Free A Kiss to Remember by Teresa Medeiros Page A

scratched his grizzled head. “You’re an educated gel, ain’t you? You could become one o’ them there gov’nusses wot teaches the gents’ brats.”
    Laura sighed. “I know this is going to come as a shock to you all, especially to Lottie, who has always fancied herself the Incomparable Beauty of the family, but there’s a reason all the men in the village want to marry me.”
    They stared at her blankly.
    “I’m pretty.” Laura spoke as if it were the gravest of shortcomings. “Far too pretty to be a governess. Even if a lady would welcome me into her home, which I doubt, it would only be a matter of time before one of the males of her household—her brother, her son, or perhaps even her own husband—cornered me on the back stairs. Then I would lose not only my situation but my reputation as well. And in this world, once awoman’s reputation is lost, she becomes prey for all manner of scoundrels and rogues.”
    She swept a somber look over them all. “And that’s not even the worst of it. There’s one other possibility we must consider. Suppose the duke himself takes a fancy to me and decides to make me his mistress?”
    Dower bit off a blasphemy and Cookie made the sign to ward off the evil eye as if Laura had suggested becoming a concubine to the devil himself.
    “Who’s to stop a man with his wealth, power, and social connections from forcing his attentions upon a penniless country girl? Why, there are even those in the village who would claim that I should be grateful for his protection.” Despite the blush warming her cheeks, Laura lifted her chin defiantly. “I might be selling myself to a stranger with this scheme, but at least it will be to a stranger of my own choosing.”
    Her proud words hung in the air, shaming them all.
    Dower ran a hand over his throat. “If it’s that young ram you mean to ’ave, then I s’pose I’ve no choice but to ’elp you ’erd ’im into the shearin’ pen.”
    Laura threw her arms around the old man, pressing a kiss to his prickly cheek. “Bless you, Dower! I couldn’t do it without you. First thing in the morning, you must set off for London to consult with some of your old cronies. I want you to try to find out if there’s been any word of a missing gentleman in the past few days.”
    “Or an escaped convict,” Dower muttered beneath his breath.
    “I’m rather hoping he’ll turn out to be the orphaned second son of a second son with no inheritance and even fewer prospects.” Laura began to pace again, her steps much lighter than before. “If we’re to marrybefore my birthday, the banns must be published in the church on three successive Sundays, beginning day after tomorrow. That means I have less than three weeks to make sure he doesn’t already have a wife tucked away somewhere.” Given the brief duration and nature of their acquaintance, Laura was surprised by how much that thought pained her.
    “I’m relieved to learn your scruples won’t let you stoop to bigamy,” George drawled. “But just what do you mean to do if Dower finds this man’s family … or his wife?”
    Laura sighed. “Then I suppose we’ll have no choice but to return him to his rightful owner.”
    “Loik a stray sheep,” Dower provided.
    “Or a lost pig,” Lottie added spitefully.
    “What if you marry this fellow,” George asked, “and then someone from London comes to Arden and recognizes him for who he truly is? What then?”
    “And when’s the last time our humble village received a visitor from London?” Laura’s question silenced even George. In truth, none of them could remember.
    But her brother seemed determined to prove he could be as ruthless as she could. “What if he signs the marriage register under a false name? Will you truly be married in the eyes of the Crown?”
    Laura paused in her pacing, having not considered that fact. Swallowing back a lifetime of spiritual instruction, she faced her brother, head held high. “We’ll be married