Read Online A Sensible Lady: A Traditional Regency Romance by Judith Lown - Free Book Online
Authors: Judith Lown
Tags: Romance
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-Burton.
“Your dear father, God rest his soul, was in full possession of his faculties, right up to the minute his generous heart stopped beating. And to imply otherwise is calumny of the most treacherous sort.”
Harry was grateful for Mrs. Sythe -Burton’s assurance of his father’s sanity. While he had resisted the urge to knock out Clive Brampton’s lights for hinting that his father’s mental faculties had slipped, Harry continued to wonder what had possessed Lord Cecil to lease the Dower House to Katherine Brampton and give Gus Wharton the living of St. Chrysostom’s.
“Of course, if Miss Katherine had not ended her betrothal to Clive Brampton—what was it—a year ago this past spring, she would now be the mistress of Oak End. Now that was a shock. Banns had already been read. Clive Brampton and all his family already arrived at Oak End for the wedding. And Miss Katherine firmly announced that she would not wed Clive. Mr. Tramell , God rest his soul, said that he would not read the ceremony over a reluctant bride.
Harry’s gorge rose at the thought of Katherine Brampton tied to Sir Clive for life.
Mrs. Sythe -Burton paused in her recitation to note the look on Harry’s face.
“Surely you knew…had heard? Of course…you have not been back all that long, and it is difficult to catch up on all of your estate matters, much less social happenings. But, I promise you; it was the talk of the parish for some time. Shy, quiet Miss Katherine Brampton standing up to her father, Sir Alfred, who was not pleased, much less the intended groom’s branch of the family! Who would have guessed she had such stiffness in her spine?”
Harry could have told Mrs. Sythe -Burton something of Katherine Brampton’s stiff spine.
“Why, do you suppose, my father gave Wharton the parish living?”
Harry did not wish to think or talk about Katherine Brampton, who, at last, was walking away from Wharton after a seemingly interminable conversation.
Mrs. Sythe -Burton smiled benevolently at the vicar, who was greeting parishioners as if he had been in the priest business for years.
“I know all the rumors,” she said, “as I am certain Lord Cecil had. But your father was truly fond of Augustus Wharton back when he visited on school holidays and ran wild with you and Charles Hamilton. I am sure Lord Cecil felt nothing but relief when the three of you decided that the greater possibilities of London were required for your pursuits. But he was always one to see the good in people. If Augustus Wharton changed his ways, Lord Cecil would have found that sufficient. Your father was a great reader and admirer of John Donne, you know. So the idea that a rake could become a priest would not have amazed him.
“And, perhaps Lord Cecil’s last whimsical decisions will prove to be to the further good of the beneficiaries. Did you notice the raptness with which Miss Brampton and Mr. Wharton were speaking?” she asked archly before curtseying, bidding Harry adieu, and floating away.
Had he noticed the raptness with which Katherine Brampton and Gus Wharton were speaking? Harry had been so acutely aware of their conversation, it had taken the greatest discipline he could muster to focus his attention on Mrs. Sythe -Burton while she spoke—even though what she had said had been of considerable interest to him. Katherine and Clive Brampton. Harry felt a glow of satisfaction that his sainted father had so neatly frustrated the arrogant baronet. By Jove, if it irritated Clive, Harry would insist Katherine Brampton and Prunella Summersville live at the Dower House till their last breaths.
But, evidently, Mrs. Sythe -Burton did not think that would be necessary. She thought Katherine Brampton and Wharton would make a match of it. And from what Harry had seen, there was reason to believe Mrs. Sythe -Burton might be right. Harry waited for a feeling of satisfaction that his own awkward situation involving Katherine Brampton might soon be
“Your dear father, God rest his soul, was in full possession of his faculties, right up to the minute his generous heart stopped beating. And to imply otherwise is calumny of the most treacherous sort.”
Harry was grateful for Mrs. Sythe -Burton’s assurance of his father’s sanity. While he had resisted the urge to knock out Clive Brampton’s lights for hinting that his father’s mental faculties had slipped, Harry continued to wonder what had possessed Lord Cecil to lease the Dower House to Katherine Brampton and give Gus Wharton the living of St. Chrysostom’s.
“Of course, if Miss Katherine had not ended her betrothal to Clive Brampton—what was it—a year ago this past spring, she would now be the mistress of Oak End. Now that was a shock. Banns had already been read. Clive Brampton and all his family already arrived at Oak End for the wedding. And Miss Katherine firmly announced that she would not wed Clive. Mr. Tramell , God rest his soul, said that he would not read the ceremony over a reluctant bride.
Harry’s gorge rose at the thought of Katherine Brampton tied to Sir Clive for life.
Mrs. Sythe -Burton paused in her recitation to note the look on Harry’s face.
“Surely you knew…had heard? Of course…you have not been back all that long, and it is difficult to catch up on all of your estate matters, much less social happenings. But, I promise you; it was the talk of the parish for some time. Shy, quiet Miss Katherine Brampton standing up to her father, Sir Alfred, who was not pleased, much less the intended groom’s branch of the family! Who would have guessed she had such stiffness in her spine?”
Harry could have told Mrs. Sythe -Burton something of Katherine Brampton’s stiff spine.
“Why, do you suppose, my father gave Wharton the parish living?”
Harry did not wish to think or talk about Katherine Brampton, who, at last, was walking away from Wharton after a seemingly interminable conversation.
Mrs. Sythe -Burton smiled benevolently at the vicar, who was greeting parishioners as if he had been in the priest business for years.
“I know all the rumors,” she said, “as I am certain Lord Cecil had. But your father was truly fond of Augustus Wharton back when he visited on school holidays and ran wild with you and Charles Hamilton. I am sure Lord Cecil felt nothing but relief when the three of you decided that the greater possibilities of London were required for your pursuits. But he was always one to see the good in people. If Augustus Wharton changed his ways, Lord Cecil would have found that sufficient. Your father was a great reader and admirer of John Donne, you know. So the idea that a rake could become a priest would not have amazed him.
“And, perhaps Lord Cecil’s last whimsical decisions will prove to be to the further good of the beneficiaries. Did you notice the raptness with which Miss Brampton and Mr. Wharton were speaking?” she asked archly before curtseying, bidding Harry adieu, and floating away.
Had he noticed the raptness with which Katherine Brampton and Gus Wharton were speaking? Harry had been so acutely aware of their conversation, it had taken the greatest discipline he could muster to focus his attention on Mrs. Sythe -Burton while she spoke—even though what she had said had been of considerable interest to him. Katherine and Clive Brampton. Harry felt a glow of satisfaction that his sainted father had so neatly frustrated the arrogant baronet. By Jove, if it irritated Clive, Harry would insist Katherine Brampton and Prunella Summersville live at the Dower House till their last breaths.
But, evidently, Mrs. Sythe -Burton did not think that would be necessary. She thought Katherine Brampton and Wharton would make a match of it. And from what Harry had seen, there was reason to believe Mrs. Sythe -Burton might be right. Harry waited for a feeling of satisfaction that his own awkward situation involving Katherine Brampton might soon be
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