Fenella J Miller Read Free Page B

allowed herself to be mistreated. She must have had at least one Season. She was not an antidote exactly, so why had she not taken?
    As Lady Thorrington had been so insistent he did not enquire after her sister-in-law he decided not to speak to Haverstock. Tomorrow he would seek out Lady Eleanor and discover what kept her tied to her brother’s household. Did she have no dowry? Perhaps that was the problem. However well-bred, a plain woman without money would not be sought after as a bride.

    “I think that is enough for this morning, children. You have worked hard. You may put your books away.”
    “Are we to play cricket again, Aunt Eleanor?”
    “No, my love, I thought we could take a picnic to the woods. We are becoming uncomfortably hot up here and I am sure that the lawns will be unpleasant too.”
    She decided to take Mary with her, that way she was less likely to be accosted by anyone. It would be an unmitigated disaster if Bentley decided to take an interest in her welfare. His interference would push her brother into further unpleasantness. At least if Edward was bullying her , he was leaving his children unmolested. Poor Jane was another matter.
    She had no intention of committing the folly of marrying; not that any man would offer for her now. She was approaching five and twenty, and had lost what looks she had been blessed with. If there was any way to remove herself from her brother’s control she would take it, but without her inheritance, she was as dependent on him as his wife and children.
    “We shall take the back stairs as usual, children. Try not to clatter with your boots on the boards; we do not wish to disturb anyone.” They all knew she meant not alert their father.
    Outside there was not a cloud in the sky. Hopefully it would be cooler in the woods. Male voices were approaching from the stables.
    “Quickly, let us race to the path that leads into the wood. Amanda and I shall go first, then Peter, then Jonathan, and last Ned. Remember, you must count to twenty after each person departs before the next one can leave.” She smiled at Mary. “I do not expect you to run but follow on at your own pace.”
    Taking the little girl’s hand, she gathered her skirts and set off, shortening her strides to accommodate the child beside her. The laughs and shouts of the boys as they ran behind lifted her spirits and, as always, they arrived at roughly the same time.
    “That was capital, Aunt Eleanor. I’m quite puffed out. I need to sit down in the shade for a bit.”
    “If you recall, Ned, there’s a stream not far ahead; if we walk there we can dip our toes in the water to cool down.”
    “I’m thirsty. Can we drink the water?” Amanda asked.
    “As long as we drink before we paddle, I’m sure it will be perfectly safe. The stream crosses the paddocks after it leaves the woods.”
    Mary arrived, red-faced and out of breath. “Well, I never! I’ve been eating too many puddings. I don’t run as fast as I used to.”
    “Never mind, Mary. You had to carry the picnic so it wasn’t a fair race. We are going to the stream for a drink and you can have a paddle with us.” Ned grinned and held out his hand to take the basket but Mary shook her head.
    “Why, thank you, Lord Edward, I might just do that.”
    Eleanor settled her charges along the edge of the bank and demonstrated how they could scoop water up in their cupped hands. This enterprise was fraught with difficulty and by the time they had quenched their thirst they were weak with laughter and considerably damper than when they had begun.
    “There, that was fun, wasn’t it, children? Shall we sit in the sun until our clothes are dry?”
    “I want to paddle, Aunt Eleanor. So what’s the use of getting dry as we are all going to get wet again?”
    “Excellent point, Jonathan. But please, all of you, don’t fall in. Your father was not impressed by our activities yesterday.”
    She hated to dampen their enthusiasm but soon her brother