Free My Favorite Bride by Christina Dodd Page A

stalked to her bedchamber. She looked out her window where the sun had broken through the clouds at last. She smiled evilly. Standing, she divested herself of her mauve gown, changed into her green serge and sturdy walking shoes, then went back for the children. She found them alone together, huddled on the floor of their bedchamber, whispering to one another. Samantha pretended not to notice. She clapped her hands to get their attention. “Come, girls. Let’s go walking.”
    Six faces turned her direction. “Why?” Agnes asked.
    â€œSo you can tell me what you know. I’ve been boring you with things you’ve already been taught. That has to change.”
    â€œWe’re supposed to study now,” Mara said.
    â€œWe’re getting to know each other.” Samantha glanced out the window. “The sun is shining, but if you’d rather stay inside . . .”
    Emmeline leaped up and ran to Samantha. Kyla followed. The others rose more slowly, and viewed Samantha with suspicion. Agnes and Vivian exchanged glances. Henrietta and Mara nodded knowingly. They’d had time to regroup. To replot their defenses. She could hardly wait to see what scheme they’d cooked up now, nor did she doubt she could counter it.
    She shuddered. As long as it didn’t involve snakes.
    Everything in the Gregory household was about to change. Turning toward the door, she said, “This is the first sunny day since I arrived, and I’ve seenlittle of the country. You can show me your favorite haunts.”
    Agnes clapped her hands. “Let’s show her the rope bridge!”
    â€œYay!” the others cried. Even Emmeline and Kyla laughed and jumped up and down.
    â€œThat sounds wonderful,” Samantha said. That sounds fishy . Or terrifying. A rope bridge. Over a canyon, no doubt, where they hoped she’d fall to her death.
    She saw Emmeline’s and Kyla’s shining eyes, and corrected herself. Where they would jiggle the rope and frighten her.
    â€œI have my bonnet and gloves.” She showed them. “Get yours.”
    They rushed to comply.
    Their hats were as ugly as their gowns, and their gloves were . . . well, at least half of them were missing.
    Samantha stood with her hands on her hips. “It’s good to see you girls are average.”
    Agnes’s head whipped around. “What do you mean?”
    â€œYou lose your gloves. You like to play outside. You remind me of my other charges.”
    â€œWell, you don’t remind me of our other governesses. They were smart,” Agnes snapped.
    â€œThey couldn’t have been too smart or they’d still be here and I’d be in London.” A fate to be devoutly desired. “Vivian, where are your old boots?” By the time she had Mara fitted in Vivian’s footwear, everyone was ready to go, and Samanthaheld the door. “Come on. Step briskly!”
    The children lined up like little soldiers, Kyla in the front and in size stair-stepping up to Agnes. Then they marched out, their arms swinging, their heels tapping. Suffering in equal parts amazement and amusement, Samantha followed down the stairs, through the lofty foyer, and to the back entrance—and that entrance was grand enough to warn Samantha of the elegance that awaited her.
    A footman opened the double doors. The children stepped out onto the broad veranda that ran the length of the manor. Samantha followed them and, for the first time, a great panorama opened up before her gaze, filling her eyes, her mind, overwhelming her senses. Her jaw dropped and, stunned, she walked to the broad stone railing and gripped it hard.
    She had known it was here. She’d even seen parts of it on the day she arrived. But from the veranda, everything seemed so . . . big. The sunny swathe of scythed lawn sloped down to a sprawling, azure lake. The still water mirrored the peaks that rose in gray crags and dips of pale stone and