repeatedly that she could not deny—it was her
adventurous spirit that created the foundation for what had happened. Chase wanted
her to change. And though a piece of her would do anything for him, she was not sure
she could become someone else.
Even for him.
Even to keep his love, which she so desperately needed.
Chase watched the slim, petite figure dressed in gray enter the post chaise. A second
later she was followed by a redheaded figure in dark blue. His wife, the one who in
the past four months had brought him more joy than he could remember having in all
his life, was leaving him, and by his command. He wanted to kiss her good-bye and
tell her how much she meant to him, how much he loved and needed her. But he knew
if he took one step outside and felt her soft body against his in a good-bye embrace,
he would be unable to let her go.
Never had Chase seen Millie look so defeated or forlorn. So many things had been running
through his mind when he had spoken to her, he could barely recall half of what he
had said. The only truth he kept coming back to was that he needed her to be safe,
to know that she was cared for and away from any danger. As soon as he confirmed Aimee
was aboard the Sea Emerald , he would go to Millie, tell her the joyful news, and heal whatever pain he might
have caused her. Hopefully, his sister might even be back home by then.
Chase calmed his building guilt by reminding himself that Millie was on her way to
her father’s. He had initially thought to send her to the Wentworth country estate,
but with his mother in Scotland, Millie would be all alone there. So he sent her to
her father’s, where she could enjoy his company and take pleasure in one of her favorite
pastimes—riding. Chase would send Hercules, her monstrous black horse, to Wareham
first thing tomorrow.
The driver snapped his whip and the horses began to move. He let the thick gold curtain
slip through his fingertips and gripped the back of a nearby high-back chair. Millie
had not said more than a few words to him since he had announced he was sending her
away. She had avoided him whenever possible and had even left without saying good-bye.
Normally, that would have been a clear indication of her anger and resentment about
his most recent lecture. Yet the few glimpses of her he had stolen had indicated something
else entirely. Her cheeks were pale and the light in her eyes had vanished, leaving
only a chilling emptiness. Grief tore at her for her friend, and he had only added
to that pain.
He looked about the empty room. Never had the world seemed so lonely.
As the carriage began to move, Jennelle watched the house from the window and saw
the gold curtain swish back into place. So Charles had at least watched his wife leave,
if only from a distance. Was it regret he felt, she wondered, or had he just been
ensuring his orders were followed?
Never will I marry , Jennelle silently pledged. She had seen what Millie endured for the sake of love
and what Aimee had done to pursue it. Jennelle was positive no man in the world was
worth bearing such pain, despite the brief wisps of pleasure she had witnessed. With
every passing moment, she became more determined to be the only one of the Daring
Three smart enough to stay away from the things that can cause the most pain to a
woman.
I vow never to fall in love, and I absolutely will never marry.
Chapter 4
October 9, 1816
Consciousness came back slowly and painfully. Aimee tried to open her eyes, but the
world was dark . . . and rolling. She moaned and felt the gag, the rough cloth biting
into her lips, which were now dry and cracked. Her head felt like it had been broken
into several pieces and then put back together incorrectly. Unfortunately, it did
not make her unaware of certain things, like how she was aboard a ship that was continuously
rocking back and forth. It also did not
adventurous spirit that created the foundation for what had happened. Chase wanted
her to change. And though a piece of her would do anything for him, she was not sure
she could become someone else.
Even for him.
Even to keep his love, which she so desperately needed.
Chase watched the slim, petite figure dressed in gray enter the post chaise. A second
later she was followed by a redheaded figure in dark blue. His wife, the one who in
the past four months had brought him more joy than he could remember having in all
his life, was leaving him, and by his command. He wanted to kiss her good-bye and
tell her how much she meant to him, how much he loved and needed her. But he knew
if he took one step outside and felt her soft body against his in a good-bye embrace,
he would be unable to let her go.
Never had Chase seen Millie look so defeated or forlorn. So many things had been running
through his mind when he had spoken to her, he could barely recall half of what he
had said. The only truth he kept coming back to was that he needed her to be safe,
to know that she was cared for and away from any danger. As soon as he confirmed Aimee
was aboard the Sea Emerald , he would go to Millie, tell her the joyful news, and heal whatever pain he might
have caused her. Hopefully, his sister might even be back home by then.
Chase calmed his building guilt by reminding himself that Millie was on her way to
her father’s. He had initially thought to send her to the Wentworth country estate,
but with his mother in Scotland, Millie would be all alone there. So he sent her to
her father’s, where she could enjoy his company and take pleasure in one of her favorite
pastimes—riding. Chase would send Hercules, her monstrous black horse, to Wareham
first thing tomorrow.
The driver snapped his whip and the horses began to move. He let the thick gold curtain
slip through his fingertips and gripped the back of a nearby high-back chair. Millie
had not said more than a few words to him since he had announced he was sending her
away. She had avoided him whenever possible and had even left without saying good-bye.
Normally, that would have been a clear indication of her anger and resentment about
his most recent lecture. Yet the few glimpses of her he had stolen had indicated something
else entirely. Her cheeks were pale and the light in her eyes had vanished, leaving
only a chilling emptiness. Grief tore at her for her friend, and he had only added
to that pain.
He looked about the empty room. Never had the world seemed so lonely.
As the carriage began to move, Jennelle watched the house from the window and saw
the gold curtain swish back into place. So Charles had at least watched his wife leave,
if only from a distance. Was it regret he felt, she wondered, or had he just been
ensuring his orders were followed?
Never will I marry , Jennelle silently pledged. She had seen what Millie endured for the sake of love
and what Aimee had done to pursue it. Jennelle was positive no man in the world was
worth bearing such pain, despite the brief wisps of pleasure she had witnessed. With
every passing moment, she became more determined to be the only one of the Daring
Three smart enough to stay away from the things that can cause the most pain to a
woman.
I vow never to fall in love, and I absolutely will never marry.
Chapter 4
October 9, 1816
Consciousness came back slowly and painfully. Aimee tried to open her eyes, but the
world was dark . . . and rolling. She moaned and felt the gag, the rough cloth biting
into her lips, which were now dry and cracked. Her head felt like it had been broken
into several pieces and then put back together incorrectly. Unfortunately, it did
not make her unaware of certain things, like how she was aboard a ship that was continuously
rocking back and forth. It also did not
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