Lord Samhain's Night Read Free Page A

I went to him that night and told him. He had guessed in any case."
    Phoebe concentrated on setting another stitch. So when they'd announced the engagement, Charlie had been well prepared. "You mistake the matter if you think he felt keenly. It would not matter a fig to him if we were to live close by."
    "You will permit me to know my brother."
    "He didn’t show any particular dismay."
    "He rarely shows how he feels. You know that, Phoebe. And he was holding back for fear he held an unfair advantage, that his title and fortune would weigh with you after all. He always was a stickler for fair play." He broke off with a sigh. "Trust me, Phoebe. We should leave King's Chase."
    Everything was awry again, and in ways she found hard to understand. To be away was the main thing, however. "Very well. Will you set about looking for an estate straight away?"
    “Of course.” Rupert settled back to his accounts and she to her sewing, but she felt almost sick.
    Had she misread Charlie?
    Had she misread Rupert too? From his behavior since their betrothal, she feared she had. She suspected his feelings for her did not run as deeply as she had thought.
    And now, to crown it all, she was to leave King's Chase.
    That would bring the blessing that she would rarely encounter Charlie. When that thought brought her close to tears, she knew she was foolish beyond all reckoning. This was confirmed when Charlie wrote that he had offered for Miss Gresham and been accepted. Nan did not, however, desire a double wedding and so the date was fixed for September.
    Phoebe prayed Rupert find an estate far away, then there’d be no call to attend the wretched ceremony.
    He certainly set about finding a suitable property with enthusiasm, and Phoebe feared she knew why. He’d detected her feelings and wanted to move her far from a rival. But was he desperate on his own behalf as well?
    Did Rupert love Nan?
    When Rupert discussed possible estates with her she had to pretend interest. She merely wanted one that would be quickly available and as far away from King's Chase as possible.
    Four weeks before the wedding, Rupert went off to inspect a property called Jacoby Hall in Wiltshire. A few days later, Nan Gresham returned to the area and came to call at King's Chase, as gloriously beautiful as ever.
    Lady Kingsbury greeted her as a future daughter. Phoebe did her best to be civil. Any bitterness she felt towards Nan, however, melted away when she realized how unhappy Nan was, and how disappointed that Rupert was not there.
    The whole pickle was ridiculous, and she, for one, would have no part of it. As soon as Rupert returned she would end the engagement. Such a scandal would itself be an excellent excuse to leave King's Chase, at least for a while. What Rupert, Charlie, and Nan did then would be up to them.
    She waited on a razor's edge for Rupert's return, preparing the right words, and the right arguments to overcome his protests, wishing the days would fly by faster so she could have done with this.
    Then, instead of Rupert, a messenger arrived with grim news.
    Jacoby Hall had been struck by lightning, and all within had perished.
     
    ~~~~
     
    The funeral was held on the first day of April and the beauty of the season seemed a cruel contrast to the event. Leaves were new and vibrant, and the churchyard gay with spring flowers. Courting birds swooped and twittered in the trees above the grave.
    Charlie was there, of course, somber with grief. Nan sent only a formal letter of commiseration, but rumor said she was deeply upset. Phoebe wished she could go to Nan and offer comfort, but that was impossible without exposing deep wounds.
    For her part, Phoebe was grieving a beloved brother and suffering torments of guilt. On Halloween she’d acted foolishly, provoked by Charlie's easy acceptance of that business with the nuts. If she’d not done so perhaps none of this would have happened. She avoided Charlie and she would have left King's Chase immediately,