Ascent of the Unwanted (The Chronicle of Unfortunate Heroes Book 1) Read Free Page B

rocks. She smiled while she cleaned the mess. The boy was only nine years this past winter and the conversion of female undergarment to weighing scale was a simple task. He at least chose her most bedraggled corsets but her father would still be in a rage.
    Miranda straitened her room and sat on her bed looking at her dress. What a fool she had made of herself in front of Gordon.
    The man’s action with the sword gave her doubt, but his manner was playful. He certainly was generous, and his men obeyed him. She knew he did not mean to hurt him.
    Gordon. What a wonderful name. It flowed off the tongue and warmed her. The way his hazel eyes looked at her with the mysterious twinkle. The way he compared her to the beautiful blooms in the hills, and the way his lips felt when he kissed her hand. The thought made her flush again. The strength in his hands belied the care and delicate manner with which he held hers. The skill in his fingers to slip the item into her sleeve, showing his strength had not lessened his dexterity.
    What had he placed in her sleeve? The item was small and she no longer felt it against her skin. She shoved her fingers into the sleeve trying to rake it out. She could not find it. Could it have fallen out when she ran to the house?
    Wait, there it was. It was flat, her fingers passing right over it. It must be a note. Giddy with excitement, she took it out of her sleeve and opened the small folded square of paper, the paper torn from the note of debt given to her father. She devoured the man words.
    “ My beautiful mountain bloom, I would enjoy meeting your company in a more personal manner. I hunt often in the hills next to your father’s home. Three hills to the south of here I have a hunting lodge. Meet me there tomorrow. ~Gordon ”
    Miranda closed the letter and held it to her breast. She had done it despite the fool she had made of herself. She stood stricken. What was she going to wear? 
    .

Chapter 2
Sorrow
     
    Three of the most glorious weeks Miranda could remember passed. She met with Gordon in secret on most days and a surging romance blossomed in her heart. Leaving his sight when the afternoon’s rays began to fade into evening pained her. She counted the hours at home so she could sleep and wake to a new day with him.
    She finished her chores quickly and headed into the hills with an empty basket looking for berries. Waiting in his lodge for her, Gordon always had a full basket of berries brought from the village market.
    Miranda fretted about what to wear for these meetings, but no longer did. She ran out of her finest clothes. Walking through the hills with her belly corseted was so exhausting that she looked a fright by the time she had reached Gordon. Most days she settled with wearing her ordinary skirts and blouses. Gordon knew she was no court lady.
    Despite how well things had been going something made her nervous. The man became persistent. In the beginning the kisses were innocent. At first her hands were the only place that received any kind of attention. The affection then moved to her cheeks then to her mouth. As the days passed the kisses grew deeper and more passionate. He shocked her when his hands tried to fondle her breast. At first she protested claiming womanly innocence and he acquiesced. A short time later during another bout of passion his hand squeezed against her breast and she did not protest.
    Not long after she looked forward to feeling his hands running freely along her blouse. She was the one who undid her top the first time so he could see her breasts free in the sunlight. She also instigated most of the passion between them now but she always stopped short of committing fully. She wanted to retain her decency but it was getting harder to resist his urgings. It seemed every day they delved further into the forbidden.
    Today she ran down the stairs grabbing the empty basket on her way out the door with one thought. That man had not announced his intentions to