Read Online Lady Star by Claudy Conn - Free Book Online

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yourselves without a chaperone? After all, it is ludicrous that you
two should have to miss it just because you don’t have a
chaperone.”
    “Never mind,” Star shook her head, “You know
it would be frowned upon and Georgie’s mother is not up to the
task. We shall stay here with you, play at cards and bother you to
give us a lively time.” She had taken a place on the edge of his
bed and bent forward to touch his arm, “Stop worrying yourself over
it. There will be other balls.”
    A breeze soft and warm wafted through his
open window and she said, “Ah, isn’t that lovely—has all the scents
of summer.”
    He nodded absently and said, “But Star, what
if…”
    “You know, I think I will take my old Butch
and ride over to visit with Georgie and her mother.” She cocked a
brow at him and her dark eyes twinkled. “ If you can spare
me?”
    “I am heartily sick of your ministrations.
Off with you!” he rallied and once again was struck with how dear
she was to him.
    “You will miss me,” she countered on a
laugh.
    “I shall thank the heavens for a few moments
to myself.”
    “Then lad, so be it.”
    “Yes, but Star, I may have a solution…”
    “Later,” she answered and was off.
    He watched her go and silently grumbled. He did not have a solution. He tried getting up and out of bed
once more. He was able as he had before, to stand and take a tour
of the room, but it swam before his eyes. He wasn’t right yet.
Could he somehow just manage to get to the ball, find a chair and
sit? He had to find a way to get his sister and Georgie to the
ball—he simply had to.
    * * *
    It didn’t take long for Star to don an old
but pretty pale green riding ensemble, plop a light straw chip
bonnet on her waves of cornsilk hair and make her way to the
stables. It was warm, but her clothes were lightweight and the
breeze was lovely.
    Jeffries helped her tack up her horse and a
few moments later saw her taking a shortcut through the woods. It
was a glorious summer day and the air, sweetly scented with
honeysuckle and wild roses was seductive. Star’s imagination was
always at work and she found herself daydreaming happily.
    She loved riding and Butch was a reliable old
chestnut gelding who knew exactly where they were going. She didn’t
even have to guide him. He took the deer path through the woods
with ease. She slowed as she approached an oval-shaped pond
ornamented with rich ferns and wildflowers and smiled to
herself.
    Beautiful, it was all so beautiful, like
something out of a painting. She watched a mother duck lead her
ducklings into the pond when something, she didn’t know what, made
her turn in her saddle.
    Sir Edward astride a large and flashy Gray
came toward her. Her heart began to flutter so wildly that she
almost put a hand to her chest to keep it from taking flight.
    She was intimidated and excited all at once.
She was anxious and thrilled. She was…oh my, she was absolutely
losing her mind, she told herself.
    “Miss Berkley,” Sir Edward said as he
approached, with an inclination of his handsome head. “Are you
here…alone?”
    She heard disapproval in his voice and sat up
straight and defensively. His tone whipped her back into shape and
she found the voice she had been certain was lost, was right back
where it should be. “Hallo, Sir Edward, and yes…I am quite and
thankfully alone.” She eyed him with a challenge, “After all… I
am still on Berkley land.” She couldn’t help but notice that he
looked dashing in his dark blue riding coat and pale breeches. His
Hessians were brightly polished, his top hat slightly angled, and
his steed was completely prime. As Star’s love of horses over-rode
all else, she was able to look the animal over with great
admiration and offered, “He…” she said with some show of surprise,
“did not come from Jules’ stable.”
    Edward laughed. “No, Prancer is my own. My
staff arrived at Jules’ estate yesterday with my coach and Prancer
in