Retreat From Love Read Free Page A

Brett had been in Ashton on the Green just a few months ago. But she’d believed the stories were a result of Freddy’s title and the power and influence that came with it. She saw now that they were not. He 11
    Samantha Kane
    was as handsome and commanding as everyone claimed. Even her friend Leah
    Westridge had been charmed by both men, and other than Leah’s husband and their friend Mr. Schillig, Leah did not like men in general.
    The thought of Leah and her husband and Mr. Schillig, and what the three were to one another, had Anne getting warm all over again. She pulled the pillow from her face with a gasp as, unbidden, an image of herself and Brett and Freddy locked in an embrace flashed through her mind. Good Lord! What could she be thinking? Brett would never even speak to her now, she was sure. And Freddy? He was the duke now.
    No matter how infatuated he’d been with her as a youth, he couldn’t afford a liaison with a woman like Anne, a woman with a less than sterling reputation. And she was several years older than him. He surely had beautiful girls in the flush of youth chasing after him, and not just for his title.
    Anne sighed and rolled over again. She had to accept the truth of the situation. Both men were out of her reach because of the choices she’d made after Bertie’s death, after Brett never came. She’d been so lonely. She hardly remembered some of the men now, strangers visiting here or just passing through. Anne was honest enough to admit she had a certain charm and more than passable looks that made the gentlemen notice her.
    She’d used it to her advantage on several occasions. And it had only taken one rumor about one of those encounters to ruin her reputation.
    Anne yawned. Yes, she would let her fantasies of Brett and Freddy go. She had an actual offer of courtship from a gentleman new to the area, Mr. Gideon North. She’d be smart to focus on that. But first she would go to Ashton Park in the morning and apologize for her behavior. She would walk to the Park at an unfashionably early hour and leave a note of apology. She needn’t even see them, really. Then she would stay here near the cottage until they left Ashton Park. Surely they wouldn’t stay long.
    Freddy never stayed long.
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    Retreat From Love

Chapter Two
    June 5, 1810
    My Dearest Anne,

    I switched the vicar’s water for wine yesterday. Well, gin actually. Young Mr. Matthews nearly had an apoplexy after he took a healthy swallow, and so did I, I was laughing so hard. He was a good sport, but North put me on guard duty for it again. Brett just shook his head as he pounded poor Mr. Matthews on the back. Afterwards he made me promise no more pranks on the vicar, who is an earnest, well-meaning fellow, just trying to help. Mr. Matthews reminds me so much of your father, right down to his forgiving nature.
    I still miss the Goode Vicar, Anne, though it’s been almost two years since he and Father died. I miss those summer days when you and I used to run wild across the countryside all day like the unruly children we were, only to return to the parsonage at night, to your parents and Father. We’d have one of Mrs. Tilton’s excellent meals, and then Father would bring me back to Ashton Park and Reeves. Then he’d return to the parsonage and play chess with Mr. Goode until dawn, and I would steal back to see all of you the next day.
    Brett is rereading your last letter even now as I write this. He has no mail of his own. He was at Talavera, though he will not talk of it. We’ve seen some action, but I fear my first major battle. I could tell no one that but you.
    Jerome told me in his last letter that you “were looking rather fine these days.” You must wait for me, Anne. Do not run off with some handsome Captain of the Guard while your soldier pines for you here in the heat of a Portuguese summer.
    Brett sends his regards. He says I don’t deserve you. I think perhaps he is right.

    Your Devoted Servant,
    Bertie
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