[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

gamekeeper has to keep a close watch on them lest they cross over and snare our
pheasants.
Catherine snapped the reins and dug her heel into Misty s flanks.  Come on then,
show me how you can run.
Flying down the road, her skirt whipping around her legs, the wind tossing her
curls, Catherine whooped out loud.  We re a fine pair, Misty. We re a fine pair!
61
Anita Birt
Heart pumping with excitement, she slowed the mare when they reached the forest,
and swung her around to return. Edward cantered toward them.
 You sit a horse well, Catherine. It takes a bit of doing to handle Misty.
 She s a lovely animal. I shall exercise her every day until Lord Glenmore returns.
But for now we shall be very sedate while you show me the park.
Catherine held Misty to a gentle trot while Edward pointed out various features of
the land. It stretched for miles. Rolling hillocks sloped to a small lake where four white
swans glided past.
 Years ago Richard persuaded his father to have an artificial lake put in here.
Probably thought to swim in it but it turned out to be too shallow. Proper daredevil he
was as a lad. Never knew what he d do next. When he was sixteen, and the river in full
flood, a fool cousin dared him to swim across. He jumped in, fully clothed, and ended
up a half mile downstream but he made it to the other side.
 He s not likely to try a stunt like that again. Catherine tried to imagine a
handsome laughing youth without a care in the world and her heart ached for the war-
ravaged man he d become.
Edward broke into her thoughts.  The lake is fed from a spring and empties into the
stream over there to the right and eventually into the river bordering our land. The
groundskeeper stocks it with trout but I fear the poachers take most of them. They net
them in the middle of the night.
They rested their horses under a stand of trees.  Thank you for this. Catherine
leaned over and touched Edward s hand.  I shall miss the countryside when I return to
London. I shall miss all of you.
 Then you must come and visit. Now that Richard is on the mend, the house will be
lively, the way it used to be before that dratted war in Crimea. He was a fine soldier
an officer in the 11th Hussars. He went off to war with them.
Hearing stories about Richard pleased Catherine. They made him easier to
understand. In a brisk trot, they returned to the stables. Tom greeted them.
 I almost came out to look for you. An urgent message sent from the house. You re
to return immediately.
Fearing it was bad news from home, her mother ill or Johnny had died abroad,
Catherine s stomach knotted. She dismounted quickly, stroked Misty s nose, and
waited impatiently for Edward.
 You hurry along, Catherine, your young legs are faster than mine. I can t imagine
what the fuss is about. Edward eased himself from the saddle.
Raising her skirt to her boot tops, Catherine sped along the gravel paths, rounded
the corner by the house and dashed up the steps. In the open doorway, she stopped in
her tracks. Square in the center of the hall were traveling cases, a steamer trunk and two
hatboxes. A man s laughter echoed from somewhere in the rear of the house.
62
A Very Difficult Man
 They re in London? Well, I m damned. Never mind. It s good to be home. Give me
a hand with my things, Blewett.
A door at the far end of the hall flew open. A man, magnificently turned out in a
regimental uniform, cap under his arm, strode toward Catherine, his boots rapping
smartly on the marble floor. Seeing her, he halted and bowed.
 I don t think we ve met. I m Captain Randall Delisle, Richard s little brother. I
usually answer to Dolly. He smiled.  Are you coming or going or do you like standing
in doorways?
Catherine s glance wavered. This was Dolly, come home on leave earlier than
expected. A less dolly-like man, she could not imagine. He was tall, well over six feet,
broad in the chest and shoulders. Tanned from soldiering in India, he was devastatingly
handsome, so like his brother, they could be twins. Same dark hair and eyes but no
shadowy pain marked his merry countenance, and Lord Glenmore was not quite so
large a person.
Taking command of her bemused wits, Catherine crossed the hall and held out her
hand.  I m Catherine Thurston, Lord Glenmore s companion.
His hand engulfed hers and he raised his brows.  You are my brother s companion?
What a sly fellow he is, never wrote me a word about having a beautiful companion.
Catherine s cheeks burned. What was he thinking? That she was in a close
relationship with Lord Glenmore. She swallowed hard and withdrew her hand.  I am
employed to assist& to read&  Words stumbled around her tongue. What was she
trying to say?  Your mother, Lady Glenmore, engaged me as your brother s companion
while he recovered from the war. I read to him.
In a flurry of excitement, Edward rushed into the house.  Dolly, what a wonderful
surprise. Didn t expect you for weeks. You re looking mighty fit. India must agree with
you.
Blewett and one of the footmen gathered up luggage. Mrs. Paige, the housekeeper,
accompanied by two maids, hurried up the stairs. Edward pumped Dolly s hand, and
in the welcoming turmoil, Catherine slipped outside and sat on the stone bench by the
front steps. Not wanting to intrude on Edward s pleasure at seeing Randall Delisle, she
decided to wait until everyone cleared the entrance hall before returning to her room.
He was very like his older brother. She d not paid close attention to size in relation
to Lord Glenmore. He tended to stoop over his crutches. Mostly, she liked to study his
face, especially when he smiled at her.
 Excuse me, Miss. A young footman stood at the open front door.  Are you
coming in? Mrs. Paige can t abide flies in the house and I ll close it if you re staying
outside.
Catherine jumped to her feet.  I m coming. She hurried across the hall, up the
stairs, and paused at the top, listening for Captain Delisle s voice.
A burst of his rollicking laughter spilled down the hallway from straight ahead. Not
in the direction she had to go. Meeting Lord Glenmore s soldier brother had all but
63
Anita Birt
taken her breath away. She really had to become used to meeting young men and being
at ease with them. She d almost forgotten how to make lighthearted conversation.
Speaking with Lord Glenmore was different. It was easier to be with him now she
was no longer forced to converse or think up interesting topics. She d read The Taming
of The Shrew, and had sent him to sleep! His suffering in the Crimea had aged him, but
sleep softened the lines on his face. When he threw books at her or was angry and rude,
she knew exactly how to react.
But yesterday, when he d touched her hair& a fire had blazed down her spine,
leaving her weak. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]