A Most Unusual Match. Sara Mitchell
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“I prefer horses to people,” Devlin said. “They might bite or kick if frightened or provoked. But they don’t lie.”
Thea weathered the blow—it was justified. “I didn’t think a harmless fabrication would hurt anyone…” Her voice trailed into silence.
“And when nothing worked, you got desperate.”
“Desperate,” she repeated. “Have you ever been desperate, Mr. Stone? About anything?”
“Yes. But never enough to cheat, or beg or deceive.”
“Then you’ve never been desperate.”
“I don’t know what to think of you, Miss Pickford. Is that your real name, by the way?”
“It’s actually my mother’s maiden name.” He slid the question in so neatly Thea answered before she realized it. “Please don’t ask for my real name. I don’t want to lie to you anymore.”
“Ah.” Another one of those flicks of blue light came and went in his eyes. “We’re in accord, then. I don’t want to be lied to.”
SARA MITCHELL
A popular and highly acclaimed author in the Christian market, Sara’s aim is to depict the struggle between the challenges of everyday life and the values to which our faith would have us aspire. The author of contemporary, historical suspense and historical novels, her work has been published by many inspirational book publishers.
Having lived in diverse locations from Georgia to California to Great Britain, her extensive travel experience helps her create authentic settings for her books. A lifelong music lover, Sara has also written several musical dramas and has long been active in the music miniseries of the churches wherever she has lived. The mother of two daughters, Sara now lives in Virginia.
Sara Mitchell
A Most Unusual Match
MILLS & BOON
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Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”
Wait for the Lord, and He will deliver you.
—Proverbs 20:22, NIV
He hath…sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty them that are bruised.
—Luke 4:18, KJV
To Melissa Endlich, my dear editor, for her consummate editorial skill, and her faith in me.
Thanks for everything.
Acknowledgments
Profound thanks to the following, all of whom were gracious with their time and generous with their information. Any historical errors are entirely the author’s doing.
Once again to the staff members in the U.S. Secret Service Office of Government and Public Affairs, and the staff of the U.S. Secret Service Archives, for their courtesy and invaluable assistance.
Saratoga Springs, New York
Mary Ann Fitzgerald, City Historian, Saratoga Springs
Allan Carter, Historian, Saratoga Racing Museum
…and all the other wonderful individuals up in Saratoga Springs I spoke to a time or two, or exchanged emails with.
Jekyl Island
Gretchen Greminger, Curator, Jekyl Island—spelled “Jekyll” from the 20th century onward! (so nobody will be confused….)
Clint and the rest of the staff at the Jekyll Island Museum.
Gretchen, many, many thanks for helping me perfect the plot and make it work! You’re a perfect example of a peach of a Georgia gal!
God’s blessings to one and all.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Letter to Reader
Questions for Discussion
Chapter One
Saratoga Springs, New York
June, 1897
Theodora Langston watched Edgar Fane stroll across the lobby of the Grand Union Hotel. A half smile lurked at the corners of his mouth, while a swelling crowd—mostly ladies—clustered about him. His gray fedora tipped forward jauntily and one pale hand lightly swung a brass-handled walking stick, tapping the marble foyer with each step. Mr. Fane epitomized a gentleman out to enjoy his season at Saratoga Springs. He had the right, seeing he was a son of one of the richest