The Bridal Swap by Karen Kirst Page A

not make the tiniest noise. Nanny said so. Else something much worse would happen to her.
    The musty odor merged with the acrid tang of mothballs, burning her nostrils. She hated it in here! But there was no one to rescue her.
    Father and Mother were at the seashore and wouldn’t be back for another month. Fran was with her tutor in the opposite wing of the estate. And the other employees were scattered throughout, tending their chores.
    Nanny Marie had sole charge of her. She would decide when Kate could come out, when her punishment was over. Not that she knew exactly what she’d done to anger Nanny. Kate tried to be on her best behavior, but she ran afoul of her nanny nearly every day.
    Suddenly, she wasn’t in the closet anymore. The darkness remained, but now the walls were lined with wine bottles. It was the estate’s wine cellar. A pleasant, earthy smell hung in the still air. Wesley’s handsome, shadowed face appeared, his eyes gleaming and his voice coaxing.
    No! This was all wrong. And yet…he was so confident and reassuring. Everything would be fine. He wanted to show her what love was really like.
    She didn’t have to drink a drop of wine to be intoxicated. His touch drove all reason from her mind. With every fiber of her being, she yearned to be loved.
    Wesley? The shadows morphed and he was gone. Shame stained her heart. What had she done? Tears spilled down her cheeks.
    Gradually, Kate woke to wetness on her pillow. It took a minute for her mind to grasp her surroundings. She wasn’t in New York, but in Tennessee. Josh’s cabin. His bedroom.
    The horrible reality of the dream lingered, and she couldn’t help but think of that night with Wesley. No matter how much she wanted to despise him, she couldn’t, for the burden of guilt didn’t rest entirely on him.
    Kate could’ve stopped him at any moment. She hadn’t. His words, like blessed rain, had fallen on the parched soil of her soul. She hadn’t been able to resist.
    Fumbling in the dark, she crossed to the window and pushed the curtains aside. The moonlight, though weak, enabled her to see enough to light the lamp’s wick. The golden flare soothed her somewhat.
    She’d gone to bed troubled. Worried about Josh and Nathan, she’d stared at the low ceiling—unable to sleep until she heard the sound of horses entering the lane. Careful to conceal herself, she’d watched from the edge of the glass the brothers riding tall in their saddles, relief filling her at the sight of them safe and sound.
    Tonight’s emotional upheaval had stirred up disturbing memories of the past, hence the dreams.
    Cold through to her soul, Kate rubbed her arms, hugging herself against the whirlpool of gloom and shadows tugging her down. Her gaze fell on her Bible on the bedside stand.
    Remember the truth, Christ forgives us because of His faithfulness and goodness. We don’t have to do anything to deserve it—nor can we. He chose to love each and every one of us, despite our failures.
    Her old friend Danielle’s voice echoed in her head. A young ladies’ maid working at the estate at the time of Wesley’s betrayal, Danielle had seen Kate’s misery and, flouting protocol, befriended her. Told her about God’s love. Talked to her about the Scriptures. It was because of Danielle that Kate had turned to God.
    God knew her inside and out—her fears and dreams, strengths and faults—and loved her anyway.
    That truth had the power to drive out her uncertainties and worry.
    Sliding the Bible into her lap, she turned to the book of Psalms and began to read.
    Hard at work in his shop the following night, Josh was still kicking himself. Kissing Kate, allowing himself to feel things for her, was reckless. Against his will, she affected him. Not only had she captured his thoughts, she’d enslaved his senses, sharpening his awareness of her every move. He felt her every sigh like a soft caress. Her tender smiles weakened his resolve.
    Hers was the face he saw in his