Read Online A Heart's Treasure by Teresa DesJardien - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Teresa DesJardien
Tags: Trad-Reg
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“Well, one of the ladies will know how it happened. Penelope, if no one else.”
“I leave it to you to ask her,” Haddy said, tone heavy with an unspoken “good luck with that.” He did add, “I wonder if the ladies will speak with us at all tomorrow, for I suspect we’ve disturbed their rest this evening.” He checked his watch and clucked his tongue as he moved toward the stairs. “Make that, this morning.”
Chapter 4
Even if strength fail, boldness at least will deserve praise:
in great endeavours even to have had the will is enough.
—Propertius,
Elegies
“There are a great many trees growing very near this inn,” Genevieve said the next morning, following Summer’s lead by sitting up in bed and leaning back against the wooden headboard. “And they house a great many birds.” Her brows lowered. “Singing, chirping, twittering birds.”
“They are extraordinarily noisy.” Summer rubbed the sleep from her eyes, the morning light that streamed through the gauzy curtain at the open window gilding her long almost white plait with golden streaks.
“I have listened to them since five o’clock this morning,” Genevieve replied, pointing at the clock on the bedside table that showed the hour as a quarter past eight. “I never knew I could detest birds, but now I find I really most particularly do.” She gave a lopsided grin to show she was not deadly serious. “Of course, this was after being kept awake until two in the morning by the raucous noises from the common room.”
“You’ve been awake all that time? Oh, my dear, you’ve scarcely had a bit of sleep. I finally managed to fall asleep beneath my pillow, despite the sounds from below stairs. But did you hear the host knocking on all the other doors at six?”
“Indeed. I wanted to go to the door and tell him it was not necessary to bellow, but apparently it was. Our immediate neighbor needed to be summoned three times before she finally made her departure. I heard him tell her she’d missed any chance at a breakfast and was only five minutes away from missing the morning post coach.”
“I hope they allow a later breakfast for those traveling by private coach,” Summer said as she pushed aside the single linen sheet they’d shared against the summer night. She swung her feet over the side of the bed.
“They will. Remember, Haddy bespoke a morning meal.”
“Oh, yes.” Summer stretched, her complexion complemented by the pink ribbons of her nightrail’s bodice, its white length hugging her lean form. She sat atop the high mattress, her feet dangling above the floor. Genevieve smiled ruefully to herself, as usual aware how delicately feminine and fetching her friend was, even upon rising of a morning.
“It’s already scarcely even cool,” Summer noted with a sigh. “I fear it’ll be another terribly warm day.”
“Thank goodness Oxford is not so very far from here. With any luck it’ll not be more than a two or three hour carriage ride.”
“Do you think we’ll go on from there, or remain in Oxford for the rest of the day then?” Summer asked, her slender hands hugging her own elbows.
Genevieve shook her head reassuringly at her. “We shall stop in Oxford for our luncheon, if nothing else, and go no farther if we don’t care to, so long as there is an inn to be had. I declare it.”
“Haddy would wish to travel on, if that is Kenneth’s design. I’m convinced Haddy agreed to come just so he could have the opportunity to do some hunting up north. The sooner we get there, the better, that’s what Haddy will think.”
“Then Haddy will just have to be disappointed, will he not?” Genevieve’s smile broadened. “Leave it to me. I would have no trouble persuading Haddy to any plan we care to make. Or our Michael for that matter.”
“No,” Summer said as she stared toward the curtain that barely fluttered in the light morning breeze. “You would have no trouble with that.” She darted a quick
“I leave it to you to ask her,” Haddy said, tone heavy with an unspoken “good luck with that.” He did add, “I wonder if the ladies will speak with us at all tomorrow, for I suspect we’ve disturbed their rest this evening.” He checked his watch and clucked his tongue as he moved toward the stairs. “Make that, this morning.”
Chapter 4
Even if strength fail, boldness at least will deserve praise:
in great endeavours even to have had the will is enough.
—Propertius,
Elegies
“There are a great many trees growing very near this inn,” Genevieve said the next morning, following Summer’s lead by sitting up in bed and leaning back against the wooden headboard. “And they house a great many birds.” Her brows lowered. “Singing, chirping, twittering birds.”
“They are extraordinarily noisy.” Summer rubbed the sleep from her eyes, the morning light that streamed through the gauzy curtain at the open window gilding her long almost white plait with golden streaks.
“I have listened to them since five o’clock this morning,” Genevieve replied, pointing at the clock on the bedside table that showed the hour as a quarter past eight. “I never knew I could detest birds, but now I find I really most particularly do.” She gave a lopsided grin to show she was not deadly serious. “Of course, this was after being kept awake until two in the morning by the raucous noises from the common room.”
“You’ve been awake all that time? Oh, my dear, you’ve scarcely had a bit of sleep. I finally managed to fall asleep beneath my pillow, despite the sounds from below stairs. But did you hear the host knocking on all the other doors at six?”
“Indeed. I wanted to go to the door and tell him it was not necessary to bellow, but apparently it was. Our immediate neighbor needed to be summoned three times before she finally made her departure. I heard him tell her she’d missed any chance at a breakfast and was only five minutes away from missing the morning post coach.”
“I hope they allow a later breakfast for those traveling by private coach,” Summer said as she pushed aside the single linen sheet they’d shared against the summer night. She swung her feet over the side of the bed.
“They will. Remember, Haddy bespoke a morning meal.”
“Oh, yes.” Summer stretched, her complexion complemented by the pink ribbons of her nightrail’s bodice, its white length hugging her lean form. She sat atop the high mattress, her feet dangling above the floor. Genevieve smiled ruefully to herself, as usual aware how delicately feminine and fetching her friend was, even upon rising of a morning.
“It’s already scarcely even cool,” Summer noted with a sigh. “I fear it’ll be another terribly warm day.”
“Thank goodness Oxford is not so very far from here. With any luck it’ll not be more than a two or three hour carriage ride.”
“Do you think we’ll go on from there, or remain in Oxford for the rest of the day then?” Summer asked, her slender hands hugging her own elbows.
Genevieve shook her head reassuringly at her. “We shall stop in Oxford for our luncheon, if nothing else, and go no farther if we don’t care to, so long as there is an inn to be had. I declare it.”
“Haddy would wish to travel on, if that is Kenneth’s design. I’m convinced Haddy agreed to come just so he could have the opportunity to do some hunting up north. The sooner we get there, the better, that’s what Haddy will think.”
“Then Haddy will just have to be disappointed, will he not?” Genevieve’s smile broadened. “Leave it to me. I would have no trouble persuading Haddy to any plan we care to make. Or our Michael for that matter.”
“No,” Summer said as she stared toward the curtain that barely fluttered in the light morning breeze. “You would have no trouble with that.” She darted a quick
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