دانلود رمان انگلیسی “قوانین خواستگاری”

Rule #1: Do not climb up unless you can climb down – If Ruth had known she would end the morning stranded in an apple tree, she would not have bothered finishing her breakfast. Had she left the house ten minutes earlier, she would now be safely tucked on her horse, riding the hills instead of hiding from a would-be suitor. Balmy sunlight beat through the branches, warming her bonnet-less head and making her grow hot and sticky. She wiped perspiration from her forehead with her wrist, then reached to pluck a round, reddish-green apple from a nearby branch and rubbed it on her sleeve before taking a bite. Sour, but satisfying. She munched quietly, her cheeks clenching and juice running down her chin, while she watched the stable door safely from above. Papa would never go so far as to arrange a marriage on her behalf, but he had not disguised his intention to introduce her to every eligible gentleman of his acquaintance over the course of the last year. Ever since her stepbrother Ryland had fallen in love and married his son’s governess, Papa wanted Ruth to have that same security. His need to be rid of her would be mildly offensive had he not confined his search to the immediate vicinity. At least he wished for her to remain nearby. Even if it meant ignoring the rules by which she lived her life. Namely: never court a man from Harewood. Of all Ruth’s rules, that was the most important. She took another bite from the juicy apple, partially satiating her thirst. A bird called as it passed overhead, but no other sounds broke the peaceful silence. Ruth leaned against the branch, searching the front of the stables for any sign of Papa’s current favorite, Dr. Burnside. The man had moved to their small hamlet of Harewood only two months ago, and since he’d come with the express purpose of replacing their aged parish doctor, Papa heartily approved. Dr. Burnside was young, fit, had a healthy career and life ahead of him, and was in possession of a decent house near the heart of Harewood—what more could she possibly want? Indeed, if Ruth had not made the rule long ago that she’d not court a man from Harewood—including men like Dr. Burnside who had recently moved in—she would consider allowing him to take her out for a ride. But as it stood, Ruth lived by her rules. What sort of person would she be if she broke them on a whim? Unreliable. Weak. Susceptible to the pressure of others. Possibly even married to a man she did not love. She shuddered. The idea of a loveless marriage was the most distasteful of all. Papa’s voice floated from the stables. “You are always welcome, Dr. Burnside.” “Yet it seems Miss Wycliffe is never on hand when I stop in,” Dr. Burnside said, his clear tone carrying through the breeze. “If I was a less confident man, I would fear she was avoiding me.” His confidence was getting in the way of his understanding, for that was exactly her intent. “She is strong-willed,” Papa said carefully