Dare to Love by Alleigh Burrows Read Free Book Online Page B

cheeks. While Nicholas had a slender frame at the moment, he was sure to descend into stoutness in time, like his father.
    “This scoundrel is Adair Landis, one of my oldest friends. Since you have no daughters, Sir Beecham, I can refrain from my usual warning, although I’d still suggest you keep a fair distance between him and Lady Beecham.”
    William chuckled, while Dare inclined his head in silent acknowledgement. No point in arguing with the truth. Married women were often his most enthusiastic conquests.
    “You’ll be joining us tomorrow for the hunt, won’t you, Landis?” William inquired.
    “Naturally. I wouldn’t miss it.”
    “Be careful out there,” warned Sir Beecham. “You’ll want to keep an eye out for poachers this year.”
    “Poachers? How strange,” said William. “It’s been a good season this year. No need for poaching when the weather’s good.”
    “Still, we’ve heard some shots at odd times. Found a few winged birds that weren’t properly taken.”
    “Last time we had poachers was during the drought of 1811. Remember how bad things got? The lake damn near dried up.”
    “Good God, yes,” Dare exclaimed. “The stench was horrendous. Half-dead fish flopping around in the muck. Smelled like a London wharf.”
    “We had to send our horses to Franklinshire to graze. Nothing here but stubble.” William sighed. “Couldn’t ride for almost a month.” Turning to his left, he said, “Not a bad summer for you though, eh, Godwin? Weather was much nicer in Scotland, from what I heard. Very fruitful.”
    Thomas nodded before turning to shoot a smile in his wife’s direction. “It was a very nice summer indeed.”
    “I sense there’s a story here,” said Nicholas.
    “Yes, that was the summer Thomas went up to his estate in Scotland with his sister, thereby depriving me of her treasured company for almost two months,” Joseph moaned.
    Thomas rolled his eyes. “You survived quite well, and her absence probably helped your suit more than your constant presence.”
    “Yes, well, regardless of that fact,” William continued, “Thomas took his sister Briar and her two friends, Abby and Constance, to Scotland. After their lives were threatened by a disreputable land agent, he acted the hero, saved Abby’s life, and managed to make her fall in love with him.”
    “What I don’t understand is why she continues to feel that way, now that you’re back home. I thought surely she’d come to her senses,” Dare said.
    “Now don’t be such a humbug, Landis. Just because you weren’t able to pull off the same trick with her sister, don’t begrudge Thomas his happiness,” William retorted.
    Dare flashed his friend a look that would terrify most people, but William took no notice.
    Abby chose that moment to join them.
    “Good evening, sirs. I had the strangest feeling I was the subject of your conversation and wanted to know if the sentiments were good or bad.”
    Thomas laid a gentle hand on her waist. “Always good, my dear. We were discussing our first trip to Scotland.”
    “Oh yes, what an adventure. We thought we were being very discreet, trying to refrain from a courtship to protect our sisters’ sensibilities, and all the while Constance and Briar were plotting to throw us together.”
    “Where is your sister, Abby? Surely, Constance will be joining us for the wedding,” Joseph asked.
    “No, I’m afraid not. She has found she is with child again. She had a bit of a difficult time with Emmy, and Jonathan urged her to stay home to rest.”
    Dare was unable to prevent a flare of disgust at the thought. “Breeding more peasants, I see.”
    Thomas took a menacing step toward him. “I’ll thank you to remember that is my sister-in-law you are referring to. Don’t think for a moment the fact we are friends would prevent me from running you through.” At that, he rested his hand on the sword that he wore, a holdover from his days as a soldier.
    Unperturbed, Dare returned