Stormy Persuasion Read Free

being raised by the four Malory
     elders after their sister Melissa died, and how none of them could agree on a man
     good enough for their niece, and she had to go through numerous Seasons because of
     it. Poor Reggie. But, remember, back then, the Malory brothers didn’t have wives who
     could put their feet down as they do now. D’you really think our mothers won’t do exactly that when love shows up for us? Wait a minute, that’s it,
     isn’t it? It was Aunt Roslynn who said you couldn’t go and Uncle Tony just agreed
     with her to keep the peace?”
    Judith winced as she nodded. “She’s so been looking forward to my come-out here, much more’n I am. She’s even got her hopes
     set on one man in particular she thinks will be perfect for me.”
    “Who?”
    “Lord Cullen, the son of one of her Scottish friends,” Judith replied.
    “Have you met him?”
    “I haven’t seen him since we were children, but she has. She’s assured me he’s rich,
     handsome, a great catch by all accounts.”
    “I suppose he lives in Scotland?”
    “Yes, of course.”
    “Then he won’t do! What’s your mother thinking, to pair you with a man who’ll take you away
     from us?”
    Judith laughed. “Probably that she’ll buy us a house in London to live in.”
    Jack snorted. “We don’t take chances like that, especially with Scots, who can be
     stubborn. Wait a minute, is he why she won’t bend?”
    “She is worried he’ll get snatched up by someone else if I’m not here at the start of the
     Season. So, yes, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the real reason she’s refusing
     to let me delay my debut for a trip to America.”
    Jacqueline rolled her eyes. “You silly. We just haven’t tackled this together yet.
     We’re much stronger when we do. Mark my words, you’ll be sailing with me. I never
     had the slightest doubt.”

Chapter Two

    J udith lay in bed with her eyes wide-open. Jacqueline had promptly fallen asleep, but
     Judith remained awake because she’d realized she might be married the next time she
     visited her cousins in Hampshire. Not to Ian Cullen, but to a man she simply couldn’t
     resist. Although she and Jacqueline didn’t want to fall in love right away, certainly
     not this year, Judith had seen what had happened to her older Malory cousins. Love
     had a way of interfering with the best-laid plans. And as soon as she married, she’d
     probably forget about her ghost.
    That was a sad thought. Whimsically, she didn’t want to forget such an exciting encounter
     or never see her ghost again. Which was when she got it in her mind that the ghost
     might reveal himself to her if she entered his house alone, and that thought wouldn’t let her sleep.
    She finally gave in to temptation, donned a hooded cloak and slippers, headed downstairs
     to find a lantern, then ran across the back lawn. But when she reached the dark, old
     house and tried to get in the front door as she’d done before, she found it locked.
     Not stuck, actually locked. Had Derek done that? But why, when many of the windows
     were missing their glass and were easy enough to slip through?
    She set her lantern on the floor inside one window and climbed through. She’d seen
     no light from outside, but still headed straight for the room where she’d found the
     ghost before. Boards creaked under her feet. If he was in there, he’d hear her coming—and
     disappear again.
    She thought to call out, “Don’t hide from me. I know you’re here. Reveal yourself.”
    Of course he didn’t. She chided herself for thinking a ghost would do her bidding.
     She’d surprised him last time. And she’d foolishly lost the element of surprise this
     time. Nonetheless, she was determined to check that room again before she gave up
     and went back to bed.
    She opened the door. It didn’t squeak this time. Had it been oiled? She held her lantern
     high to light the room. It looked different. A lot different. The cobwebs were gone.