Laura Matthews Read Free

fast-diminishing power. What he could not see was whether her intimations had any basis in fact and whether they would affect him if he married Miss Forbes. It seemed unlikely that she would pass on groundless rumors to him, knowing that sooner or later he would find out the truth of the matter. She had never met Miss Forbes, however, and information she had was doubtless on hearsay from old crones with whom she corresponded.
    Nonetheless, the calm, uncomplicated life he had envisioned had been ruthlessly shattered during the past month and he saw no hopes of piecing it together with any semblance of pleasure to him. Would the Miss Forbes he had envisioned as his comfort on leave prove a satisfactory companion in the continuous setting of lady of the manor?
     

Chapter 2
     
    Glenna Forbes was not even aware of the possibility of becoming a viscountess. Her last communication from Captain Philip Hobart had been a hurried note informing her that his cousin William had died and that he was setting out for the Lockwood estate. Aware that he was possessed of two cousins, though she knew little more of his family, she naturally assumed that the younger had assumed the peerage. Her own father had suffered from the influenza which had carried off Captain Hobart’s cousin, and her days were spent nursing him. With his gradual recovery she once again took up the threads of her life, surprised at not having word from Captain Hobart but not alarmed, considering the circumstance which had drawn him to Lockwood.
    It was therefore most unexpected when a Viscount Pontley was announced to her as she sat in the morning room playing the harp. Puzzled, she agreed to receive the visitor, since he must certainly be her betrothed’s cousin. Her confusion made her miss the twinkle in the butler’s eye, and she stared at Pontley for some time when he entered, unable to decide how to greet him. When the door was closed behind him and he approached her, she became aware of his limp.
    “You have hurt yourself.”
    “Not much, I assure you, though it is possible I shall retain the limp.” Her concern appeared genuine and Pontley took her hand and pressed it. “I have not seen you since my ship was engaged in a slight skirmish and I carelessly stood in the way of a ball. It has been removed, but the wound heals too slowly.”
    Glenna nodded and, taking a seat, motioned him to do likewise. Indicating his civilian dress she asked, “Have you resigned your commission in the Navy?”
    “I have succeeded to my cousin’s title, Miss Forbes, and have responsibilities in that direction now."
    “I see. I thought you had two cousins, Cap— Lord Pontley.”
    The interview was not proceeding as he had expected and he replied stiffly, “While at Lockwood we received word that my cousin Keith who was serving in India under Lord Wellesley had been killed in the autumn.”
    "Your poor aunt! How could she bear to lose two sons in so short a space of time? I offer you both my condolences.” Her blue eyes were troubled and the fair, smooth skin wrinkled into a frown. “Should you not have stayed with your aunt?”
    “My presence only adds to her grief.”
    Glenna was startled by his obvious lack of sympathy and found herself unable to reply. Under his scrutiny she felt uncomfortable, and rose to ring for refreshments. He politely rose with her and watched her cross to the pull. There was the same calm efficiency of movement he had noted and approved on previous visits. The blue muslin gown was becoming and modest, the white cap delightfully fantastic, almost as though it were a laughing reminder of her age. But where he was used to seeing the blue eyes lively with enthusiasm, now they were downcast and troubled. The reddish-blond hair curled about her face in a frame, and the nose was rather short and turned up perhaps too much for real beauty, but he thought once again that she was an attractive woman. And she had nothing to say to him. When she turned to