The Price of Indiscretion Read Free Page A

welled in Charlotte’s eyes. She blinked them back. “I will have children,” she said with conviction. “And they will grow up safe and free and never have to worry about senseless killing.” She offered her free hand to Constance, who took it. For a moment they sat, holding each other’s hands, remembering.
    Lady Overstreet must have sensed the bond between them. “What is it?”
    Charlotte smiled. “We held our hands just this tightly fifteen years ago when the Shawnee attacked the trading post. I was with Constance picking up kindling for the fire. Miranda was helping Mother hoe the garden. Father was gone with some traders. Miranda saw the hunting party attack Mother. She came running for us. If she hadn’t done that, Constance and I would have been discovered and killed. Or worse, taken prisoner.”
    “You would have done the same,” Miranda said.
    “Would I?” Charlotte shook her head. “I don’t know. I remember being paralyzed with fear, but you knew what to do. You hid us beneath the old hollow log, and they didn’t find us. They looked inside the log,” she told Lady Overstreet. “That’s where I would have hidden, and it was the first place they searched. They knew we were there. But because Miranda had ordered us to squeeze in between the outside of the log and the ground and then had covered us with leaves, they didn’t find us.”
    “One of their moccasins was right up to my nose,” Constance said. “I was so scared, but we held hands tight and they left.”
    “We stayed that way all night,” Charlotte said. “We were too afraid to move until we heard voices we recognized.” She faced Miranda, “And now I am asking you to be as brave as you were then. I’m asking you to let go of the past. Forget him. He was an indiscretion, nothing more.”
    Forget Alex…
    The air in the room grew close. The smell of the ale and meat pies threatened to make her sick. How could Miranda forget Alex? And then she realized she had no choice. He’d asked her to go with him once. She’d refused. She’d been too afraid. He’d told her he would not come back. He hadn’t.
    So did it really matter if she married a man who could give her sisters what they wanted?
    Miranda smiled at each of them, loving them so much. Charlotte was right; family was what mattered. And she wanted Constance to someday find love. Maybe her love would come to a happier end than Miranda’s had.
    “I will go to London.” Once her mind cleared, the words had been easy to say.
    “Thank you,” Charlotte said, giving her hand a squeeze.
    “Very good,” Lady Overstreet said. “You won’t be sorry, my dear. And you needn’t worry about your sister or your futures. I know Miranda will take. I will see her married to a fine man with a title and enough money to pay my fee.” She paused before adding, “There is just one thing, and I hesitate to bring it up except that it could be important, and best we discuss it now.”
    “What is that?” Charlotte asked.
    Lady Overstreet leaned close to Miranda. “This indiscretion of yours—”
    “It was ten years ago,” Miranda assured her. Yes, she had waited long enough. The time had come to move on.
    “Yes, I know, but I have one question, and I don’t mean offense, but we should be candid with each other. After all, we are sophisticated women.”
    Charlotte was nodding her head. Constance appeared uncertain. Miranda wished Her Ladyship would say what was on her mind.
    She did. “Miranda, are you a virgin?”
    Her question shocked not only Miranda but her sisters. As Miranda groped for words, Lady Overstreet continued. “I had to ask because there will be men who will ask me, and I can save you future embarrassment. Some men think this is very important, while others would not care. And there are ways around both attitudes, but I do need to know.”
    Charlotte and Constance closed their own gaping mouths and turned to her. It was telling that Charlotte hadn’t immediately