Read Online A Perfect Likeness by Sandra Heath - Free Book Online

turning his attention then to Bryony. His glance moved lazily over her and she was painfully aware of the contrast between her clothes and those worn by his fashionable sister. “Welcome to Polwithiel Abbey, Miss St. Charles. I trust you will enjoy your stay with us.”
    “I am sure that I will.”
    “Are you?” He seemed to find this amusing. “Then you cannot yet be aware of what dear Mama has in store for you. She intended all along to be strict with you, but the arrival of a certain letter from a certain gentleman in Ireland has made a positive tyrant of her.”
    ‘‘Felix!” gasped Delphine. “How could you!”
    Bryony lowered her eyes quickly, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment.
    He laughed a little, not at all abashed. “Come now, ladies, I’ve hardly said anything which no one knew anything about! It is quite obvious that you, Miss St. Charles, know all about the letter from Mr. Carmichael, which either means that you knew he would write it or that you’ve been informed of it by my sister. At a guess, I would say that the latter is the case. Am I right?”
    Still flushing, she nodded. “Yes, sir, you are.”
    Delphine looked angrily at him. “Yes, I told her, and I’m glad that I did, for it seems that the whole story is trumped up and Mr. Carmichael has greatly maligned her. She is quite innocent, Felix.”
    “How glad I am to hear it,” he murmured.
    Bryony felt suddenly provoked. “And how glad I am to hear you say so, your grace.”
    A light passed through his eyes at this unexpectedly spirited response. “So, my cousin is to espouse a tiger and not a kitten. How surprised he will be, to be sure.”
    Delphine continued to be angry. “How very gracious you are today, Felix, but then, it is evidently because you had so much difficulty overcoming poor Frederick, whose swordplay has improved no end since last I saw.”
    “Difficulty?” he replied sharply. “I had no difficulty.”
    “Oh, come now,” she murmured. “Admit that you were struggling and that that is why you are being so disagreeable and ungallant to poor Bryony.”
    “You are mistaken,” he said coldly.
    She knew her barbs were taking effect. “What a thing, to be sure, for it seems that the valet will soon be the master and he will be the one to return to Town for tuition from Mr. Angelos.”
    Whether it was his sister’s taunts or whether he simply did not have a sense of humor where his swordsmanship was concerned, Bryony could not tell, but there was no mistaking the icy fury which settled over his handsome face.
    “You know nothing of the matter, dear sister, and so I suggest you hold your rattle until such time as you do. And that time will never come, when you apparently have so much else of dizzying importance on your scheming mind at the moment. Confine yourself to learning wisdom before you bleat in future, Delphine, for it is certain that wisdom is a commodity in which you are sadly lacking if you are able to see redeeming features in the likes of Toby Lampeter.”
    Delphine’s cheeks were flaming and her eyes very bright. Her lips moved as if she would deal him a blistering retort, but then she changed her mind, turning on her heel to hurry away along the brick path toward the doors.
    Bryony felt uncomfortable at being witness to such a bitter exchange between brother and sister, and she hesitated, not knowing whether to run after Delphine or remain to take her polite leave of Felix.
    He turned to her. “Forgive us, Miss St. Charles, I am afraid that there is a little ill feeling between us at the moment.”
    “There is nothing to forgive, your grace.”
    He smiled a little then, his dark eyes thoughtful as he studied her. “But there is, Miss St. Charles, for we were very impolite, and I was guilty of even more impoliteness a little earlier. I trust that you can find it in your heart to disregard my previous behavior and consider our acquaintance to have begun from this moment.” He took her hand