Free The Reluctant Heir by Jennifer Conner

 
     
    The Reluctant Heir
     
     
     
     
     
    Jennifer Conner
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    The Reluctant Heir
    Copyright 2011- Books to Go Now
    For information on the cover illustration and design, contact [email protected]
    First eBook Edition –August 2011
    Printed in the United States of America
    Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.
    This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.
    If you are interested in purchasing more works of this nature, please stop by:www.bookstogonow.com
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell Rode the six hundred.
     
    The Charge of the Light Brigade
    Alfred, Lord Tennyson
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 1
     
     
     
    England, 1855
     
    Clarke Garrison watched Adeline walk across the vast lawn of the estate. He wasn't exactly sure why he was compelled to watch her every move. They’d known each other since childhood.  
    Adeline wasn’t a child any longer.
    Her dark hair hung to her waist in curls that only accentuated her deep blue eyes and porcelain skin. Womanly curves filled her white and blue flowered cotton dress nicely making his mouth dry. She was hands down one of the most beautiful women in this part of the shire, but there was something about her that set her apart from all others. She’d proved to him she was strong and resilient, not a shy maiden like many he’d met. He hated those giggling, silly girls his mother kept introducing him to. Even after the tragedy she’d endured, she’d held her head high and looked others in the eye when they spoke to her.  
    He didn't know why he chose to put himself through this torture day after day. He’d avoided Adeline at every turn possible since his return from the Crimea war.   If she knew the truth, he was the last person she would ever want to talk to.
    He was responsible for her brother’s death.
    Turning from the large paned windows, he moved away, but came to a stop as his best friend Spencer swung the door open.
    “There you are. Amelia and I have looked all over for you,” Spencer said as he pulled his new bride by the hand through the door.
      Amelia smiled and said, “We're going on a picnic. It's such a lovely day the cook is packing lunch now.”
    She was such a sweet girl. Spencer was lucky to find a wife that he was able to marry for love and not money. Spencer was the Duke, and through Clarke was not a Duke, he was from noble lineage and an Earl. His mother pushed possible matches for marriage and hung his entitlement over his head. What he couldn’t make her understand was that he didn’t want any of it; he just wanted things to be set right. Something money couldn’t buy.
      “No, I'll be staying here,” he said in an even tone. He strode over to the bookshelf and pulled out a fine bound leather volume. “I have been meaning to read this all week, and now with the house quiet, I'll finally have the chance."
    “ The King’s American Dispensatory ?” Spencer asked with a raised brow.
    He hadn't even looked to see what he pulled off the shelf. He glanced down and scanned the title. “Herbal medicinal healing, important for everyone to know, don’t you