Bride Most Begrudging

Deeanne Gist

Description

When Lady Constance Morrow ?nds herself held against her will aboard a ship bound for the American colonies--a ship ?lled with "tobacco brides" and felons--she is quite sure that as soon as she arrives she will ?nd a reasonable man who will believe her father is an earl and send her back on the next ship to England. Instead she meets Drew O'Connor, a determined Colonial farmer who is nearly as headstrong as she is. Drew wins Constance as his bride but soon realizes he has taken on much more than he bargained for

Sujets

• Historical romance

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 01 juillet 2005
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781441202994
• Langue: English

Extrait

Books by Deeanne Gist
A Bride Most Begrudging
The Measure of a Lady
Courting Trouble
Deep in the Heart of Trouble
A Bride in the Bargain
Beguiled
Maid to Match

A Bride Most Begrudging
Copyright 2005
Deeanne Gist
Cover design and photography by Andrea Gjeldum/Cadmium Design
Interior design by Josh Madison
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible. See Author s Note.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise-without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Published by Bethany House Publishers 11400 Hampshire Avenue South Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
Bethany House Publishers is a division of Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 978-0-7642-0072-4
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gist, Deeanne.
A bride most begrudging / by Deeanne Gist.
p. cm.
Summary: Set in 1640 s Colonial Virginia, a marriage of convenience becomes most inconvenient when the bride proves more than the planter had bargained for -Provided by publisher.
ISBN 0-7642-0072-0 (pbk.)
1. Virginia-History-Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775-Fiction. 2. Plantation owners spouses-Fiction. 3. Arranged marriage-Fiction. 4. Plantation life-Fiction. I. Title.
PS3607.I55B75 2005
813 .6-dc22
2005004894
dedication

For my dearest friend and precious savior, Jesus Christ. Oh, how I love you. Cherish you. Rejoice over you. I praise the One Who Is.
Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
About The Author
Acknowledgments
PROLOGUE
chapter ONE
chapter TWO
chapter THREE
chapter FOUR
chapter FIVE
chapter SIX
chapter SEVEN
chapter EIGHT
chapter NINE
chapter TEN
chapter ELEVEN
chapter TWELVE
chapter THIRTEEN
chapter FOURTEEN
chapter FIFTEEN
chapter SIXTEEN
chapter SEVENTEEN
chapter EIGHTEEN
chapter NINETEEN
chapter TWENTY
chapter TWENTY-ONE
chapter TWENTY-TWO
chapter TWENTY-THREE
chapter TWENTY-FOUR
chapter TWENTY-FIVE
chapter TWENTY-SIX
chapter TWENTY-SEVEN
chapter TWENTY-EIGHT
chapter TWENTY-NINE
chapter THIRTY
chapter THIRTY-ONE
Author s Note
about the author

DEEANNE GIST has a background in education and journalism. Her credits include People Magazine, Parents, Parenting, Family Fun, and the Houston Chronicle . She has a line of parenting products called I Did It! Productions and a degree from Texas A M. She lives with her husband, four teenagers, and two dogs in Houston, Texas.
acknowledgments

One s first novel is like one s first baby-an almost surreal experience that delights and frightens all at the same time but is treasured forever. The journey has been long and full of adventure. Many have been there from the beginning, others have walked part of the way with me, and yet others were waiting at the finish line. To all of you, I pray that God will bless you tenfold to how you have blessed me.
A heartfelt thank-you to my college sweetheart and husband, Greg Gist, who is my dream come true. I have been so incredibly blessed to have landed such a treasure. I love you most of all.
My parents, Harold and Veranne Graham, have been instrumental in their support and encouragement, not only during my writing career, but from the moment I entered this world. Thank you for your unconditional love, for sharing your wisdom with me, and for introducing me to Jesus Christ. May He shower you with blessings.
Thank you to my critique partners, Heda Chr ist and Anne Dykowski, for your hours upon hours of devotion, skill, and input. Every time I pick up Bride, I think, Heda told me to put that there, or Anne suggested I do that, or Golly, I m glad they made me redo this part . You are diamonds of the first water. Words cannot express my gratitude.
The folks at Bethany House have been an absolute dream from the moment they received my manuscript to the moment Bride hit the shelves. Dave Long, your enthusiasm, dedication, and inspiration have made me want to be the very best I could be. Thank you for stepping out there and making a difference. My editor, Julie Klassen, is the best editor ever-of course, she s the only editor I ve ever had, but there are some things one just knows . And I look forward, Julie, to sharing many more laughs and confidences and books with you. Thank you for your wonderful insight and input. You are a gem.
And a huge and hearty thank-you to Richard Alvarez for choreographing my fight scene, to Ted Simon for giving me a crash course in Housebuilding 101, to Victor Belfi for helping me with the math puzzles, to Richard Curtis for believing in me, and to Ron Smith for managing me. Any mistakes made in regards to fighting, housebuilding, or problem solving are completely and totally mine.
God bless you all.
Love, Dee
PROLOGUE

D EPTFORD , E NGLAND A PRIL 1643
SAINTS ABOVE, GIRL. What are you doing here? the shackled man hissed.
Lady Constance Morrow rushed those last few steps across the upper deck. Please, Uncle Skelly, don t scold me. I couldn t let you leave without saying good-bye.
It s only for seven years. Now get off this blasted shallop.
She touched a hand to her throat. How could she leave? He d been much more of a father to her than the earl. Perhaps he felt shamed by the shackles clamped tight around his wrists and ankles.
Her heart squeezed inside her chest. He looked as if he d aged ten years since she saw him just three short months ago. She might not have even recognized him had he not spoken out.
An unhealthy gray pallor replaced the rosy glow she had grown so accustomed to seeing in his cheeks. And his pride and joy-the pure white beard and mustache he d kept meticulously trimmed and groomed-grew in great abandon about his face.
But his green eyes were still crystal clear and, at the moment, absolutely furious.
But America, she exclaimed. It s so far away and wild and heathen.
It s better than being dead, he growled. For love o the king, girl, this ship is not interested in men only. Those colonists need breeders, and the captain chained a whole store of female felons in the hold for that very purpose. You have no business being on board. Where is your maid?
I easily escaped from her. Besides, the captain would not dare allow a member of his crew to touch an English gentlewoman.
He d dare that and more. All the other well-wishers have long since left, so there is no one on board that can check his actions. He swiveled to look behind him and when he turned back, near panic lit his eyes.
Quick, he cried. He has seen you!
Who, she thought. The captain? She grabbed the front of her skirts, poised for flight, yet did not move. Releasing the expensive silk, she clasped Skelly s hands in hers. His irons clanked.
Oh, Uncle. I can t bear this. Her eyes pooled with unshed tears. I will not let the submissions to your Diary go unanswered. I will keep the publication going while you are away. It will be ready and waiting for you upon your return. You have my oath.
Have you not heard a word I ve said? You must leave this instant . The captain of this ship is a villain and a coward. It will go the worse for me if he catches us together, and I d just as soon avoid a flogging. Now, go .
She paled. Oh! I m sorry. I had no idea.
She glanced across the upper deck. The captain s huge silhouette advanced, his crisp stride unaffected by the sway of the vessel. Her hairs stood on end. I love you, Uncle, she whispered frantically. My prayers are with you.
Picking up her skirts once again, she turned and hustled toward the gangway.
The captain whistled. An unkempt sailor posted just feet from her took two long steps. He grabbed her forearm.
Release me at once! she demanded.
The man s dark leathery face formed a grotesque imitation of a smile.
I think not, maiden.
She increased her resistance. He grabbed her other arm. She tried to jerk free. He tightened his hold. She slammed her heel onto his booted toe. The heel broke off.
He snarled, grasped her around the waist, and hauled her clear off her feet, slamming her against his side.
What s this, Cooper? The deep voice barely registered in her panicked mind. She could not believe they would be so bold.
She squirmed. Nothing happened. She kicked. Nothing happened. She bit his arm, gagging at the repelling taste of his sleeve.
His grip loosened. Encouraged by this tiny bit of success, she bucked and kicked with increased vigor. He swore. The air suddenly quit reaching her lungs.
The shallop lurched. The rigging creaked.
What have you?
I m not sure, Capt n, her captor responded. A little bird trying to fly the coop, looks like.
The captain fingered her hair. And a red bird, at that.
She yanked her head away from his touch. You ll hang for this! Her threat came out pathetically weak. She struggled for air. I cannot breathe.
The sailor s pressure did not let up. She labored to stay conscious as her vision began to fade.
Arman! the captain shouted.
She jerked her eyes open at the command.
Sir? Another voice filtered up the gangway.
What conveyances are on the dock?
Her lungs were on fire. She opened her mouth, gasping. A thimbleful of air entered. She needed more. Much more.
A hired hackney, sir. This, again, from the gangway.
Anyone in it?
Just the driver, sir.
Her eyes refused to stay open. Icy prickles bombarded her fingers, toes, arms, and legs. Yet her hearing still functioned perfectly.
Take her below with the others.
The captain s quiet words produced seconds of pure terror before blackness overtook her.
chapter O NE

V IRGINIA C OLONY T WO M ONTHS L ATER
THE GOWN THEY GAVE her fit too closely. It displayed her figure with humiliating clarity, but perhaps that would work to her advantage. She had lost so m