Homespun Bride

Bible—”
    “Exactly the guidance you need, young lady. Why rumors swirl about you, I’ll never know. I’m of half a mind to take you out of that school entirely. How many times must I explain to that teacher that none of my daughters would ever shove over the outhouse?”
    “Many a time, Mama.” Angelina padded across the parlor as another round of thunder rumbled like cannon fire.
    The girls began a discussion, speaking over the top of one another, debating the truth or rumor of Angelina’s misdeeds at school, and Noelle took her leave. Keeping careful track of her steps, she made it to the kitchen as quickly as she could.
    The moment she pushed open the kitchen door, she heard the maid’s quick steps. “Sadie, is there a chance you could set an extra place for Thad?”
    “Mr. Worthington has already requested it.”
    “He did?”
    “When you and Mr. McKaslin took off for the stable, miss.” Sadie sounded in a hurry as Cook slammed a pot lid down like a crash of cymbals. “Dinner is a bit late tonight. McKaslin is on the back steps, if you got to wondering where he may be.”
    “Thank you, Sadie.” Noelle ran her finger against the far wall, to keep out of Cook’s way. The scents of roast beef and simmering gravy hung in the air. Uncle Robert had already thought to invite Thad? Intriguing. Thunder rattled the windowpanes and the crystal teardrops of the lamps as she opened the back door.
    Icy wind slammed into her, but she hardly noticed it. She felt warm and as light as a May day. “Look what rascal has come in out of the storm.”
    “A rascal?” Thad’s chuckle was as warm as hope, as welcome as rediscovered dreams. “I suppose you’re right about that.” There was a rustle, as if he were hanging up his coat. “Your uncle was kind enough to invite me to dinner with you all.”
    “Yes, and I think I was the last to know about it.”
    “That right? I’d thought the invitation had originally come from you.”
    “It would have, if I had thought of it sooner.”
    “Is that so?” How about that? Thad felt the hard shell of tension in his chest ease a notch, making it easier to breathe. She breezed past him like warmth and light, and he could not help but follow. Some things like ice and snow and February storms were as inevitable and unstoppable as his affection for her.
    He closed the door tight against the pounding weather, glad for the wave of warmth that washed over him. The delicious aroma coming from the stove made his stomach growl. The rare chance of walking at Noelle’s side made him feel alive again in his heart and spirit—places he’d thought had been in the dark for too long to survive.
    “I can hear Sadie settling the serving bowls on the table,” Noelle said over her shoulder as she followed the wall to a closed door. “Prepare yourself for the Worthington inquisition.”
    “The what?”
    Her laughter was a gentle, musical trill as she pushed open the door.
    He moved close to help her with it and time seemed to freeze. For an instant, anyway, as he noticed the damp curls of her chestnut hair—she’d unbound her braid and combed out her hair and it fell in a cascade of color and light around her heart-shaped face and past her delicate shoulders. He barely noticed she looked beautiful in the dress of white and gold she’d changed into because the sight of happiness on her face was drawing him more than any beauty.
    “Just you wait and see,” she said as the door opened fully.
    He tried to imagine the entire Worthington family taking his measure with a whole new outlook.
    The family was already seated around the elabotely set table. He hardly noticed the room and its blue-and-silver wallpaper, crystal lamps and highly polished woods because of the way the women in the room were studying him, the younger ones with curiosity and the older ones with assessment.
    Henrietta, regal at the foot of the table, squinted her eyes at him. Her mouth pursed. “I hear from Robert we owe you yet another thanks. You saw the new foal safely into the world. I hear there was a complication.”
    “Just had to get her hooves heading the right way, was all.” Thad shrugged. “It wasn’t anything Robert couldn’t have done himself if he’d been up to the task.”
    Robert nodded in greeting from the head of the table. “You’re a humble man, Thad. I can learn a lot from you.”
    “I’ve been around horses all my life.” Thad took care not to trip on the carpet as he followed