Read Online Carola Dunn by Christmas in the Country - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christmas in the Country
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whisked away from Felversham before his plot reached fruition. After all, there was always a chance he might succeed.
As Cecily’s doubts and fears came and went, her spirits rose and fell like a shuttlecock. Far from feeling tired, she was filled with a restless energy. She had company on her ride, for the bright sunshine and crisp air called forth several ladies and two or three non-hunting gentlemen. They turned towards the village, where some of the ladies wished to purchase ribbons to trim their Twelfth Night costumes or dominos.
“What is your costume to be, Lady Cecilia?” someone asked.
“I shall just wear a domino,” she said with regret. “Mama does not wish me to dress up.” Tactfully she did not add that Lady Flint considered masquerade costumes to be beneath the dignity of an earl’s daughter, smacking of the stage.
The tiny haberdasher’s shop had scarce room enough for everyone. Cecily, not wishing to make any purchase, decided to go outside and wait with the gentlemen, but when she stepped out they were trotting off up the street. Unwilling to stand alone in the street, she was about to go back inside when she saw Iain come out of old Johno’s cottage a few doors down on the other side.
“Dr Macfarlane!” she called impulsively.
His face lit and he came towards her smiling. “Happy New Year, Lady Cecily.”
“Happy New Year.” She was suddenly breathless. “How...how does Johno go on?”
“Quite nicely, though whether it is due to exercise or the ginger and willow-bark tea I cannot tell. He puts down the improvement to a daily mug of cider.”
Cecily laughed. “Mulled, in this weather, I trust.”
“The weather may be responsible, come to that. Cold and dry is better than dampness for some rheumatic complaints. But you must be chilled, standing here.”
“I just came out of the shop.” And his very presence warmed her. “In spite of the frosty air, the sunshine is delightful.”
“Yes, on a day like this one notices the snowdrops and winter aconites and Christmas roses, not the leafless branches. On a day like this it’s almost possible to believe in the future.”
How she wanted to tell him his cousin was working for their future! “You must never lose hope,” she said seriously.
“That’s what I tell my patients. Come, I don’t want you to join their number. Go back inside—or ride home with me.”
“A race? I know the lie of the land now, and Shadow’s ways.”
“A race! Yes, why not?”
They retrieved Shadow from the groom who was walking the ladies’ mounts, and Hippocrates from the church railings. As they rode down the lane towards the fir plantation, Cecily felt as if she had known Iain forever and could talk to him about anything in the world—except for a direct reference to their love and Lord Avon’s plans.
She wanted him to know why she had been prepared to settle for a loveless marriage, to make sure he understood she was not influenced by his cousin’s rank and wealth, only by her parents’ wishes.
She told him about the stillborn babies, about the little brothers and sisters who had died in infancy. “Only I survived,” she said, “so I have tried to make it up to Mama and Papa, to be just what they wanted me to be.”
“A very paragon of all the virtues, and the graces too. Don’t tell me they are dissatisfied?”
“Oh no! They are all that is loving, and I love them dearly as well. Mama has not even chided me for playing chess and billiards, and romping with the children on Christmas Day, and only a little for helping Ben Diver the day we arrived.”
“Shocking sins indeed!”
“She did not say a word when I sang those ballads instead of an aria, though she considers them ungenteel.”
“They were deservedly popular with your audience. Your singing was admirable.” Softly he sang, “‘Why should I not love my love?’“
Cecily glanced at him, but his gaze was fixed
As Cecily’s doubts and fears came and went, her spirits rose and fell like a shuttlecock. Far from feeling tired, she was filled with a restless energy. She had company on her ride, for the bright sunshine and crisp air called forth several ladies and two or three non-hunting gentlemen. They turned towards the village, where some of the ladies wished to purchase ribbons to trim their Twelfth Night costumes or dominos.
“What is your costume to be, Lady Cecilia?” someone asked.
“I shall just wear a domino,” she said with regret. “Mama does not wish me to dress up.” Tactfully she did not add that Lady Flint considered masquerade costumes to be beneath the dignity of an earl’s daughter, smacking of the stage.
The tiny haberdasher’s shop had scarce room enough for everyone. Cecily, not wishing to make any purchase, decided to go outside and wait with the gentlemen, but when she stepped out they were trotting off up the street. Unwilling to stand alone in the street, she was about to go back inside when she saw Iain come out of old Johno’s cottage a few doors down on the other side.
“Dr Macfarlane!” she called impulsively.
His face lit and he came towards her smiling. “Happy New Year, Lady Cecily.”
“Happy New Year.” She was suddenly breathless. “How...how does Johno go on?”
“Quite nicely, though whether it is due to exercise or the ginger and willow-bark tea I cannot tell. He puts down the improvement to a daily mug of cider.”
Cecily laughed. “Mulled, in this weather, I trust.”
“The weather may be responsible, come to that. Cold and dry is better than dampness for some rheumatic complaints. But you must be chilled, standing here.”
“I just came out of the shop.” And his very presence warmed her. “In spite of the frosty air, the sunshine is delightful.”
“Yes, on a day like this one notices the snowdrops and winter aconites and Christmas roses, not the leafless branches. On a day like this it’s almost possible to believe in the future.”
How she wanted to tell him his cousin was working for their future! “You must never lose hope,” she said seriously.
“That’s what I tell my patients. Come, I don’t want you to join their number. Go back inside—or ride home with me.”
“A race? I know the lie of the land now, and Shadow’s ways.”
“A race! Yes, why not?”
They retrieved Shadow from the groom who was walking the ladies’ mounts, and Hippocrates from the church railings. As they rode down the lane towards the fir plantation, Cecily felt as if she had known Iain forever and could talk to him about anything in the world—except for a direct reference to their love and Lord Avon’s plans.
She wanted him to know why she had been prepared to settle for a loveless marriage, to make sure he understood she was not influenced by his cousin’s rank and wealth, only by her parents’ wishes.
She told him about the stillborn babies, about the little brothers and sisters who had died in infancy. “Only I survived,” she said, “so I have tried to make it up to Mama and Papa, to be just what they wanted me to be.”
“A very paragon of all the virtues, and the graces too. Don’t tell me they are dissatisfied?”
“Oh no! They are all that is loving, and I love them dearly as well. Mama has not even chided me for playing chess and billiards, and romping with the children on Christmas Day, and only a little for helping Ben Diver the day we arrived.”
“Shocking sins indeed!”
“She did not say a word when I sang those ballads instead of an aria, though she considers them ungenteel.”
“They were deservedly popular with your audience. Your singing was admirable.” Softly he sang, “‘Why should I not love my love?’“
Cecily glanced at him, but his gaze was fixed
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