Read Online A Promise of Tomorrow by Rowan McAllister - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rowan McAllister
Ads: Link
hall, and when we looked, it was Mr. Weir and Mr. Allen. Theywent into one ofthe other rooms, and we could hear them arguing. After a few minutes, Weir came out, told Mr. Allento meet himdownstairs, and left.”
Here Andrew paused, and when it seemed he wasn’t going to continue, James prompted, “So what made youdecide to interfere?”
Andrew’s neck flushed crimson above the opening to his dressing gown, and he said, “Uh, well, it was the way Weir said it, and his clothes were in disarray. His trousers were….” Andrew swallowed and looked away, unable to complete the sentence and blushingfuriouslyallthe wayup to his hairline.
Well, obviously my nephew has learned a few things they don’t teach at university .
“I was still trying to decide whether we should leave or check on Mr. Allen whenAnna pushed past me and entered the room, and then I had to follow,”Andrew said, turning back to meet his uncle’s gaze. “He was turned away fromus, lying on his side, and he wasn’t moving. We feared the worst, but when he heard us, he leapt up. He was shakingand pale, and his clothes were….”
James took pity on him. “I understand, Andrew, you don’t have to go into details.” In fact, it would be better for both of themif he didn’t, as James’s gut was already churning and a black fury was beginning to pulse through his veins again. Weir, you filthy cur! he fumed silently.
“Thank you,”Andrew continued with a relieved sigh, seemingly unaware of the violence of his uncle’s reaction. “Well, he looked so mortified, I thought perhaps we should excuse ourselves and leave him his dignity, but Anna wouldn’t hear of it.” He smiled ruefully. “I don’t believe Anna truly understood what had happened. But he was so pale and obviously unwell that she wouldn’t hear of leaving him alone.”
When Andrew fell silent again, James took a moment to look away and compose himself. He had never in his life felt this level of protectiveness for anyone outside of his own family, and it confused and frightened him.
“So the three of you came up with a grand scheme to help him and offyouwent?”James finished for him, swallowinghis discomfort.
“Almost,” Andrew admitted. “Boodle’s was my idea. Anna didn’t think it was a good one, but he needed money, and he didn’t want anyone else to know what had happened. He told us his father had disowned him because of Weir, and he had no other friends or family in town. There’s an aunt at Bury St. Edmunds that he hoped might aid himifhe could get enough to pay for the journey. It seemed like anexcellent planat the time,”he finished defensively.
“One would have thought, with nineteen years of experience and a first-rate education, that you would have learned to never underestimate your mother’s nose for mischief,” James commented sardonically.
Andrew chuckled. “I suppose you’re right, Uncle. If I ever get too high in the instep, all it takes is one word from Mother and I’m back in a skeleton suit with dirt on my nose.” He laughed again, seemingto relaxfromhis earlier discomfort.
“Yes, well, perhaps you’re wiser than I thought.” James chuckled. His own unease hadn’t abated, but his nephew didn’t need to know that. “Thank you for being honest with me, nephew. You and your sister were right to try to help, though there were perhaps better ways for you to have gone about it. I’ll have a talk with Mr. Allen after he’s rested and see if we can get this sorted out,” James finished, and he stood to go.
“Uncle.” Andrew stood with him and grabbed James’s shoulder. “He really is a decent fellow. We had time to talk on our way to Boodle’s, and I, I truly believe he’s a good chap. He didn’t deserve what happened to him, no matter what anyone says about… that sort. He seems a decent man to me, and I don’t think who he chooses to… anyway, I don’t think it should matter among friends,” he finished lamely.
“I do
Here Andrew paused, and when it seemed he wasn’t going to continue, James prompted, “So what made youdecide to interfere?”
Andrew’s neck flushed crimson above the opening to his dressing gown, and he said, “Uh, well, it was the way Weir said it, and his clothes were in disarray. His trousers were….” Andrew swallowed and looked away, unable to complete the sentence and blushingfuriouslyallthe wayup to his hairline.
Well, obviously my nephew has learned a few things they don’t teach at university .
“I was still trying to decide whether we should leave or check on Mr. Allen whenAnna pushed past me and entered the room, and then I had to follow,”Andrew said, turning back to meet his uncle’s gaze. “He was turned away fromus, lying on his side, and he wasn’t moving. We feared the worst, but when he heard us, he leapt up. He was shakingand pale, and his clothes were….”
James took pity on him. “I understand, Andrew, you don’t have to go into details.” In fact, it would be better for both of themif he didn’t, as James’s gut was already churning and a black fury was beginning to pulse through his veins again. Weir, you filthy cur! he fumed silently.
“Thank you,”Andrew continued with a relieved sigh, seemingly unaware of the violence of his uncle’s reaction. “Well, he looked so mortified, I thought perhaps we should excuse ourselves and leave him his dignity, but Anna wouldn’t hear of it.” He smiled ruefully. “I don’t believe Anna truly understood what had happened. But he was so pale and obviously unwell that she wouldn’t hear of leaving him alone.”
When Andrew fell silent again, James took a moment to look away and compose himself. He had never in his life felt this level of protectiveness for anyone outside of his own family, and it confused and frightened him.
“So the three of you came up with a grand scheme to help him and offyouwent?”James finished for him, swallowinghis discomfort.
“Almost,” Andrew admitted. “Boodle’s was my idea. Anna didn’t think it was a good one, but he needed money, and he didn’t want anyone else to know what had happened. He told us his father had disowned him because of Weir, and he had no other friends or family in town. There’s an aunt at Bury St. Edmunds that he hoped might aid himifhe could get enough to pay for the journey. It seemed like anexcellent planat the time,”he finished defensively.
“One would have thought, with nineteen years of experience and a first-rate education, that you would have learned to never underestimate your mother’s nose for mischief,” James commented sardonically.
Andrew chuckled. “I suppose you’re right, Uncle. If I ever get too high in the instep, all it takes is one word from Mother and I’m back in a skeleton suit with dirt on my nose.” He laughed again, seemingto relaxfromhis earlier discomfort.
“Yes, well, perhaps you’re wiser than I thought.” James chuckled. His own unease hadn’t abated, but his nephew didn’t need to know that. “Thank you for being honest with me, nephew. You and your sister were right to try to help, though there were perhaps better ways for you to have gone about it. I’ll have a talk with Mr. Allen after he’s rested and see if we can get this sorted out,” James finished, and he stood to go.
“Uncle.” Andrew stood with him and grabbed James’s shoulder. “He really is a decent fellow. We had time to talk on our way to Boodle’s, and I, I truly believe he’s a good chap. He didn’t deserve what happened to him, no matter what anyone says about… that sort. He seems a decent man to me, and I don’t think who he chooses to… anyway, I don’t think it should matter among friends,” he finished lamely.
“I do
Similar Books
