Bride School: Mary (The Brides of Diamond Springs Ranch 4) Read Free Page A

it.
    Noting the look on Mary’s face, Alexandra nodded
with a smile. “That’s better. Now, Alexandra , you get out there in that
carriage and keep your back to Fontaine as much as possible.” She moved to the
wall behind the door and gave Mary a wink. “Don’t forget to be home before
midnight, my dear, or you’ll turn into a pumpkin.”
    Mary didn’t stop to point out that it was the
carriage that was supposed to turn back into a pumpkin, not Cinderella.

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    No one spoke, no one mentioned the weather as they
paraded from the shelter of the gabled porch of Stoddard House to the large,
enclosed coaches. Boards had been placed over the wet ground to protect fancy
shoes. Braziers loaded with hot coals had been suspended beneath the coach
boxes to warm the floors. Large buffalo furs were spread across their laps
after three brides filled each seat—there was barely enough room left for air
to breathe. But no one would freeze if there was trouble on the road. And
either team of six would be able to pull the vehicles out of muddy ruts if
necessary.
    A little snow storm wasn’t going to keep Fontaine
from fulfilling her duties.
    Mary rode in the second carriage where Minnie, the
driver, and Elsa sat up top. While the box bounced and squeaked down the road,
Alice and two other brides prattled on about the Christmas traditions observed
in their hometowns. Mary, Milly Adair, and Hortense chose to ride in silence.
It finally dawned on Mary that all the brides were as nervous as she was, even
though none of them were breaking any rules. The chatty ones only proved
chattier as time wore on and they got closer to town. However, when the
carriage made the right turn that would take them into Sage River, all speaking
ceased. Alice didn’t even bother finishing her sentence.
    A handful of people on both sides of the streets
paused to wave as they passed. It seemed to remove the strange pall that had
settled over them.
    Mary laughed, relieved. “I’m not on my way to a
funeral, so I suppose I should stop activing as if I am.”
    “Not unless you’re caught,” Hortense said lightly.
    “It was our choice too.” Alice started rolling the
buffalo blanket off her lap. “If Fontaine catches you, Alexandra , we’ll
explain to both her and Mrs. Carnegie that we stand by you.”
    Mary smiled. “I’m sure you would. But it’s more
likely you’ll be married and gone from Diamond Springs before Mrs. Carnegie
returns.”
    “No reason to fret.” Milly Adair leaned across
Hortense to pat Mary’s knee. “You won’t be caught. Fontaine is far too busy
protecting usto actually watch us. And last week she didn’t come
inside for so much as a drink of punch.”
    The carriage finally rolled to a stop and if
anything else was said, Mary couldn’t have heard it for the pounding in her
ears.
    Unfortunately, Fontaine was the one who opened the
door.
    Mary faced forward and prayed the pink lace over
the side of her face would keep Fontaine from recognizing her. Alice suddenly
stood and blew out the flame of the small lantern above Mary’s head. Fontaine
blinked into the shadows and her searching gaze stopped on Milly.
    “Miss Adair, we’ve had to call on Pretty-face
again to keep the numbers even. Since you were here last week, I’ll leave it to
you to explain to the others before you all go inside.
    Milly put a hand out to stop Fontaine from walking
away. “Pretty-face?”
    Fontaine snorted. “John Hermann. The pretty one
from last week.”
    “I see.” Milly sounded both pleased and excited by
the news. Fontaine rolled her eyes and disappeared.
    Hortense let loose a delighted squeal. “I’d call that providential.”
    Milly nodded, then both of them turned toward
Mary.
    “What is it?” Her heart had been racing long
before Fontaine opened the carriage door, and she had been so nervous she
hadn’t been able to understand the conversation. She was simply delighted Mrs.
Carnegie’s watchdog hadn’t felt the