Free A Lady's Wish by Katharine Ashe Page A

tends to vote as his friends do.”
    A viscount . She was the daughter of a man so exalted she ought to have been confined in a parlor until she was wed, not dancing about the Maypole at a country fair. Yet she had fallen into his life like an angel, and into his arms like a farm girl, with her sparkling eyes and ready laughter, and her eager kisses.
    He passed the currycomb across his horse’s withers, seeking steadiness and not finding it this time. He must know.
    “Your sister’s husband’s title. He—”
    “Baronet, and quite wealthy. Mama and Papa were in alt over the match.”
    “They no longer approve of it?”
    “Well, Papa is gone, of course, and Mama is now only interested in her charities, which she does entirely because the other ladies do them, you know.” She added in a whisper, “She does not care for common people.”
    “And yet your sister fashions wedding rings for poor brides?”
    “Oh, well, once Tricky was married she did as she wished, and she wished to do that. She is very kind. And clever. Much kinder and cleverer than me and our brother.” She dimpled with pride. “And she is a very good example for others. She told me once she witnessed a gentleman’s kind act and it inspired her. She said the act seemed perfectly natural to him, as though he hadn’t even thought before he did it, and she wished to someday be the same—unaware of her own kind acts.”
    “What kindness had the gentleman performed, I wonder?”
    “He gave a piece of bread or some such thing to a starving little urchin at a country fair. Is it not absolutely diverting that she would recall such a thing, or have even noted it?” She smiled fondly. “My sister has a soft heart, and I think I still have a great deal to learn from her.”
    He paused and the big bay gelding turned its head to regard him with dark eyes.
    “Her husband must consider himself a fortunate man.”
    “Oh, well he was quite proud. He admired her greatly.”
    Nik knew he should not continue to pry. It was beyond indiscreet. But this girl seemed unaware of that, happy to share her family’s secrets.
    “He no longer holds her in such high esteem?”
    “I suppose he might, if a corpse could.” She slapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, good heavens, that was horridly spoken! My brother in law is certainly a corpse, and I didn’t like it at all how he abandoned Tricky to go off to war. But I should not speak of my own family member in such a manner. What must you think of me now, Captain?”
    He thought her the most carelessly wonderful girl in the world.
    She was a widow.
    A widow .
    Abruptly there seemed to be a great deal more air in the stable to breathe.
    “She wears no mourning. How long has it been?”
    “Oh, years. Nearly four. He died in Spain and I nearly perished with relief.” She twisted her lips. “I am excessively unforgiving, my mother says.”
    “You are a girl who feels deeply. Strong emotion in a lady, Miss Ramsay, cannot be ill judged when it is sincere.”
    “Do you think so?” She cocked her head. “Mama and the dowager say otherwise. And of course gentlemen mustn’t allow themselves to be overcome by strong feelings. Why, I suppose upon the sea it would be terribly foolhardy to act from emotions rather than rational thought.
    He returned to his horse’s back and the animal’s head dropped in contentment. The hard life upon the sea had not allowed him to stew in regrets or anger. It had suited him perfectly well. Then.
    “Oh, Captain, what a tremendous life you have lived! But one hears frightful stories of the lives of sailors. Was it truly horrid before you became your own master?”
    “Challenging, both before and after. Being led by another man is not pleasant. But leading other men is a heavy responsibility.” It all paled in comparison to the war within him now.
    Years ago he would have gone directly into the inn and told her everything. He would have taken his chances, just as he had that spring day