The Wedding Escape Read Online Free Page B

criminal in her employ?”
    He shrugged his shoulders. “Other than his sharp tongue, Oliver isn’t dangerous. My mother likes to help people who find themselves in unfortunate circumstances.”
    â€œThen it seems you and she have something in common. You both have very kind hearts.”
    Jack said nothing. It wasn’t often that anyone accused him of being kind.
    â€œForgive me,” Amelia apologized, stifling a yawn. “I’m afraid I didn’t sleep very much last night—or the last few nights, for that matter.”
    â€œIt is several hours to London. You should try to get some sleep.”
    â€œI don’t think I could possibly sleep in this crowded coach. Not that you are making it crowded,” she quickly amended, although in truth Jack’s immense frame and long legs were taking up much of the available space. “It’s this ridiculous gown that is making it impossible for me to get comfortable. My mother ordered it from Charles Worth, the famous designer in Paris.” She valiantly began to beat down the expensive silk and satin exploding around her so that she might have more room. “I don’t suppose you have heard of him,” she added, remembering that he had never heard of Viscount Philmore.
    â€œActually, I am familiar with the name. Although I don’t take much notice of women’s fashions, my sister Grace has a small dress shop in Inverness. She designs the gowns herself, and I have heard her mention Mr. Worth.”
    Amelia stopped pummeling her gown for a moment, intrigued. “Your sister designs gowns? Would I have heard of her?”
    â€œI doubt it. She only has the one shop, although her husband has been trying to convince her to open another in Edinburgh or London.”
    â€œHer husband permits her to work even though she is married?” Amelia was astonished.
    â€œGrace is very independent, and has always loved to design clothes. Her husband wants her to be happy, so he is supportive of her career.”
    â€œI would love to meet them. Perhaps once Lord Philmore and I are married we will travel to Scotland.”
    Jack thought it far more likely that Miss Belford’s new husband would immediately shut her up in some faded, velvet-draped home and expect her to play hostess at an endless array of spectacularly dull teas and dinners and accompany him to every tedious social event imaginable. Until he got her pregnant, at which point he would banish her from society completely.
    Jack turned to study the shifting ribbons of afternoon light from his window, wondering why he was determined to find her prospects with this unknown viscount so bleak.
    â€œForgive me, Mr. Kent, but would you mind helping me with the pins securing my veil to my hair?” She leaned into him and bent her head.
    Jack hesitated.
    And then, not knowing what else to do, he began to clumsily pluck the dark wire hooks from the tangled mass of blonde before him.
    Her veil was a gossamer shroud of the finest silk he had ever seen, held in place by a sparkling diamond tiara. The dozens of pins used to anchor the piece had kept it from flying off when she tumbled from the vine and crashed into the bushes. Jack worked in silence, carelessly dropping the pins on the floor of the carriage, watching in fascination as her hair unraveled from the elegant configuration some lady’s maid had spent hours fussing over. Finally the glittering tiara slipped heavily into his hand, trailing no less than nine feet of veil.
    Amelia sighed, massaging her aching scalp. “You can’t imagine how dreadfully uncomfortable it is to have all those wire pins poking into your head, and that tiara was insufferably heavy.” She dragged her fingers through the length of her hair until it poured like liquid honey over her shoulders and down to her waist.
    â€œHere,” said Jack thickly, offering her the tiara.
    â€œJust put it on the floor,” she