A Wedding Wager by Jane Feather Read Free Book Online Page A

acquaintances in common, except for herself, of course, but that was irrelevant. She was waiting for a suitable break in the chatter to inquire, but Abigail was in full flood about the miserable Channel crossing and the kindness of a young man, “a most respectable young man, Lady Serena, one of the Wedgwood family, would you believe? They live so close to us in the country, but we had never met before. He was kind enough to lend me his boat cloak, it was so cold on deck, but I couldn’t stay in the cabin, it made me so wretchedly ill. Were you ill on your crossing?”
    “No, I’m never seasick,” Serena told her, her tone unintentionally dismissive. She saw Abigail’s face fall and was instantly remorseful. “I am fortunate, you know. Some people don’t suffer at all, but few people are so lucky.”
    She was reminded suddenly of an afternoon on Loch Morar, near the Highland home where she had been born and spent her childhood until her father’s death. She and Sebastian were in a small boat in the middle of the loch when the wind rose abruptly, as it often did in those parts, and a black squall raced across the previously smooth green waters. Sebastian had sailed the lakes of Cumbria all his life and had seemed unperturbed by the violence of the brief storm. He had handled the little boat with a competence that awed her, instructing her where to move, what to do, in a voice as calm as the waters had been a few minutes earlier. But when he had managed to steer under minimal sail to the shores of one of the islands in the loch, he had knelt on the rocky strand and vomited, cursing vigorously throughout at the weakness of a stomach that could not withstand a boat’s violent pitching.
    Serena had been drenched but laughing, full of exhilaration at the danger now past, and Sebastian’s sickness had astounded her. She liked to think she had hidden her surprise and her slight sense of superiority, but Sebastian had clearly resented her immunity, and it had taken until the evening for him to recover his equanimity.In other circumstances, the memory would have made her smile … the memory of the night they had spent later could still fill her with—
    Enough. “But tell me how you came to know the Honorable Sebastian Sullivan, Abigail.” She turned the subject as she smiled her refusal of a glass of ratafia, repressing a shudder. The sticky sweetness of the drink would make her sick where the roughest seas could not. “No, thank you, ma’am.”
    “Oh … well, it’s a little awkward.” Abigail glanced uncomfortably at her mother. Could Lady Serena be trusted with the truth of her indiscretion?
    “Abigail’s maid disappeared for a moment when they were shopping this morning.” Mrs. Sutton stepped in smoothly with what would now be the accepted version. “They were shopping, and something in a window caught the eye of the wretched creature, and she disappeared, leaving my poor child alone. An unpleasant encounter with some gentleman ensued, and Mr. Sullivan was good enough to step in and protect Abigail. He brought her home safe and sound. We are most grateful to him. Aren’t we, my dear?” She smiled and tapped her daughter’s hand with her closed fan. “Such a silly child.”
    Abigail bridled at this demeaning comment, but common sense told her to run with the fabrication. “I believe it was more Matty’s fault than mine, Mama.”
    “Well, maybe so, but fortunately, no harm was done. May I offer you coffee, Lady Serena?”
    “Thank you, but I mustn’t stay, ma’am.” Serena rose. “I have another engagement this afternoon. But I wished to call upon you as soon as we arrived in town to see how you’re going on. Such a pretty house … you’re most fortunate to have secured such a residence before the Season begins in good earnest. Abigail, perhaps you will ride with me one morning?”
    “Oh, but I don’t have a pony in town.” Abigail looked at her mother.
    “Mr. Sutton is still setting up his