Supervising Sally Read Free

frowned. ‘You almost make me feel sorry for Sally. Does her father want her?’
    â€˜I’m sure he doesn’t, her presence will severely cramp his style. He has a reputation with the ladies, you know.’
    â€˜Yes, I do,’ Zachary replied, recalling some of the more deplorable stories circulating in the clubs. ‘Can’t he refuse to have her?’
    â€˜Clara has threatened to prevent young Frederick from visiting his father during his summer holidays if he refuses to have Sally.’
    â€˜William sounds like a puny sort of fellow if he puts up with that.’
    â€˜He is the sort of man who prefers a peaceful life without domestic strife.’
    â€˜Then he should never have married Clara! It sounds as though Sally takes after her mother.’
    â€˜He did marry her, and has to live with it.’
    â€˜If you say so. But what is this about my escorting Sally to Brussels? It’s impossible! Think of the scandal of the two of us travelling together.’
    â€˜But you would not be alone with her. I can provide Sally with a companion she will like, and she will have her maid. You will have your valet. You will be quite a large party.’
    He shook his head. He should have known Beatrice better. ‘You have it all planned, I see, and it’s pointless my arguing. Very well, I’ll bear lead Sally to Brussels, but I will have no more to do with her once I have handed her over to her father. Was that what you wanted me to say?’
    â€˜Dear Zachary, I knew I could depend on you.’

    Mrs Kingston held out her hand and smiled. She was a small woman, still pretty, but ill health had faded her looks. Her
gown was an old favourite, the skirt wider than fashionable, but it was neat, and she had a warm if old Paisley shawl about her shoulders.
    â€˜Do forgive me for not rising, Lady Drayton.’
    â€˜Of course you must not. I know you have been very ill, and I came to see how you were.’
    â€˜Much better, thank you. That dreadful cold and cough have gone, thank goodness, but I still feel dreadfully weak from being confined to bed for so long, unable to take my usual walks.’
    â€˜Phoebe tells me you are going to live with Jane in Yorkshire. Your friends in Buxton will miss you.’
    Phoebe thought she saw a shadow cross her mother’s face. ‘I’ll miss them too, but it seems best for everyone if I accept Jane’s kind invitation and go to live with her and her family. The past few weeks have been difficult for Phoebe with so much extra to do, looking after me.’
    â€˜Mama, you know I haven’t minded.’
    â€˜You’ve been very good to me.’
    Beatrice smiled at her. ‘Well, at least we can see you often there. Ridgeway Park is only ten miles away from Bradshaw Towers, and maybe you could spend some time with us. I rarely go away now, with Lord Drayton preferring to remain at home most of the time. It does not seem fair to leave him for more than a few days.’
    â€˜We’d be very grateful. You have always been good to us.’
    â€˜I will be going away for a few weeks in the New Year, though. I’ve come with an ulterior motive this time, I have to confess. Lord Drayton’s niece, Sally Benton, is to go to visit her father in Brussels for a few months. I am hoping you will permit Phoebe to accompany her as a companion.’
    Phoebe gasped. She had made enquiries at the Buxton Registries, but they had not been optimistic about her chances of obtaining employment. She looked too young,
they said. One lady had sniffed and said she was too pretty; employers would be afraid young and impressionable male relatives would be too taken with her. She was resigned to going to Yorkshire in a few days’ time, and pessimistic about her chances of finding a suitable position from there. This would be a reprieve.
    â€˜To Brussels? So far away?’ Mrs Kingston said, her voice doubtful. ‘But is it