Read Online Anne Barbour by A Rakes Reform - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: A Rakes Reform
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you get your things together, Chloe, and I shall inform his lordship of your decision to return home with him.”
By the time Chloe had retrieved her belongings and bade a tearful farewell to Sarah, and the Wendovers had expressed their regret once again for their unwitting participation in dear Chloe’s defection, the afternoon was well advanced. As the earl and his little party prepared to mount the hired carriage, he turned to Hester.
“It will be well after dark by the time we reach Over-cross, I fear, and there will be no moon tonight. I think we should simply proceed to Bythorne Park. We can send this carriage back and ride to your home tomorrow at our leisure in the comfort of one of my vehicles.”
Still simmering from Chloe’s ingenuous description of Lord Bythorne’s view of her work, Hester would have liked to dispute this high-handed arrangement. She found herself welcoming his invitation, however. She did not look forward to a long ride in the ill-sprung post chaise, and a glance at Larkie’s countenance told her that the older woman was fatigued, as well.
The earl sent a rider to travel ahead of them to announce their imminent arrival at the Park, and the group set off with no further incident.
The manor house at Bythorne Park was a sprawling structure of early Tudor origin. The ancient brick glowed rosily and mullioned windows glittered in the late-afternoon sunlight. Somewhat to Hester’s surprise, they were greeted promptly by a smiling butler and his wife, who apparently acted as housekeeper when the family was not in residence. Inside the house, all was in immaculate order, as though the master had given notice days ago of his arrival.
Glancing at her, Thorne smiled.
“Since the Park is so close to London,” he said, “I invite people here fairly frequently—or sometimes I just use it as a refuge. I keep the place fully staffed, so that I can descend more or less at a moment’s notice.”
“A refuge?” queried Hester.
“Mm. I am at heart a creature of the city, but once in a while the noise and the bustle get to be too much, even for a dedicated urban dweller. The Park holds many warm memories for me, so I enjoy its peace and solitude.”
Hester glanced at him, again surprised. A grin curved his well-formed lips, and she found it was not so difficult after all to imagine the earl as a small boy scrambling up the trees that surrounded the house or swimming in the lake that could be seen shining in the distance.
The housekeeper Mrs. Pym showed Hester and Miss Larkin to their adjoining rooms, and these, too, looked as though they had been kept in readiness for visitors. Fresh flowers stood on the rosewood commode in Hester’s chamber, and brushes, combs, and a mirror lay on a charming dressing table.
“His lordship keeps country hours here at the Park,” said the housekeeper, whose face displayed only a certain discreet curiosity as she poured water from a graceful pitcher into a basin. “We shall be dining at six, about an hour from now. His lordship usually meets with his guests beforehand in the green salon. If you’ll ring when you are ready to go down, someone will show you the way.” She smiled, and with one last glance about the room, curtsied and hurried out with a rustle of bombazine skirts.
It was too bad, thought Hester as she removed her rather utilitarian shawl, that she had not brought something into which she could change for dinner. Although, she reflected with a laugh, there was nothing in her wardrobe at home that would not look sadly out of place in this fairy-princess bedroom. Shrugging, she availed herself of the cool water in the basin—scented, of course—to bathe her face, and the combs and brushes to repair her hair from the ravages of the day’s travel. She reaffixed her cap firmly, and some moments later, she followed a maidservant along the corridor, having collected Larkie along the way.
“Gracious, Hester,” said that lady, her eyes wide and
By the time Chloe had retrieved her belongings and bade a tearful farewell to Sarah, and the Wendovers had expressed their regret once again for their unwitting participation in dear Chloe’s defection, the afternoon was well advanced. As the earl and his little party prepared to mount the hired carriage, he turned to Hester.
“It will be well after dark by the time we reach Over-cross, I fear, and there will be no moon tonight. I think we should simply proceed to Bythorne Park. We can send this carriage back and ride to your home tomorrow at our leisure in the comfort of one of my vehicles.”
Still simmering from Chloe’s ingenuous description of Lord Bythorne’s view of her work, Hester would have liked to dispute this high-handed arrangement. She found herself welcoming his invitation, however. She did not look forward to a long ride in the ill-sprung post chaise, and a glance at Larkie’s countenance told her that the older woman was fatigued, as well.
The earl sent a rider to travel ahead of them to announce their imminent arrival at the Park, and the group set off with no further incident.
The manor house at Bythorne Park was a sprawling structure of early Tudor origin. The ancient brick glowed rosily and mullioned windows glittered in the late-afternoon sunlight. Somewhat to Hester’s surprise, they were greeted promptly by a smiling butler and his wife, who apparently acted as housekeeper when the family was not in residence. Inside the house, all was in immaculate order, as though the master had given notice days ago of his arrival.
Glancing at her, Thorne smiled.
“Since the Park is so close to London,” he said, “I invite people here fairly frequently—or sometimes I just use it as a refuge. I keep the place fully staffed, so that I can descend more or less at a moment’s notice.”
“A refuge?” queried Hester.
“Mm. I am at heart a creature of the city, but once in a while the noise and the bustle get to be too much, even for a dedicated urban dweller. The Park holds many warm memories for me, so I enjoy its peace and solitude.”
Hester glanced at him, again surprised. A grin curved his well-formed lips, and she found it was not so difficult after all to imagine the earl as a small boy scrambling up the trees that surrounded the house or swimming in the lake that could be seen shining in the distance.
The housekeeper Mrs. Pym showed Hester and Miss Larkin to their adjoining rooms, and these, too, looked as though they had been kept in readiness for visitors. Fresh flowers stood on the rosewood commode in Hester’s chamber, and brushes, combs, and a mirror lay on a charming dressing table.
“His lordship keeps country hours here at the Park,” said the housekeeper, whose face displayed only a certain discreet curiosity as she poured water from a graceful pitcher into a basin. “We shall be dining at six, about an hour from now. His lordship usually meets with his guests beforehand in the green salon. If you’ll ring when you are ready to go down, someone will show you the way.” She smiled, and with one last glance about the room, curtsied and hurried out with a rustle of bombazine skirts.
It was too bad, thought Hester as she removed her rather utilitarian shawl, that she had not brought something into which she could change for dinner. Although, she reflected with a laugh, there was nothing in her wardrobe at home that would not look sadly out of place in this fairy-princess bedroom. Shrugging, she availed herself of the cool water in the basin—scented, of course—to bathe her face, and the combs and brushes to repair her hair from the ravages of the day’s travel. She reaffixed her cap firmly, and some moments later, she followed a maidservant along the corridor, having collected Larkie along the way.
“Gracious, Hester,” said that lady, her eyes wide and
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