousin, Lord Edwin. But the ever growing monotonous tones of the Penrose family accountant had, over the hours, caused his eyes to glaze over, his mind beginning to daydream. Several times, he glanced over at his cousin who was desperately trying to stifle his yawns and will his eyes to remain open. However, the meetings were a necessity and gave both men a chance to arrange the details and the finances needed for their American mine formation. Jack felt satisfied with the day's meeting. With the finances more or less agreed upon, the next step would be to find workers willing to emigrate.
    Now seated in the plush velvet coach, he gazed over at his portly cousin who sat snoring, his head bobbing up and down as the coach meandered its way through the small and winding country lanes. As they approached the tiny village of Upton Cross, which lay at the edge of the moors, Jack opened the window and bade the driver to stop.
    “I think I will walk from here. My legs and mind could do with some exercise!” He hopped down from the carriage, stretching his long legs and breathing in the clear moorland air. His mind felt tired from being kept in the stuffy office of their accountant and his throat was parched from traveling.
    Perhaps a tipple at the Caradon Inn, he thought as he approached the small country pub. It seemed typical for the area with a sloping thatched roof, floral hanging baskets adorning the low front door and rooms above for weary travelers wishing to rest for the night. As he made his way toward the entrance, the smell of stale ale and tobacco wafted out, bringing back memories of his days as a young teenager when he thought holding a tankard of beer to be the epitome of adulthood. He could hear the noise of the drinkers within, miners he supposed, busy drinking their paltry wages away.
    As he approached the bar it felt as though he were stepping back in time. He may have been gone for five years, but entering that bar made him feel fifteen again, learning all he could about life from the patrons. None of it had really been of any use except for something an old farmer told him as he sat nursing a tall pint of cider.
    Ale and women , he noted wisely, his voice gruff with age, can be the downfall of any man. Best to dapple in moderation and not allow either to become a