Never Wager Against Love (Kellington Book Three) Read Free Page A

Arthur.  “Thanks to Sofia and Michun.”
    “What happened?” asked Liam. 
    Arthur glanced at a curious Lizzie, then back at his
brother.  “Some of the boys from the village – Miles and Morris and a few
others – were, uh, harassing Sofia.  We were able to scare them off, although
it was mostly the men from the tribe.”
    “I should’ve blacked both of Miles’s eyes when I had the
chance,” said Ned.  “Still not too late, I reckon.”
    “Thank you for the thought,” said Sofia, “but we hope to
depart before too long and with as little attention as possible.”
    “I am the magistrate here,” said Liam, asserting himself as
Lynwood.  “I can prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”
    “Thank you, your grace,” said Sofia.  “But the law isn’t
always an impartial force, regardless of your excellent intentions.”
    Liam considered the matter, then nodded. 
    “Did they hurt you?” Lizzie asked Sofia. 
    Arthur looked at his sister, who was a skinny little girl in
braids, holding a doll that was almost as big as she was.  She’d rarely let go
of it since their parents’ death.  And now she was asking about an issue no little
girl should ever have to think about.
    Sofia smiled at the girl, then smoothed one of her braids. 
“Your brother was very brave and took care of me.”
    Lizzie looked at Sofia, but made no response.   
    Michun watched the young duke appraisingly.  “You are much
like your father.  Please accept our sincerest sympathy at his passing.”
    Liam gave the barest of nods.  Ned looked off into the
horizon.  Hal put his arm around Lizzie, as she leaned into him.  As always, Arthur
felt his parents’ loss profoundly, but his thoughts were on the future.
     Michun continued.  “The road beckons and it is time for us
to go.”
    Sofia kissed Arthur’s cheek, then he and his brothers and
sister turned to walk back to Lynwood Manor.  Arthur was suddenly anxious to
leave the encampment, to go home and try to put his troubling future behind him. 
It was best to get his mind off it.  Perhaps a hand of cards when he returned. 
That would occupy his thoughts.
    Suddenly Lizzie turned and ran back to Sofia.  She held up
the doll that meant so much to her. 
    “Here!” said Lizzie as she thrust the doll into Sofia’s hands. 
 “I don’t want you to be sad.”   Lizzie looked at the doll one last time,
perhaps considering whether to snatch it back again.  Then she ran to her
brothers and took Arthur’s hand.
    Bravery , thought Arthur, took many different forms .

CHAPTER ONE
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Kent, September 1822
    Vanessa Gans, most recently known as Tara Rennard, had
learned many lessons in the day and a half she’d spent on the road since
leaving the Riverton house party.  She’d discovered that autumn came early in
the Kentish countryside, making her wish she’d packed warmer clothes before
leaving the house in the pre-dawn hours.  Not that she would’ve had much room
to carry them.  All she had were her saddlebags, and they were already well
stocked with pistols, knives and various other weapons.  Given the lack of
space, it was a good thing she’d chosen to dress like a lad.  She couldn’t have
fit even one of her petticoats into the bag without leaving a pistol behind.  And
given her current pursuit, she’d much rather have the weapons.
    But the biggest lesson she’d learned was if you must steal a
horse, and she’d really had very little choice in the matter, it was better to
choose one that was lazy but obedient, rather than one that never tired but
only rarely heeded its master.  Or mistress in this case.  Vanessa was hardly
surprised by the stubborn nature of the beast, given the intractable,
irritating and grudgingly irresistible traits of its owner, Lord Arthur
Kellington.
    Vanessa was an agent for the Home Office.  Recruited at the
age of twenty, she’d spent the last four years on various assignments hiding in
plain