A Forbidden Love Read Free Page A

to say to one another. Ashley, too, had never developed a strong rapport with her baby sister, who was their mother’s pride and joy.
    A rather unexpected pregnancy, Cecilia had entered all their lives when no one believed the countess could have another child, and since that time she had become the shining star of their mother’s world. Both women just loved pomp and ostentatious displays, not to mention being the center of attention, and a grand ball would be the perfect combination of both their lifelong passions.
    The stunning young woman returned her brother’s greeting, and then marched right up to her elder sister, her blond curls bouncing with each sprinted step. “The ballroom is in ruins!”
    “What!?” a startled Ashley entreated.
    Planting her slender arms akimbo, Cecilia compressed her rosy lips and lifted her button nose a notch. Her leaf-green eyes shone with accusation. “I asked you to oversee the arrangements to the ballroom.”
    “But Lady Hawthorn assured me she would tend to all the remaining details.”
    “Well, Lady Hawthorn has made a mess of everything. The floors aren’t sufficiently polished; I can scarce see my face in them. There aren’t nearly enough candles around the room. And do you know, Lady Hawthorn instructed the dark blue curtains to be hung instead of the pale yellow ones? It looks horrid .”
    Ashley rolled her eyes heavenward and sighed. “All right, I’ll go and see what I can do.”
    “Cecilia!” resounded the bellowed name from the corridor.
    “I’m in here, Mama,” Cecilia called back.
    At which point baby Myra belted out a loud wail of protest at all the commotion, and a desperate Ashley was left trying to calm the unsettled child.
    Belinda, countess of Wenhem, scurried into the room. Her shoulders pulled back, her spine rigid, she poised her small, plump figure as though she were a member of the royal family, and demanded, projecting her voice so as to be heard over the crying child’s: “Cecilia, did you call Lady Hawthorn a featherhead?”
    “She ruined the ballroom, Mama,” the young girl defended her choice of insult.
    “That is no excuse for your behavior. Lady Hawthorn is your elder and my best friend. She is in a furious state and is threatening to leave the estate.”
    “Let her.” Cecilia waved her hand to brush away the nuisance of Lady Hawthorn from her mind. “I have more important matters to worry over.”
    “Cecelia, you will march right back into the ballroom and apologize to Lady Hawthorn. You will also explain that your nerves are in a fragile state or the woman will think you daft for your insolence.”
    “I’ll apologize only if Ashley can repair the damage done to the ballroom and make it presentable.”
    A still-bawling Myra left Ashley at a loss for words—and wits. Her husband leapt to his feet and unburdened his wife from the chore of tending to two whining infants by taking the fussing Myra into his arms.
    Yet another botched family reunion, Anthony mused. With his arrival from London, and Ashley’s from Northampton, the Kennington clan was together again on their ancestral estate in the county of Sussex . Such gatherings were growing more and more scarce. Once Ashley had married and he had set up residence in London, the encounters with their parents and Cecilia had been reduced to a yearly call at Christmas and a few dinner engagements during the London season. This break in their normal family routine had proven to be far more disruptive than any of them had initially imagined.
    The clamoring voices jostled Anthony from his mind’s retreat. His mother continued to pursue the impropriety of Cecilia’s behavior, Cecilia continued to berate Ashley, Myra’s cries only escalated in volume, and Edith finally clamped her tiny hands to the sides of her head to drown out all the racket.
    Sensing the rhythmic thumping at his temples, Anthony furtively backed out of the room and made a dash for his life.
    Chapter 2
    A nthony stood