Read Online Elisabeth Fairchild by The Love Knot - Free Book Online
Authors: The Love Knot
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already vanished up the stairs.
As he stood considering the idea of charging up the treads after her so that he might verify the exact time of their meeting on the following morning, he was astonished to observe a gentleman with red hair pulling himself up from a card table in one of the drawing rooms with the aid of a crutch. Rue Ramsay! It could be no other.
“Oh dear. Gracie will be in a pet,” he murmured. Crossing to the card table, he made a point of introducing himself, holding his hand out to Aurora Ramsay’s brother with as much curiosity as Grace had approached the library. “You are Mr. Ramsay, are you not?”
Rue Ramsay shook a lock of deep auburn hair from eyes that were not green, as Miles had expected, but blue. He acknowledged Miles’s introduction in a desultory fashion, as though he suspected some sort of unwanted charity in the exchange of names.
“Are you friend to one of my brothers?ne of my His tone was frosty. He would not be impressed with such a connection.
Miles disabused him of the notion. “I have never had the pleasure of meeting any sibling other than your sister. She impressed me with her riding skills today.”
Rue brightened. There was a likeness in the movements of his mouth to those of his sister. “She’s at her best on a horse,” he agreed. “Few men can match her. Comes from competing with so many rough-riding brothers I suppose.” With the competence of a man grown familiar, if not yet comfortable with his limitations, Ramsay pegged his way to the door and headed in the direction of the library.
Miles followed, and when Aurora’s brother had some trouble maneuvering he resisted the temptation to assist. Ramsay, a former military officer, would not have appreciated the coddling. Instead, his voice never betraying the struggle that went on within, Miles carried on their conversation. “I understand competitive sisters completely. My own competes with me every opportunity fate allows, on the subject of Greek and Roman architecture.”
Ramsay laughed. Conversing amiably, they were within several paces of the door to the library when Walsh intercepted them. He looked even more ruddy and muscularly robust than usual juxtaposed to Rupert. “Excuse me for interrupting,” he said, “but where has your sister gotten herself off to, Fletcher?” Introductions made all the way around, Miles collected himself enough not to blurt out the truth that leapt so naturally to his tongue.
“Off to bed with a book I believe,” he lied, lips thinning as Grace chose that very moment to prove his lie by sticking her head out of the library door immediately behind Walsh.
Walsh was oblivious to her appearance, but Miles was sure Rupert could not help but see Grace as her mouth dropped open and her head swiftly ducked behind the library door again.
“I’m off to bed myself then,” Walsh yawned. “Anyone care to ride with me at dawn?”
Miles was pleased to turn down such an offer. “Terribly sorry. Prior engagement. Your sister, Ramsay, has promised to school me in archery. Another time, perhaps, Walsh?”
Rupert shrugged. “I appreciate the invitation, my lord, but I am not the best company horseback.”
“As you will.” Walsh shrugged and pointed to Rupert’s peg. “I’ve a friend in a similar situation. He has had a saddle specially fitted to his peg. Once he is thrown into the thing, he rides almost as well as ever.”
“I must have the name of this saddle maker, sir.”
“Done,” Walsh said, and with another yawn headed toward his rooms.
Miles politely bade Rupert good-night and wondered what story Gracie might have to tell come morning, when he glanced over his shoulder to observe Ramsay opening the door to the library and maneuvering his crutch within.
Aurora found her brother, Rupert, where she expected to find him on the following morning--in the library.
The library was a golden place. Not golden in a way that spoke only of the guineas that had
As he stood considering the idea of charging up the treads after her so that he might verify the exact time of their meeting on the following morning, he was astonished to observe a gentleman with red hair pulling himself up from a card table in one of the drawing rooms with the aid of a crutch. Rue Ramsay! It could be no other.
“Oh dear. Gracie will be in a pet,” he murmured. Crossing to the card table, he made a point of introducing himself, holding his hand out to Aurora Ramsay’s brother with as much curiosity as Grace had approached the library. “You are Mr. Ramsay, are you not?”
Rue Ramsay shook a lock of deep auburn hair from eyes that were not green, as Miles had expected, but blue. He acknowledged Miles’s introduction in a desultory fashion, as though he suspected some sort of unwanted charity in the exchange of names.
“Are you friend to one of my brothers?ne of my His tone was frosty. He would not be impressed with such a connection.
Miles disabused him of the notion. “I have never had the pleasure of meeting any sibling other than your sister. She impressed me with her riding skills today.”
Rue brightened. There was a likeness in the movements of his mouth to those of his sister. “She’s at her best on a horse,” he agreed. “Few men can match her. Comes from competing with so many rough-riding brothers I suppose.” With the competence of a man grown familiar, if not yet comfortable with his limitations, Ramsay pegged his way to the door and headed in the direction of the library.
Miles followed, and when Aurora’s brother had some trouble maneuvering he resisted the temptation to assist. Ramsay, a former military officer, would not have appreciated the coddling. Instead, his voice never betraying the struggle that went on within, Miles carried on their conversation. “I understand competitive sisters completely. My own competes with me every opportunity fate allows, on the subject of Greek and Roman architecture.”
Ramsay laughed. Conversing amiably, they were within several paces of the door to the library when Walsh intercepted them. He looked even more ruddy and muscularly robust than usual juxtaposed to Rupert. “Excuse me for interrupting,” he said, “but where has your sister gotten herself off to, Fletcher?” Introductions made all the way around, Miles collected himself enough not to blurt out the truth that leapt so naturally to his tongue.
“Off to bed with a book I believe,” he lied, lips thinning as Grace chose that very moment to prove his lie by sticking her head out of the library door immediately behind Walsh.
Walsh was oblivious to her appearance, but Miles was sure Rupert could not help but see Grace as her mouth dropped open and her head swiftly ducked behind the library door again.
“I’m off to bed myself then,” Walsh yawned. “Anyone care to ride with me at dawn?”
Miles was pleased to turn down such an offer. “Terribly sorry. Prior engagement. Your sister, Ramsay, has promised to school me in archery. Another time, perhaps, Walsh?”
Rupert shrugged. “I appreciate the invitation, my lord, but I am not the best company horseback.”
“As you will.” Walsh shrugged and pointed to Rupert’s peg. “I’ve a friend in a similar situation. He has had a saddle specially fitted to his peg. Once he is thrown into the thing, he rides almost as well as ever.”
“I must have the name of this saddle maker, sir.”
“Done,” Walsh said, and with another yawn headed toward his rooms.
Miles politely bade Rupert good-night and wondered what story Gracie might have to tell come morning, when he glanced over his shoulder to observe Ramsay opening the door to the library and maneuvering his crutch within.
Aurora found her brother, Rupert, where she expected to find him on the following morning--in the library.
The library was a golden place. Not golden in a way that spoke only of the guineas that had
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