Handpicked Husband (Love Inspired Historical) by Winnie Griggs Page B

wasn’t often she was forced to question her own perceptions.
    “All right, folks,” he called out. “Time to get back on the road.”
    Regina shot him an affronted look, just as he’d known she would. But her momentary self-doubt was gone.
    He wasn’t sure why that mattered to him.
    * * *
     
    As soon as they left the meadow behind them, Reggie began her interrogation of Everett. “Tell me, Mr. Fulton, are you truly British, or is that accent just part of your carefully constructed image?”
    “No need to sound so disdainful.” He gave the reins a flick. “We all construct facades of one type or another. Some of us are just better at it.”
    “That’s a rather cynical attitude, don’t you think?”
    “Not at all. For instance, the facade you wear of being reluctantly cooperative, while you are plotting how to have your own way is quite convincing.”
    She wasn’t sure how to respond to that one.
    “And to answer your question,” he continued, “my parents were both British. I lived the first twelve years of my life on an estate about an hour’s ride from London.”
    “And what brought you to America?”
    “A ship called the Lucky Star, if memory serves me,” he replied blandly.
    Reggie’s lips twitched in spite of herself. “You may consider me impertinent, sir, but if I’m to make the choice my grandfather saddled me with, then I should be armed with as much information as I can gather.”
    “I only thought to spare you a sordid, embarrassing story.”
    “Embarrassing for whom?” When he didn’t answer she pressed further. “Remember, by the terms of the contract, you are obligated to answer my questions truthfully.”
    His lips compressed into a tight line, then he gave a short nod. “Very well. My father is a prominent member of the British aristocracy, my mother was an actress. They were not married, either before or after my birth.”
    So, he was the illegitimate son of an English lord. That explained a lot.
    “When I turned twelve, Father finally decided to take a wife. Unfortunately, it was not my mother, and his new bride took a dim view of his continued closeness to her.” Everett shrugged. “So we were shipped an ocean away to start a new life.”
    Reggie felt her heart go out to the boy he had been and the hurt that had been dealt him.
    She must have made some sound of sympathy because he gave her a cynical smile. “No need to feel sorry for me. That was a long time ago. And Father gave my mother enough money to ensure that we could make a nice place for ourselves when we arrived.”
    Slamming the lid on her sympathetic feelings, Reggie jumped at the opening he’d just given her. “Just as Grandfather did when he sent you here.”
    Her companion stiffened. “Nobody sent me here. This time it was my choice.”
    “Was it? Why would a man who so obviously appreciates the finer things in life, willingly come to a place like Turnabout?”
    “Are you saying your fair town has none of life’s ‘finer things’?”
    He was good at turning her words back on her. But she wasn’t about to let him get away with it. “Don’t play word games with me. I’m quite happy with the life Turnabout offers. But I’ve visited Philadelphia several times and I know what so-called amenities are lacking here by comparison.”
    He stared straight ahead. “You might want to be careful, your facade is slipping. A bit of the single-minded bulldog is showing through.”
    An unflattering comparison, but not completely inaccurate. She’d have to watch this one.
    “Well?” she pressed, ignoring his comment.
    He gave her a you’re-not-fooling-me look. Then he acknowledged her question with a nod. “It’s no coincidence your grandfather is setting me up with a printing press. I worked for a prominent newspaper for over ten years, the last seven as a reporter.”
    “Why did you leave?”
    “Because I was asked to,” he said bluntly. Without waiting for her to prompt him, he expanded on his