Read Online An Affair of the Heart by Joan Smith - Free Book Online Page B

they were past, to determine whether Nora was about, and perhaps to determine as well whether she had a caller.
    A little farther along, a fine home appeared, in the Tudor half-timber style, with a view of cultivated fields stretching behind it, and a large herd of cattle grazing in the pasture. “That’s a fine-looking place,” Clay said. “Who lives there?”
    “That is Squire Hibbard’s place,” Wanda answered curtly, and volunteered no further comment. She showed an amazing lack of interest in it, and in fact never so much as glanced to the left as they passed. Clay waited for any more information she might have to impart, but her conversation was at an end. She was silent for the better part of the rest of the trip. The poking pace he was obliged to keep, coupled with his companion’s sullen silence, was putting Claymore into a bad humor.
    This outing had been a mistake. With fashionable young beauties, the thing to do was entertain them with balls and routs and parties, where you didn’t have to endure long stretches of their company all alone. He considered that other beauty whose company he had recently been enjoying, and he observed with surprise that he had never been so long alone in her company as he was today with Miss Wanda. The whole affair had been an attempt to get her alone for a moment or two, for she was always surrounded by her court. Even the dullest rattle must appear gay with a dozen men offering her compliments. If she had nothing to say, it was hardly noticed, for she would be smiling, and batting her fan, and listening.
    When they eventually reached Needford, it was not difficult to find the ancient church. It was the largest building in the village, yet not so large either, a squat stone affair, with Norman doorway and windows. Outside it, Rex’s curricle was being walked by a local urchin, stiff with dignity at the responsibility placed on his ragged shoulders. Another boy shot forward to claim the job of walking the newly arrived vehicle. Clay flipped him a coin for his trouble, and escorted his wilting companion inside. A cool dampness greeted them.
    Wanda said in a dying voice,“I shall just sit here at the back and let you join the others. I have seen this old church a dozen times, and I am so tired.” Clay made offers to remain with her, but she insisted that he leave. She was determined to be alone, for she had private matters to consider. She had, unbeknownst to her escort, espied him walking along the street of the village. He was with Robert Langdon, Nora’s brother, which boded ill. What was George doing here, and why was he with Robert Langdon? It bespoke a friendliness with the family that she could not trust. He might have asked Abel to accompany him, if he wanted to come to Needford. He might have called for Robert—though actually he lived closer to the village—and if he had called for Robert, there was not a doubt in her mind that Nora had been present. It was now Thursday—five whole days that he had not called on her. He usually came every single day, rain or shine. It was not because she had befriended Elmer Rountree either, on Sunday after church. She had only done that because he had danced twice with Nora at the assembly on Saturday evening. He was tired of her, that was the thing. Well, she hoped he might see her on the arm of the Marquis of Claymore. She was very sorry she had turned her head away when she saw him coming. If she heard he was playing up to Nora Langdon, she would have the Marquis, so there.
    Clay deserted his charge, feeling rather guilty about it, but determined to have at least a glimpse of the building after dragging all this way in the heat to see it. Silly not to do that much, and she said she wanted to be alone.
    “Don’t seem right to me, a dog in church,”Rex was announcing, and the group were standing around a tomb where a martyr or crusader or some such old fellow was interred. Carved in stone on the tomb was a small pup, curled