Straw in the Wind by Janet Woods Read Free Book Online Page A

humour. Do I look presentable, Charlotte?’
    â€˜When do you look anything less than perfect? I should hate you for that reason alone . . . not to mention all the other qualities you have.’
    Indeed, Marianne looked exquisite in a dark-blue brocade gown with a lace collar. Her lace cap had blue ribbons. Blue ribbons and flowers decorated her hair, which was drawn into a bun. Dark, slender ringlets coiled down her jaw line to her collar and her eyes were a sparkling blue. No wonder Adam admired her and Nick adored her. She had a happy nature that attracted people.
    Marianne skirted the back of the crowd, bestowing smiles on those who sought to catch her eye. She joined her husband from behind, whispering something in his ear before slipping her hand into his. His frown disappeared like magic when Marianne smiled at him, and he raised her hand to his lips then held her gaze for an intimate moment, looking as though he wanted to devour her.
    Charlotte turned Celia’s way, and murmured, ‘Take a lesson from my sister if you marry a difficult man . . . feed him honey.’
    â€˜Is Mr Thornton difficult then?’
    â€˜Not since he married Marianne,’ Charlotte said with a smile. ‘Do you have a gentleman in your life, Celia?’
    â€˜Nobody has ever showed the slightest interest in me so far, since I have no looks to speak of, or fortune. I doubt if I’ll ever marry.’
    Charlotte gave her a frank look. ‘I don’t see why not. Daisy Phipps has recently married and she must be nearly twice your age. Also, she resembles a plucked chicken and you don’t.’
    Celia’s quick burst of laughter at Charlotte’s outrageous statement attracted Adam’s attention, and he grinned at them both.
    The sisters were lucky in their marriages, Celia thought, but she was lucky in having Adam for a brother.
    The crowd parted to let someone through.
    Charlotte’s breath hissed through her teeth when a man patted Nick Thornton’s shoulder and kissed Marianne’s cheek.
    Curiosity prompted Celia to ask, ‘Someone you know?’
    â€˜Nick’s uncle. Captain Erasmus Thornton.’
    It would have been rude to ask a reason for the animosity in evidence, but Charlotte furnished her with one anyway. ‘We don’t get on. If I don’t tell you why, I imagine someone else will, but I warn you, it’s a sore point with me. Marianne seems to live comfortably with it though. However, she’s a nicer person than I’ll ever be. Years ago Erasmus fell in love with my mother. She died giving birth to his child.’
    Celia didn’t allow her shock to show. ‘Oh . . . I’m so sorry. That must have been hard for you and Marianne . . . and the infant, of course.’
    â€˜The child died too.’ Astute eyes came her way. ‘I’m surprised Adam hasn’t told you.’
    â€˜He discusses his cases with me sometimes and asks for my opinion, but he rarely makes comment on the lives of those concerned.’
    Charlotte quickly changed the subject. ‘Oh, look, here comes the mayor . . . let’s go and join the men before the speeches start. I just hope they’re not too pompous and long-winded.’
    Erasmus Thornton was hoping the same. He’d come straight from his ship,
Daisy Jane
, and had left his first mate in charge of unloading the cargo.
    Despite his previous opposition to Nick opening a shop, however grand, Erasmus was proud that his nephew had stuck to his plan and had achieved what he had. Nick had the right wife behind him too. Marianne was a little restless sometimes. Like her mother before her, she resembled a little wild pony.
    Nick understood that she needed to be kept occupied. He was teaching her to sail the small sloop he’d bought, and when she sat at the window with her face turned towards the heath and she wore a wistful expression, Nick understood that, too, and he’d take her there where she