The Gallant Guardian Read Free Page B

delicately arched brows, were thoughtful and observant, her expression serious. The full lips of a mouth too generous for perfect beauty rarely smiled, but when they did, her face was transformed, allowing the rare observer to see that under the reserved exterior lived a more whimsical, fun-loving creature that had been stifled by responsibilities assumed too early in life. It was a lively face, withal, and her entire being radiated energy and purpose.
    It was this energy that prompted her to shake herself, much to the dismay of the spaniel sleeping peacefully in front of her chair. “If I must, I must,” Charlotte muttered. Uncoiling her legs from underneath her, she rose and went in search of her brother.
    As usual, William was to be found in the stables currying Duke, his own horse, seeing to the care of Charlotte’s Brutus and the carriage horses, and exchanging a few words with the lads who were cleaning out the stalls and filling the feed troughs. Ever since babyhood William had been fascinated with the animals, always wanting to pat them whenever he saw them and never showing the least sign of unease with even the largest or most spirited mount. In turn, the horses seemed to sense his fascination and curbed their restiveness or ill temper whenever he was around.
    Almost as soon as he could walk, William had escaped to the stables where he seemed to be equally at home with the powerful carriage horses and huge plow horses as he was with his own pony. The grooms and stableboys soon recognized his strange affinity with these animals and left the lad to his own devices when they saw he knew what he was about. They even allowed him to brush out the manes and forelocks of the more docile creatures and feed them bits of apple or lumps of sugar that he had cajoled Cook into giving him.
    “Hello, Charlie.” William turned to welcome his sister with a wide, endearing smile as he let go of the hoof he had been examining with some concern.
    “Hello.” Charlotte could not help smiling in return. No matter how lonely and abandoned she might feel, she never failed to be restored by the light in her brother’s eyes which told her that one person, at least, not only needed her, but loved her very much.
    “I thought Duke had a stone in his shoe, but I cannot find one.” He patted the horse, who butted him lovingly and sniffed his pocket in search of any stray delicacy that his master might have overlooked.
    “I am glad he does not. William, dear, I am afraid that I have to go to London. I hope to be gone only for the day. Mrs. Hodges will see to it that you are looked after, and of course you will continue your lessons with Dr. Moreland,” Charlotte hastened to reassure him.
    “But Charlie, may I not come with you?” The big blue eyes regarded her anxiously and there was just the slightest tremor discernible in her brother’s lower lip.
    “Not this time, dear, for I am very much afraid I shall have to spend the entire day doing boring old business.” Then, unable to bear his look of disappointment, she added brightly, “But perhaps some time we may go together and see the Tower and Mr. Astley’s performing horses.”
    “Oh I should like that.” Excited by the prospect of such adventure, William immediately forgot any doubts he might have had and turned his attention back to Duke.
    Charlotte shook her head, smiling ruefully. She was glad he was so easily reassured. Certainly she had intended for it to be that way, but the instant transition from fear of her leaving to forgetting all about it was disconcerting, nevertheless. Her brother’s simplicity could be exasperating at times as it allowed him to forget or ignore problems that kept her awake at night—problems such as her cousin Cecil’s impending arrival. Charlotte had been introduced to Sir Cecil Wadleigh and his family briefly many years ago at her mother’s funeral, and she had not particularly cared for him or for his interfering wife, who had overwhelmed