Love's Refrain: The Partridge Christmas Series, #2.5

By Patricia Kiyono

Lady Laura Montgomery would much rather spend her summer at the family estate, but instead she must act as her stepsister's chaperone for the London season. She takes solace in her poetry books and in her love of music. They're all she has to comfort her as she once again faces the one man who stole her heart ten years ago.

Andrew Bradford, Earl of Covington, needs an heir, but he's not looking for love. His mother has made her selection, but he can't help being drawn to the girl's chaperone. Can he hope to make a match based on more than beauty and suitability?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dingbat Publishing
• Release date: Aug 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393498308

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LOVE’S REFRAIN

Copyright © 2013 by Patricia Kiyono

Re-Published by Dingbat Publishing

Humble, Texas

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Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are entirely the produce of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to persons living or dead, actual locations, events, or organizations is coincidental.

Dedication

Music has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. My paternal grandfather was a violinist, and my maternal grandfather was a taiko drummer. My father encouraged all of his children to learn to play an instrument, so I got my first clarinet in grade school. Eventually, I got my teaching degree and have spent the last forty years sharing the joy of listening to and making music with the next generation. But despite all my training, I’m not skilled enough to make a living as a performer.

Thanks to community bands and orchestras, music making isn’t limited to the professionals. Recently, there has been a rise in the number of people participating in volunteer organizations, and I’m fortunate to be a member of three such groups. I love performing with these diverse circles of adults coming from all walks of life, bonded together by our mutual love of music.

The two main characters in Love’s Refrain are amateur musicians, like my fellow band and orchestra members. They use music to build hope, express pain and joy, and to connect on a deeper level when words alone aren’t enough. And so it is with gratefulness that I dedicate this story to the musicians of the Zeeland Community Band, The Calvin Community Symphony, and the Kent Philharmonic Orchestra.

Chapter One

Andrew Bradford, Earl of Covington, took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He needed to calm himself before speaking, lest he invoke the wrath of the person perched gracefully on the settee before him. His mother, the dowager countess, inspected the lace on her new gown.

Come now, Andrew, she chided. Your wife has been gone nine years. Certainly long enough for a proper mourning period. It’s past time you remarried.

I’ve no interest in remarrying, Mother.

So you’ve said. But the fact is, you need an heir. Andrew— She reached out a hand to stop him when he turned away from her. I know Priscilla’s death hurt you. But you are still here. Brentwood Manor needs an heir. And you need someone to help you go on living. She paused to let her words sink in.

Andrew, I only want to see you happy. You need a companion, someone to be your champion, someone to listen to you and help you achieve your goals.

I could get a dog, observed Andrew.

Ignoring his sarcasm, the countess continued. "Andrew, dear, I know you blame yourself for leaving Priscilla alone so soon after you married. But you were doing your duty to your country, fighting on the Continent. No one can say you abandoned your wife. She was always—delicate. You did your best, and the household staff took good care of her. It was not your fault."

Andrew shook his head in disbelief, but the countess carried on.

The season is just beginning, and there are hundreds of lovely young women just looking for a dashing earl, she reminded him. Tonight, Lord and Lady Kentridge are hosting a ball. Go and dance, make some young chit happy.

Mother, I have better things to do than attend a ball.

Of course you do. But I’ve already accepted on your behalf.

You what? His outburst startled the footman who had entered to clear away the tea set, and he cleared his throat in an effort to tamp down his irritation. He waited until the young man had left the room before opening his mouth to continue the conversation, but Lady Covington beat him to it.

"It is early in the season, and the unattached gentlemen are in shorter supply than the debutantes. Lady Kentridge begged me to bring you, so of course I had to agree. Just go, take a young lady or two onto the dance floor, and you