Free A Bride Most Begrudging by Deeanne Gist Page B

tend to her for as long as she has need of me.”
    “You are away at this moment?” he asked, looking at her bundle.
    The morning’s light blazed down into her eyes. She squinted over at Hopkin. “I am.”
    Drew stiffened. “I will escort you, Grandma, if you will but wait until our business here is concluded.”
    “No need. You have the indentured men servants to fetch down at the wharf. Besides, I’m of a mind for some peace and quiet.” She transferred her pouch of belongings from one arm to the other. “Good day, sirs.”
    Hopkin tipped his hat. “Good day, Mistress. Our prayers will be with your Nellie.”
    Looking at Josh, Drew tilted his head toward Grandma. Josh reached for her pouch.
    She swatted his hand. “Cannot an old woman get some peace when she wants it?”
    Josh lifted his brows and turned back to Drew. She must be sorely vexed to scold them in front of the others. Still, he should have expected it. He knew his late grandfather had squandered away his fortune with cards, forcing Grandma and their only daughter to come to the colonies. Though neither Grandma nor his mother had ever bemoaned their life here, Grandma always lost her perspective where cards were concerned. With an almost imperceptible lifting of his shoulders, he motioned Josh to let her go.
    She wasted no time in presenting them with her back. “Don’t know what all the uproar’s about,” she muttered, setting off down the path. “I’m not in my grave and don’t plan to be anytime soon. If I wish to walk to Nellie’s by myself, then so be it.”
    Listening to her litany, Drew felt a pang of remorse. He waited until her voice drifted off on the breeze before turning his attention back to Hopkin and the council, who were busy murmuring amongst themselves. He glanced at Josh, who shrugged in a gesture of bafflement.
    “O’Connor?” Hopkin cleared his throat. “Seems the situation is more serious than we realized. ’Tis a sign from God that we arrived when we did.”
    A sign from God, indeed. Drew crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned back against the cottage’s frame.
    “How many women have you living under your roof?” Hopkin asked.
    Drew adjusted himself more comfortably against the cottage. “At the moment, two.”
    “I see,” he said through pursed lips. “And when are you and your brother planning to marry them?”
    Drew stilled, as did Josh. “They’re servants,” Drew replied.
    A babble of voices broke out amongst the council. Emmett’s scrawny frame bristled. Hopkin held up his hands for silence. “These, uh, servants, they are of breeding age?”
    Drew narrowed his eyes a margin or two. “They are.”
    Hopkin yanked down on his doublet. “And they are unmarried?”
    Uncrossing his arms, Drew pulled slowly away from the cottage.
    “What are you getting at?”
    Hopkin twisted his breeches up to his midriff. “And they are residing in this dwelling with you, Joshua, and your baby sister?”
    Drew stiffened. “Where would you have me keep them, Hopkin? With the goat?”
    The governor reddened.
    Tucker quickly stepped forward. “Hopkin, I recommend the council discuss this matter at length before taking any undue action.”
    “Undue action?” Emmett screeched. “We dare not leave these immoral creatures with the unattended ladies fer even a moment. No tellin’ what deviltry would take place in our absence.”
    Josh grabbed Drew’s forearm, forcing him to check his inclination to knock out the few teeth left in Emmett’s mouth.
    “Enough!” Tucker exclaimed. “You are not a member of this council, Goodman Emmett, and have no voice here. Be silent.”
    Emmett narrowed his eyes.
    “Hopkin,” Tucker continued, “I insist we discuss this more thoroughly.”
    Hopkin wiped a bit of spittle from the corners of his mouth. “There is not much to discuss. These men are living in a climate that breeds corruption. Regardless of the character you insist they have, the fact remains that they