Undaunted Love (PART ONE): Banished Saga, Book 3 by Ramona Flightner Read Free Book Online

rather depressing room, isn’t it? I should think you’d want lighter colors in a more soothing tone to highlight the afternoon sun.”
    “Who are you, and what do you want?”
    “I was sent to you by Clarissa.” With this the woman turned the full force of her stare on Savannah, looking her up and down, her aquamarine eyes squinting in displeasure at what she saw. “I understand why she was concerned.”
    “You will leave this house at once,” Jonas hissed from the doorway, having been summoned upstairs to Savannah’s sitting room by the butler. “Mrs. Montgomery is not accepting callers at this time. She is recovering from her illness.”
    “Any illness that requires seven months to recover from would be better treated at the hospital, Mr. Montgomery. Or by a competent physician rather than by useless tonics peddled by charlatans. Or is it that you prefer to keep her here, sequestered away from her friends and family, for some other reason?”
    “Mrs. Chickering, I would thank you to leave things well enough alone. This is not your place.”
    “Oh, but it is. Your mother would have wanted you to behave in a more gentlemanly manner. If she could see you now, she would be ashamed of her only son.” A flush highlighted her cheeks, and a fiery gleam of displeasure lit her eyes. Sophronia straightened her shoulders as she faced Jonas.
    “How dare you speak of my mother in such a way?”
    “Didn’t you know I summered with her in Newport? We attended the loveliest parties together. She had such elegance and grace. Knew the importance of decorum, tradition and family. She understood that all members of the family, both male and female, were to be cherished.”
    Jonas glared at Sophronia, and his face reddened. “I think I knew my mother better than you to know that she would never have willingly associated with …”
    “With a firebrand suffragette?” Sophronia smirked. “Didn’t you know she was one of our greatest supporters? Had a lovely luncheonette each summer to support our cause.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “I imagine she didn’t inform you. Always did think you were too stodgy, even for someone so young.” She turned toward Savannah with a dismissive gesture toward Jonas. “Now, Mrs. Montgomery, I was hoping to have a cup of tea and discuss your future.”
    “Mrs. Chickering,” Jonas hissed.
    “And you, Mr. Montgomery, may retire to your library or to wherever it is you spend your afternoons. We will be fine without you.” Her aquamarine eyes appeared more steel-like in their distaste, daring Jonas to contradict her. He inhaled deeply but then turned on his heel, and the sound of a slamming door reverberated up the stairs.
    “How, how …” Savannah stammered, as she stared after Jonas.
    “A bully rarely knows what to do when one stands up to him,” Sophronia said with a small, satisfied smile.
    “Please, I will ring for tea,” Savannah said but was forestalled by Sophronia moving toward the sitting room door and shutting it.
    “I have no need for tea. And my dressmaker will despair if I eat many more tea cakes,” Sophronia said with a long sigh. She sat on a stiff-backed chair and grimaced with distaste. “This is as uncomfortable as it is ugly.”
    “Yes, well, Jonas wanted a distinctive-looking room,” Savannah murmured.
    “Pompous and overbearing in an attempt to proclaim his importance, even in your private sitting room,” Sophronia said censoriously. She studied Savannah, and her expression softened. “Savannah, you look terrible.”
    “I know I’ve never met you. Why should you take an interest in me? How do you know how I normally look?” Savannah shook her head in confusion.
    Sophronia examined her from head to foot, looking increasingly worried. “You are becoming emaciated. Your skin has no luster, and your eyes have no sparkle. If you are anything like my girl Clarissa, you used to sparkle.”
    “Clarissa,” Savannah whispered.
    “Yes, Clarissa. She has