Simon's Brides by Allison Knight Read Free Book Online

mind, for she put a restraining hand on Amy’s arm. “Not now,” she whispered.
     
    Behind Betty and Nellie, Margaret and Lilah bustled into the room. Much to Amy’s surprise, Margaret took charge. Suspicion flooded Amy’s thoughts. Simon--again?
     
    Amy watched as water was drawn and placed over the fire to heat. Buckets appeared from their hiding places, soap was scraped and brushes wetted. As the women worked, they talked about happenings in the village.
     
    Amy didn’t want to listen to any of it. After all, she and her sisters had been the subject of the villagers’ gossip too often. She didn’t want to hear anything else about the Hargrove women today. Instead, she gathered her sisters into the dining room.
     
    “We’ll clean this room,” she announced.
     
    She divided tasks between them, knowing it would take lots of work to restore the room to some semblance of cleanliness, but they could do it.
     
    As Beth spread lemon oil on the big table, Amy breathed in the sweet smell and memories of more pleasant times drifted through her mind. She sighed, and grabbed one of the brooms Ellie had found.
     
    “Let’s finish soon so we can leave for the cottage,” Amy said.
     
    “But, I thought Simon, er, Baron, er, my Lord said we had to stay here,” Beth mentioned.
     
    Amy leaned on her broom.
     
    “We don’t have to obey his every command, now do we? We need to go back to the cottage. We can’t stay here, not with all these men and no chaperone. Our reputations have suffered enough.”
     
    “Perhaps,” Caro entered the conversation, “we should just go along with Simon today and wait until tomorrow to go to the cottage.”
     
    “Maybe one of the women could stay. Mistress Foley would be a more than adequate chaperone.” Ellie stopped dusting the curtains then chuckled at her suggestion.
     
    A deep voice from the doorway interrupted.
     
    “The matter has been addressed.”
     
    That voice! An indefinable feeling washed over Amy. She tried to ignore the sensation. When it wouldn’t go away, she looked for an excuse for it. Apprehension, she decided. That had to be what it was.
     
    Simon walked into the dining room. He reached out and touched Amy’s arm. Immediately, scorching heat shot from the spot he touched to her toes. Dear Heavens! What was this man doing to her?
     
    He looked just as startled. Had he felt it , too, Amy wondered. For a moment they stared at each other, then clearing his voice, he glanced away and removed his hand. He looked at the others and she took a quick breath. The man was impossible. Now, given the chance, she ordered her swirling emotions to calm.
     
    “I’ve already sent for my Aunt Agatha,” Simon explained. “She should be arriving sometime this afternoon. I’m sure you will all agree that my father’s oldest sister will make an adequate chaperone.”
     
    Amy glared at him. He had done it yet again. He had just removed her primary argument for returning to the cottage. And, he looked arrogant and unaffected by the sensations he had wrought only moments ago. He also looked more than pleased with himself. She wanted to scream at him, or swing the broom.
     
    She closed her eyes in frustration, then took a deep breath. Sandalwood. Simon! Her eyelids flew open. She sighed. She needed to get away from him. The cottage was the answer. But how? There was the possibility that his aunt mightn’t arrive today. Then she remembered. There was the matter of their clothing.
     
    “My Lord,” she said, pleased her voice didn’t reflect her frustration. “We cannot stay here without our things. We have no clothing in this house. Everything we own is in that cottage. If we clean this filth, we’ll need a change of clothing. Therefore, we must return to the cottage--today.”
     
    “I’ve said you would be sleeping here this evening.” His voice deepened, and Amy heard the sharp ring of command.
     
    He continued, “All of you are now my responsibility. I