Free Unveiled (Undone by Love Book 3) by Kristina Cook Page A

sitting in the garden with a book or exploring the grounds on foot, often taking her midday meal in her own room, perhaps the tidiest in the house thanks to Bridgette’s attentions . She shared a quiet dinner each evening with her aunt, who almost immediately retired as soon as the dishes were cleared from the table.
    The only subjects her aunt seemed willing to discuss at length were fanciful tales of her own youth –stories which Jane had to admit were highly entertaining, albeit shocking. Why, her mother would surely swoon if she knew Aunt Gertrude was regaling her with stories about stolen kisses and transparent gowns worn without proper undergarments!
    Yet she couldn’t listen to her aunt’s talk without her thoughts being drawn reluctantly to the mysterious and confounding Lord Westfield . Every time she remembered the kiss they’d shared, her cheeks burned with renewed shame and mortification. Thank goodness she had come to her senses when she did. She wished more than once that she’d never met him, never felt the stirring of longings that he’d stoked within her. For she had to admit that he had awakened something inside her, something she could not explain nor understand. Surely with some fortitude she could push such feelings from her mind, as she’d always done when any gentleman had piqued her interest in the past.
    “Anyway, dear . Where was I?”  Her aunt continued on, her eyes shining brightly. “Oh, yes. Major Barnaby. Of course. Now then, my sister and I were desperate for the major to take notice of us, for he was the handsomest officer we’d ever laid eyes on and there were so many pretty girls in Bath that summer. We had heard that he would be attending the theatre that evening, so we dampened down our dresses to the point of transparency and left off our shifts.”  She covered her mouth with her napkin and giggled like a girl, delighted by her memories.
    “Oh, Auntie, did you really?”
    “We did, indeed. Of course, so did half the girls there that night. Why, everywhere you looked you could see...ahem.”  A coughing fit overtook her.
    Jane felt her cheeks flush . “And what happened? Did the major notice you?”
    “I’m afraid he did not . But it was that very same night that the baron first noticed your grandmama, and they were wed before St. Michaelmas.”
    “Fascinating.”  Jane reached for her goblet and took a sip of sweet wine .
    “Well, I’m afraid I must retire now . You’re a dear, though, allowing a silly old lady to prattle on all night. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
    “On the contrary, Aunt Gertrude . I’m enjoying your delightful tales. Are you sure you wouldn’t like to join me in the drawing room? I see you’ve a harp in there, and I can play tolerably well.”
    “No, dear . Perhaps tomorrow. But you should feel free to play if you so desire.”  She rose and crossed over to Jane, planting a kiss on her cheek. “Good night, then.”
    “Good night, Auntie.”  Jane dropped her hands into her lap with a sigh as the woman strode out .
    It was too early for Jane to retire and she didn’t feel at all like sitting alone in the drawing room, so instead she hurried upstairs, changed into her nightclothes, and began a letter by candlelight to her sister Susanna . She knew Susanna would adore Aunt Gertrude’s tales, so she attempted to retell as many of the shocking details as she could remember. But her attention was flagging, her ability to fill the page with cheerful words waning.
    She knew in her heart that something must be wrong in this house, terribly wrong, for such secrecy . Why else would her aunt go to such lengths to keep her away from her own flesh and blood? As her frustration increased, so did her determination. Looking up from her letter she saw the moon framed in the window, the line of trees along the drive illuminated by the silvery glow.
    Her resolve gathered . She would not allow her concerns to be brushed off so easily. She’d come all