A Kiss from the Heart Read Free

way along the familiar corridor to his father’s bedroom.
    Even though it was three o’clock in the morning, the gas lamps were burning and he noticed a cluster of servants weeping by the backstairs. He could see by the dark smudges beneath their eyes that there had been little or no sleep in the Hall that night.
    â€œMy Lord!”
    Mrs. Sturrock bent her grey head at his approach and quickly shooed the other servants out of the way.
    â€œYour mother will be relieved you are here at last.”
    â€œIs she still in Papa’s room?” he enquired, his voice trembling.
    â€œYes, my Lord.”
    He noticed a brisk new deference in her manner. It occurred to him it was because he was now the new Earl of Templeton. He was no longer simply the heir.
    She opened the door for him and the first person he saw was his younger sister Alicia. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying as she creased up a linen handkerchief into a ball in her hand.
    â€œRobert!” she cried, throwing herself at him. “I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you are here.”
    He embraced his sister warmly and then proceeded towards the bed. His father looked so peaceful as he lay still against the pillows.
    His mother was kneeling by the bed, sobbing into the coverlet.
    â€œMama – ” whispered Alicia.
    â€œRobert! You are here!”
    His mother’s face now lit up as he strode across the room towards her.
    The whole family crowded around the bed – Alec, the brother who was two years younger, Emmeline, Charles and dear Alicia.
    Each wore an expression of grief. Charles had his arm around Emmeline, whilst Alec stood a few paces away with his face to the wall.
    â€œDid you receive my letter, Robert?”
    â€œNo, Mama.”
    He could hardly tear his eyes away from the awful scene in front of him. The last time he had seen his father, he had been so full of life!
    â€œRobert, we only received your letter the other day, telling us you were on your way home. We hoped that you might arrive before – oh, my dearest boy, I am so sorry!”
    â€œI am now here, Mama, and that is all that matters,” replied the new Earl grimly.
    The room fell silent apart from the sniffling of his sisters and mother.
    He could not stop staring at his father.
    â€˜Oh, Papa! My Papa! Why did I not come sooner? Damn the fact that I chose the carriage over the train from Southampton!’ he thought, remonstrating with himself over what he saw as a foolish decision.
    Outside the window, the sky began to lighten. Thin streaks of sunlight played behind the dark damask curtain. It was June and it would soon be a lovely day.
    But the new Earl had had his fill of hot summer days – India had been one long stifling day after the other.
    The doctor returned with the death certificate as the sun came up. The Countess had sent her daughters to bed and now only Alec and Charles remained in the room.
    The new Earl was downstairs in the morning room when he heard the doctor’s carriage pulling up. He had not changed his clothes and, as he caught the expression on a footmen’s face, he realised that he must be presenting a truly dishevelled sight.
    â€œAh, Lord Templeton, might I offer you my sincere condolences? We must have just missed each other last night. Your father was a great man and he will be missed by us all,” said the doctor, holding out his hand.
    â€œThank you so much and thank you for attending on him so well. I am satisfied that everything possible was done for him.”
    â€œIt was such a massive stroke. He could not have survived.”
    â€œYet he appeared to be in the best of health,” sighed the Earl.
    â€œIt is often so with strokes,” remarked the doctor.
    The Earl pulled himself together and led the doctor to the morning room. He declined a cup of coffee instead preferring to hand over the certificate and be on his way.
    â€œYou will excuse me if I do not linger,