Once Upon A Wedding Night by Sophie Jordan Page A

fair share of living outside of Attingham. "He's not your average man. I never seen no gentleman like him in all my days. Don't travel with a valet. Brought just one bag with him… and no coach, just a horse." Maree made a clucking sound and shook her head in wonder. "Sure he has manners enough to be Quality, but take one look in his eyes and you can see it."
    "See what?"
    "You ever look an ol' beat-up dog in the eyes?He's got that same look. Like deep down he's dead inside. Like there ain't nothing in the world that can reach him. Not even you."
    Meredith frowned. Nick possessed a wounded spirit, with that she would agree. With his past, how could he come away unscathed? But she refused to think him dead inside. That would mean he was lost, and for some reason she would not allow herself to believe that of him. No soul was ever completely lost. Besides, his eyes burned with life. Especially when they looked at her.
    "He's not dead inside," she said a touch defensively. "He fairly hums with vitality."
    Maree squinted at Meredith's face, as if trying to distinguish her features in the shadows. "Oh, Lord." She laughed. "He's already got to you."
    Meredith opened her mouth to deny the outrageous words, but Maree did not give her a chance to speak.
    "One look at him should have warned me you'd fall for him. Be careful, Meredith. You can't afford to fall in love with him. Not this one." She patted Meredith's belly in reminder, her thick brows dipping meaningfully. "You've made other plans. Keep that in mind and steer clear of him." Her voice lowered to a hushed whisper. "He won't be the gentleman if he finds out. Men don't like being fooled, and something tells me this one would be more than you could handle."
    Meredith bit her lip in concern, considering Nick's reaction should he uncover her deception.
    He might not want the inheritance, but he would not thank her for being deceived. Maree was correct on that score.
    The wagon hit a rut that jarred her from her troubling reflections. Her fingers dug into the rough wood bench beneath her for support.
    "Easy, boy," Maree huffed, clutching the basket to her ample bosom as the mules took a turn in the winding road that nearly lifted the wheels of the wagon. "We'll be no good to your ma if you overturn this box and break our necks."
    Both Meredith and Maree breathed a sigh of relief when they reached the Finney farm without mishap. Tom Finney waited in the yard with his sons. He rushed to help the two women down.
    "So glad you came. It's taking so long. It didn't take Sally this long with the others… well, maybe just the first one, but that's the way they say, with the first one," he rattled as he followed them to the cottage door.
    It appeared all of the Finney males would have followed them into the cottage if Maree had not blocked their way. "We'll have enough bodies in here with all the girls. The rest of you wait outside."
    A putrid smell assailed Meredith upon entering the cottage. Saily Finney's low moans rent the air. Three young girls peered wide-eyed from the loft above. Meredith could see the fright in their little faces as the eldest girls, Catie and Hannah, tended their mother.
    Maree wasted no time and set to work examining Sally. "Have you started any pushing yet, love?" she asked from between the woman's trembling thighs.
    Sally shook her head jerkily on the pillow, sweaty strands of coppery hair clinging to her cheeks.
    "I'd say it's about time then," Maree declared.
    "Thank God," Sally sighed.
    "Can you hold your legs up or do you need help?" Maree asked, taking a bowl of water from Catie.
    "I can do it—" Sally began, trying the pull her shaking legs back, but gave up, letting them collapse heavily on the mattress. Meredith grasped one knee to help her. Catie took the other.
    Sally smiled weakly at Meredith. "This is the last one, I tell you. I'm not going through this again."
    "You said that last time, Ma," Catie teased, patting her mother's knee.
    "Aye, well I