Perfectly Matched (The Blue Willow Brides Book #3): A Novel by Maggie Brendan Read Free Book Online Page A

answered, but a noise from the bushes near the window caught his attention and he moved toward it. As Chris held the light up above his shoulder so they could see, Edward nearly swore under his breath.
    Sprawled across the lilac bush, her skirts and petticoatsa jumble, exposing stocking-clad legs, was his wife! He had to swallow the sudden surge of desire as he stared at her undergarments, and wished Chris hadn’t followed him. Anna scrunched up her pretty face, blowing lilac leaves away from her upper lip, then pushed the strands of silky locks away from her eyes, all the while struggling to free the twigs stuck to her knitted shawl.
    “Anna, what are you doing here?” Edward croaked out. He put the poker down and set his hands on his hips. How could it be that his wife was straddling a lilac bush like it was a horse in a riding event? He hurried to her side and helped pull the twigs from her shawl, and she reached up to take his hands. He righted her on her feet, and she hurriedly smoothed her petticoats down, then brushed the leaves from her shawl. She rubbed her backside, looking embarrassed. Well, she should be , he thought.
    “Anna, what were you doing beneath the window? You just made a laughingstock of yourself—and me!” What would all his friends think? He heard the voices of the others crowding into the yard behind him and was embarrassed by this ridiculous discovery of his wife instead of a burglar. What had she been thinking, spying on them? Or was she spying on him ?
    Anna moaned softly, rubbing her arm, then squared her shoulders and lifted her chin defiantly. “I was curious about your book meeting and decided to see for myself what it was about.”
    “Well, now you know,” he said with a clenched jaw. “And it’s not a book meeting—it’s a literary circle.” He took her by the arm, intending to guide her to the gate, but Callie stepped up.
    “Anna, won’t you please come in and refresh yourself? Our meeting is nearly over,” she said.
    Edward admired how Callie pretended that seeing a lady snooping in her yard was nothing out of the ordinary. Now she was a perfect lady.
    Pearl stood near Callie and nodded her head. “We have plenty of refreshments.”
    “Thank you, Callie, but no. I truly didn’t mean to interrupt. I need to get back home and let you all finish your meeting. I need to be looking over my list of chores anyway, right, Edward?”
    “I’ll come with you,” Edward said.
    Anna plucked a twig from her hair and patted the blonde strands back in place. “No, Edward, you’ll do no such thing. Finish your meeting and I’ll see you back at home.” Anna turned to the small group on the lawn. “Good night.”
    Edward watched his wife, looking small and lonely, march down the sidewalk and flip the gate latch, her narrow shoulders back and head held high with what was probably false dignity. On the backside of her dress, below her shawl, a thick patch of leaves moved to the swaying of her hips.
    Drawing his lips in a tight line to keep from chuckling, he shook his head and sighed, then said what he knew he should. “Anna, please come back and join our group.”

7
    Anna stopped dead in her tracks, whirling around. “Do you mean it?” she asked, her eyes widening in delight.
    “Of course he does.” Callie answered as Edward walked toward her. The other members murmured in agreement.
    “Yes, of course I do.” Edward latched his hand to hers and pulled her down the sidewalk. “You’ll love Callie’s hummingbird cake.”
    “First, come with me, Anna, so you can wash your hands,” the capable Callie said to her, nudging Anna inside.
    She knew Callie was trying to put her at ease. In the homey kitchen, where the spicy smells of baked cake lingered, Callie handed her a clean kitchen towel and soap.
    “Thank you,” Anna quietly murmured as Callie turned on the spigot so she could wash her hands.
    “Anna, I’m really glad that you stopped by,” Callie said.
    “You mean