The Good Sister: Part Two by London Saint James Read Free Book Online

stomach flip over in double time with panic. It’s too much money, Ashton. Do you realize the cost of my wedding ring is more money than my mother makes in a year’s worth of salary? I don’t need such things, nor do I deserve them. I’m use to eating macaroni and cheese. Worrying how my mother will pay the rent.”
    “Shh…” he soothed, rubbing my cheek with his thumb before running the pad of his thumb over the swell of my bottom lip. “Trinity, my love. You never need to agonize over money again.  I will always take care of you, and I will take care of your family. It is true, money I have, but it means nothing without you, without your happiness. You deserve so much more than I can ever give. I never wish to hear you say you deserve nothing. You are my wife, and you shall never want for anything.”
    “But—”
    Ashton cut me off with a kiss.
    When the kiss ended Ashton smiled, moved to bend down upon his knee, taking my hand in his. He pulled off my ring of Venus and placed it upon my right ring finger before he placed my wedding ring onto the third finger of my left hand.
    “Trinity,” he said. His eyes were scorching a brilliant silver-blue. “I love you with all that I am. Will you marry me?”
    “I can’t,” I said. “I’m afraid you are too late. I’m already married.”
    Ashton guffawed, tapping the tip of my nose.
    “Will you marry me again?”
    “I would marry you a hundred times over, my lord.”
    Ashton kissed me then sat down beside me.
    “I will hold on to the wedding band until we have our formal wedding. So for now, as far as everyone else is concerned, you are my fiancée.”
    “Ashton, what do you think your parents are going to say?”
    “My mother will cry, hug you until you never wish to be hugged again, then immediately start plans for a formal engagement party along with the long line of boring events to show you off.  You need to prepare yourself. My mother will present you to society like a shining gift.”
    Ashton sighed.
    “What?”
    “My father, on the other hand,” Ashton said with a stern look upon his face. “Who knows?”
    “Who knows?”
    “He is very….” Ashton seemed to be considering, rubbing his thumb up the middle of his chin. “I believe you would call him stuffy.”
    “Oh.”
    “How do you wish to inform your mother?” Ashton asked. 
    I became stone still.
    “My dove, are you all right? We are not feeling another panic attack looming, are we?”
    I shook my head no.
    “Then what is going on?”
    “I really have no idea what to do about my mother. As far as she is concerned, I’m still in California with my Aunt Jane. It’s not like I can call her up and say, ‘oh, hey mom. I lied to you.  I’m not really with Aunt Jane. I sort of followed Reid to France in hope I could make him love me. Oh yeah, and I also found a house of ill repute and moved in. But that’s not all, mom. I also met an Earl, fell hopelessly in love, and married him. So surprise! I’m no longer Trinity Winslow, I’m now Lady Archer.’”
    Ashton laughed. “So this news would be shocking,” he agreed. “We shall think upon the best approach for your mother, but for now we shall focus our efforts on meeting my family and announcing our engagement.”
    The ride back to the chateau was brief, only because I curled up on Ashton and fell asleep. I was surprised when he woke me with the news we had arrived, nonetheless happy to feel his lips pressed firmly upon mine. When the kiss became a little more heated, and I sucked his tongue into my mouth, our exit from the car waited.
    “Ashton, we should get out of the car because if we continue I may do naughty things.”
    Ashton guffawed. “Yes, I am in agreement, my dove. And by the by, you need to button your shirt.”
    “And you need to zip your pants.”
    Clothes straightened, breath regained, and thoughts cleared, we left the confines of the car. When we walked through the door of the chateau, everyone came to meet