Once Upon A Townsbridge Story: A Townsbridge Prequel (The Townsbridges, #1)

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Once Upon A Townsbridge Story: A Townsbridge Prequel (The Townsbridges, #1) Page 8

by Sophie Barnes


  Stumped, Penelope drew to a halt and knit her brow. “Only moments ago you were telling me Trevinton wouldn’t do, yet now you sound almost affronted by my lack of interest in him. Honestly, Daniel, I don’t understand you. You’ve not been yourself of late, and trying to figure you out is making my head hurt.”

  “It’s just that you looked so taken by him.”

  “He’s good company, that’s all.”

  “So you’re not in love with him then?”

  “In love with him?” Penelope could only gape at the man who’d singlehandedly seen to her welfare these past two years. “I’ve only known him one week.”

  “And that’s not enough?”

  “For me to fall in love with him?” She shook her head, turned away, and resumed walking. Lord help her, she needed to move.

  “Your eyes light up when you look at him, Penny.”

  “I thought you had to call me Miss Chadwick, and if what you say is true, it was probably because he said something funny.”

  “So then you might love him?”

  “No. I might not.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Of course I’m sure.” Good grief, this conversation was getting well out of hand.

  “How can you be? You’ve lived a sheltered life. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if you were to fall in love with the first gentleman to shower you with attention. I just want to make sure you don’t get your heart broken and end up crying on my shoulder. I’d also like to avoid a duel, which—”

  “Oh, for heavens sake. Coming here was your idea. Getting me married off...again, your idea. The only reason I am here is because you insisted on it, yet now you’re complaining and voicing concerns over me having fallen in love? It’s nonsensical, Daniel, especially with regard to Viscount Trevinton.”

  “But not with regard to someone else?”

  Blast. Penelope pressed her lips together. She would not say anything more.

  “Who is he?”

  She shook her head and quickened her pace. A couple of ducks landed on the pond, raising a spray of water behind them.

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he doesn’t feel the same.”

  Daniel muttered a curse. Catching up with her, he kept pace by her side. “Listen, the man is obviously the biggest idiot ever to walk the face of the earth, a cretin of the first order.”

  “No arguing with you there,” Penelope muttered.

  “Tell me who he is,” Daniel pressed. “I’ll bring him around.”

  “It’s no use.” All she wanted right now was to race back to the house so she could escape to the solitude of her bedchamber.

  “Considering your limited circle of contacts, it should be easy for me to deduce.”

  “Please stop.”

  “Is it the bookshop owner in the village? He’s not exactly of your station but if he would make you happy then—”

  “No.”

  “It’s not one of my servants, is it? Please tell me you haven’t developed a tendre for that young footman I hired last year.”

  Penelope gritted her teeth. “I have not.”

  “Then... Oh no. It has to be Richard Falkner then. I knew I should have gone to see him instead of inviting him to visit me. Penny, I’m sorry, but I really must dissuade you where he is concerned. Falkner is a gambler and a libertine, fun to be around but—”

  “Blistering barnacles.” He’d finally done it. He’d worn her down with sheer determination. “It’s not the bookshop owner or the footman or even Mr. Falkner, you utterly frustrating imbecile. It’s you. You are the one I’m in love with, the biggest idiot ever to walk the earth, cretin of the first order – the man you’ve just offered to bring around – and... Well, now you know, so I might as well throw myself in that pond and hope I drown, because it’s either that or die from mortification.”

  DANIEL STARED AT PENELOPE. The irritation he’d been experiencing this past week had increased tenfold when he’d seen Trevinton holding her hands as if the next thing the viscount intended to do was drop to one knee. As a man who generally prided himself on being calm, level-headed, and cordial, Daniel had found the urge to grab Trevinton by his annoyingly perfect cravat and shake him until his teeth rattled extremely disturbing. Of equal concern was the realization that he felt this way because he was jealous. So rather than help his ward make an excellent match, he’d made a move to prevent it. More than that, he’d proceeded to taunt her, until she’d admitted...

  Good God, he still couldn’t quite believe it.

  “Penny.” Daniel took a deep breath and expelled it. A smile tugged at his lips, except she was walking away from him. Without waiting another second, he went in pursuit and soon caught her hand. “Is it true?”

  She tried to yank herself free. “Leave me alone for once, would you?”

  “Not a chance.” He pulled her straight into his arms. “God, Penny, I didn’t dare dream you might feel the same as I did. You never let on.”

  Palms pressed against his chest, she leaned back to gaze at him while he held her. Uncertainty, hope, and the promise of endless joy shone in her eyes. “What exactly are you saying?”

  He pulled her closer, allowed himself to inhale her sweet fragrance and bask in her warmth. “I love you too, Penny, and I would be honored and delighted if you would agree to be my wife. I know I’m no viscount, but maybe—”

  Her mouth met his, the feel of her lips so wonderfully perfect his whole body hummed with pleasure.

  “Yes,” she whispered while he wound his arms more securely around her. He could feel her smile like it were his own. “Nothing in the world would make me happier, Daniel.”

  And since nothing in the world would make him happier either, he kissed her back with all the love and devotion he harbored for her. She was his dearest friend, the woman he loved with all his heart, and now she would finally be his wife.

  Thank you for reading!

  Remember to grab your complimentary book before you go!

  Sign up at:

  https://ww2.sophiebarnes.com/sb/newsletter/ so you don’t miss out on my giveaways, pre-order alerts, or special deals. You’ll receive a complimentary copy of No Ordinary Duke in return!

  Also by Sophie Barnes

  Novels

  Diamonds in the Rough

  Her Scottish Scoundrel

  The Formidable Earl

  The Forgotten Duke

  The Infamous Duchess

  The Illegitimate Duke

  The Duke of Her Desire

  A Most Unlikely Duke

  The Crawfords

  Her Seafaring Scoundrel

  More Than a Rogue

  No Ordinary Duke

  Secrets at Thorncliff Manor

  Christmas at Thorncliff Manor

  His Scandalous Kiss

  The Earl’s Complete Surrender

  Lady Sarah’s Sinful Desires

  At The Kingsborough Ball

  The Danger in Tempting an Earl

  The Scandal in Kissing an Heir

  The Trouble with Being a Duke

  The Summersbys

  The Secret Life of Lady Lucinda

  There’s Something About Lady Mary

  Lady Alexandra’s Excellent Adventure

  Standalone Titles

  The Girl Who Stepped Into The Past

  How Miss Rutherford Got Her Groove Back

  Novellas

  The Townsbridges

  An Unexpected Temptation

  A Duke for Miss Townsbridge

  Falling for Mr. Townsbridge

  Lady Abigail’s Perfect Match

  When Love Leads To Scandal

  The Honorable Scoundrels

  The Duke Who Came To Town

  The Earl Who Loved Her

  The Governess Who Captured His Heart (FREE)

  Standalone Titles

  Mistletoe Magic (from Five Golden Rings: A Christmas Collection)

  Secrets at Colchester H
all

  Miss Compton’s Christmas Romance

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  When Love Leads to Scandal

  His Lady to Wed

  Also by Sophie Barnes

  Novels

  Novellas

  Acknowledgments

  About The Author

  Acknowledgments

  I WOULD LIKE TO THANK the Killion Group for their incredible help with the editing and cover design of this book. And to my friends and family, thank you for your constant support. I would be lost without you!

  About The Author

  BORN IN DENMARK, USA TODAY bestselling author Sophie Barnes spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places around the world. She's lived in five different countries, on three different continents, and speaks Danish, English, French, Spanish, and Romanian with varying degrees of fluency. But, most impressive of all, she's been married to the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.

  When she's not busy dreaming up her next romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, cooking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading.

  You can contact her through her website at www.sophiebarnes.com

  And please consider leaving a review for this book.

  Reviews help readers find books, so every review is greatly appreciated!

  Copyright © 2020 Sophie Barnes

  ONCE UPON A TOWNSBRIDGE STORY

  First Edition. October, 2020

  Written by Sophie Barnes

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

 

 

 


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