英语小说：Destined To Last 节选(1) ZT
========================================================DESTINED TO LAST
by Alissa Johnson
FROM THE BOOK JACKET:(ZT)
Lady Kate Cole was a young woman of exceptional beauty,
extraordinary talent, and notable charm. She was also a
woman so remarkably prone to accidents that it was
generally considered wise to keep as much distance from
her as possible.
Yet Andrew Hunter simply couldn't stay away. No other
woman would do for his wife. He would give her adventure,
fidelity, and a fortune so vast she'd need several
lifetimes to go through half of it. What woman could ask
for more?
All Kate asked for was a true love match. And Mr. Hunter
clearly had no room in his heart for such a silly emotion.
But then how was it that no matter what adventure he
dragged her on, no matter what mishap befell her, the look
in his eyes told her they were "Destined to Last."
==========================
DESTINED TO LAST
by Alissa Johnson (fiction)
A Leisure Book
Published by Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
ISBN: 9780843962529
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PROLOGUE
The Countess of Thurston was perfectly aware that it was most
unseemly for a lady to run in public. Which was why she chose to
step briskly--"very" briskly--across Benton's small snow-covered
town square.
"Lady Katherine Anne Beatrice Cole!"
The countess was also quite aware that it was unseemly for a lady to
raise her voice in public, but every mother had her limits, and her
five-year-old daughter, Kate, had an astonishing talent for pushing
her past those limits. Lady Thurston had turned her back for only a
moment in the shop to greet Mrs. Newman, and when she had turned
round again, Kate had vanished.
What had followed was a frantic search of the shop, the two
neighboring shops, and then the town square, where she had finally
spotted Kate's little blonde head peeking out from over a row of
decorative evergreen hedges.
Lady Thurston had managed to control her pace, but restraining her
voice had been quite beyond her. Fortunately, by the time she
arrived on the other side of those hedges and found Kate seated next
to another child on a bench, her fear, and the accompanying temper,
had eased enough for her to speak in the moderate tones far more
suitable for both a woman of her rank, and for reasoning with an
impetuous and impossibly stubborn child.
"Katherine Cole, how many times have you been told you are not to
run off without permission?"
Kate cocked her head, her light blue eyes squinting in thought.
Oh, good heavens, five-year-olds were so literal. "I am not in
search of an exact number, Kate. The point I am making is that you
know better. You shall not be allowed to play the pianoforte
tonight."
Kate's mouth fell open. It was, for her, the most grievous of
punishments. "But, 'Mama'--"
"No pianoforte," she repeated. "If it happens again--"
"But I 'had' to go," Kate insisted, and pointed at the other child
on the bench. "I saw Lizzy. She might be five."
Lady Thurston took a deep, calming breath and then, for the first
time, took a very good look at the small child next to Kate. The
girl did appear as if she might be near to five years of age. She
had sweet brown eyes, hair that was in desperate need of a wash, and
the sallow complexion of one who had recently suffered an illness.
She was bundled in an old but warm-looking coat two sizes too big.
And the remainder of her was covered in rags--even her feet, the
poor dear.
Not a local child, Lady Thurston decided. She knew all the children
in Benton, and she made certain all of them had decent clothes on
their backs and shoes on their feet... All but her own, it would
seem. Kate's feet were bare except for stockings. Lizzy was holding
her boots.
"Why are you holding Kate's boots, dear?"
"I weren't stealing 'em," Lizzy proclaimed with a slight lisp. She
tossed down the boots. "I weren't."
"She weren't," Kate echoed.
"She was not," Lady Thurston corrected before stooping to pick up
the discarded shoes. "Here now, they are Kate's to do with as she
pleases. Do you want her to have them, Kate?"
Kate nodded. Which did not surprise Lady Thurston in the least. The
child adored giving presents and would have jumped at the chance to
replace Lizzy's ragged footwear.
She held the boots out to Lizzy. "Where are your parents?"
"In heaven," Lizzy replied, snatching the shoes back without further
argument.
"I am very sorry to hear it." She watched a moment as the girl
fingered the soft leather. "How did you get here?"
"Puck brought me. I'm to wait for him here. Well, 'there,'" she
amended, pointing to an alley between the modiste's and the
booksellers. "But I like it better here."
Of course she did. The bench, unlike the alley, was warmed in the
sun. "I beg your pardon? Who did you say brought you?"
"Puck. My friend."
"I see." Puck? That couldn't possibly be a real person. Lady
Thurston turned to scan the square and surrounding shops. No one
appeared to be looking for the child. A pang of anger and sadness
clutched at her chest. The poor darling had been abandoned, like as
not. It was an all too common occurrence.
