Free His Unexpected Bride by Jo Ann Ferguson

at Cameron in gratitude, but before she could reply, Mr. Knox laughed and said, “I cannot believe any woman would be embarrassed by a compliment, especially Masterson’s daughter. She has been shut away in that country house while Masterson waited for the perfect match for her. Then along you came, my friend, and the marriage was made.”
    â€œI would rather not speak of that.” Cameron’s face was calm, but she noted how his hand had closed into a fist on the table.
    â€œThen shall we speak of how glad I am to have Masterson’s house behind us?” Mr. Knox smiled up at a maid who set a loaf of bread and some sliced beef on the table. With a wink at her, he added, “The scenery is much more pleasurable here now that we do not have Masterson glowering at us every minute.”
    â€œPapa might not have glowered if …” Tess lowered her eyes from the abrupt shock in Mr. Knox’s. How could she so quickly forget the promise made to her father to say nothing about why he had agreed to the wedding?
    â€œIf what?” prompted Mr. Knox.
    â€œI have said too much already.” She reached for a slice of bread.
    â€œToo much?” He laughed. “You keep your tongue so firmly behind your teeth that one would think you did not have one. Like a little mouse in a shadowed corner. Your good fortune, old chap.” He snatched several pieces of meat and put them on the plate in front of him. “You do not need a prattling shrew who babbles endlessly and says nothing of value like her father.”
    â€œEustace, that—”
    Tess interrupted Cameron as she scowled at his friend. “Mr. Knox, I would ask you not to speak so of my father when he is not here to defend himself from your scurrilous comments.”
    â€œI am saying nothing here I would not say to his face.”
    â€œThen I shall be as forthright. I find your manners intolerable, Mr. Knox. If it is the way of the ton and their hangers-on to so cruelly ridicule decent folks, then I am glad I shall not claim a place among you.”
    â€œNot claim?” Mr. Knox’s eyes widened. “As Lady Hawksmoor, you are a part of the very thing you despise.”
    â€œI shall be part of it only as long as—”
    â€œThat is enough, Tess,” Cameron said quietly.
    She looked at her husband, despising his composed expression. If she had not seen the powerful passions in his eyes when he had pulled her into his arms, she would be able to forgive him now for acting as if he had divested himself of all emotions. Did he hide them because he did not trust them or because he was as disgusted with them as he appeared to be with her at the moment?
    â€œI shall not sit here and listen to this son of a sow speak so of my father, who is a well-respected man.”
    Mr. Knox snorted in disagreement.
    Tess started to reply, but Cameron’s hand over hers was a silent admonition not to give voice to her anger. She looked down at her plate. The idea of eating sickened her. She did not want to stay here with her father’s blackmailer, who took every opportunity to belittle him. Nor did she wish to eat with Cameron, who seemed not to care what Mr. Knox said but censored every word she tried to speak.
    â€œExcuse me,” she said, coming to her feet. Even though she felt a momentary pulse of malicious delight that Mr. Knox had to stand as well as Cameron, she turned and walked out of the dining room.
    Her ears strained for the sound of Cameron calling after her to come back and accept his friend’s apology. She heard nothing but the rumble of the voices from the dining room. Climbing the stairs, she slammed the door as she entered her room. The sound did not give her the satisfaction she had hoped for, but it was, she knew, the only satisfaction she would get out of this unwanted marriage.

Six
    Stomping across the room, Tess glared at the fire crackling on the hearth while rain ran down the uneven