Fenella J Miller Read Free

our grandfather. It’s a family
curse.’
    Penny relaxed. It had taken only
a few moments for her to realize that although externally the two men were
identical, James Weston lacked the indefinable charisma and sense of authority
that his older relative had in abundance.
    ‘Are you staying at Headingly, Mr
Weston?’
    ‘I am, Miss Coombs. It’s some
time since the family gathered together. Ned has been away on business until
recently. We are not a particularly close group, but we do like to re-establish
our connections now and again. So my cousin has arranged a house party.’
    Lord Weston had completed his
conversation with her aunt and was moving inexorably towards her once more. She
smiled radiantly at her companion unaware of the impact she was making.
    ‘Mr Weston, would you be kind
enough to escort me over to my carriage? I am feeling unwell. It has become
unpleasantly warm and I have been standing in the sun too long.’
    Immediately the young man offered
his arm to her. ‘It would be my pleasure, Miss Coombs.’
    She could feel the animosity
pouring from Lord Weston but he didn’t intervene, and was relieved to reach the
safety of the barouche without further conversation with him.
    ‘Thank you, Mr Weston. It was
delightful to meet you.’
    Her coachman held open the door
and she stepped inside. Mr Weston bowed and with a friendly wave he strolled
off to join his party. She was obliged to sit and wait a further ten minutes
before her aunt was escorted back by Lord Weston.
    She leant against the squabs and
closed her eyes. She had no wish to speak to him again. The carriage dipped as
Aunt Lucy climbed in.
    ‘Good day, Lord Weston. It has
been a pleasure to renew our acquaintance and thank you for your kind
invitation.’
    ‘I am honoured that you have
accepted it and look forward to seeing you both tomorrow.’
    There was a pause and Penny
thought it safe to open her eyes. To her horror he was leaning nonchalantly on
the carriage door his eyes alight with amusement. ‘Good. I am pleased to see
that you are recovered, Miss Coombs.’
    She glared at him, but didn’t
lower herself to respond. The hateful man moved away and she broke her silence.
‘Aunt Lucy, what did Lord Weston mean about seeing him tomorrow?’
    Her aunt beamed. ‘My dear, I am
so excited. When I explained how disappointed I was to miss the opportunity for
a balloon ascent, Lord Weston kindly extended an invitation to both of us to
join his house party.’ Aunt Lucy beamed. ‘His lordship has arranged for the
aeronauts to stay on his estate until all his guests, including ourselves, have
been able to experience the delights of a flight.’

 
     

 
 
 
 
    Chapter Two

 
 
    Penny wanted to stamp her feet in
vexation. Instead she took a deep breath and pinned on a cheerful smile. ‘How
obliging of him to include us in his house party; I’ve never visited Headingly but I understand that it’s a handsome building. It
will be most interesting to see for myself. I shall ride there. It’s a long
time since Phoenix and I travelled any distance.’
    ‘Ride, Miss Coombs? It is over
eight miles from Nettleford to Headingly .’
Lord Weston had stepped closer to the carriage.
    Penny smiled sunnily at the man
scowling down at her. ‘Yes, my mind’s quite made up. Which direction do you
recommend I take?’
    He was obliged to instruct her in
the shortest cross county route to his home and the barouche finally departed
with both occupants well pleased with the morning’s outing.
    Her aunt patted Penny’s clenched
hands. ‘Was that not a delightful encounter, my dear? And such a surprise! It
will be pleasant to spend a few weeks with Lord Weston and his guests. I
declare it is exactly what we both need to lift our spirits.’
    ‘If you say so,
Aunt Lucy.’
    ‘Is that all you can say on the
matter, my dear? I thought you would be thrilled to renew your acquaintance with
his lordship. Did you notice how particular his attentions