Read Online Elisabeth Fairchild by The Love Knot - Free Book Online Page B

contentedness with separation. She enjoyed crowds and grew desolate without human companionship in some form every day.
    Not Rupert--not since the loss of his leg.
    “I don’t suppose you mean to sit placidly on the lawn doing watercolors,” he drawled.
    Aurora laughed. “Whatever gave you that idea?”
    He shrugged, still transfixed by the view. “Some young ladies are content with such pastimes.”
    “Not my style, Rue, and well you know it.” She returned her attention to the wildcats above the mantle. “No, it is just that I mean to spend a great deal of time with a gentleman I have become acquainted with, and I did not want you worrying that he meant to seduce me, or some such nonsense.” What was it Miles Fletcher had said? She snapped at men before they had any opportunity to devour her?
    Rue’s peg creaked as he shifted into a more comfortable stance to look at her. “You are far more capable of defending yourself against rogues who would take advantage than I.” His words gave uncanny echo to her thoughts. “Besides, this fellow hasn’t a chance in Hades unless you’ve given up your mad notion to hook Walsh and his land. Who is this poor, misguided fool who wastes time wooing you?”
    Aurora frowned at the open-mouthed lion. Was she really so single-minded? Was there no one who could stray her course now that she had set out to capture Walsh’s attention? She shook her head. “He is an amusing, dandified sort of fellow. Exquisite manners and an odd inclination to teach me the social niceties I have so long ignored. Who knows, he may even teach me watercolors. Miles Fletcher is his name.”
    “Fletcher?” Rupert perked up. “Yes, the fellow introduced himself to me last night. Mentioned archery. I have met his sister as well. They both seemed nice enough.” Rupert was intent in his perusal of the view again, “ Does anyone accompany you in these archery lessons, or have you come begging me to suffer that role?”
    “No. Fletcher said his sister means to tag along.” Aurora stood up from the sofa and crossed to the window. A young woman in an attractively beribboned straw bonnet was set up on the lawn with easel and palette, her head and hand moving in a painter’s ballet as her brush dipped from palette to paper and back again. Oh ho! So it was she held Rupert’s attention fastened to the view. Aurora wondered how long he had been standing at the window. The painter had turned her head. The fetching face beneath the bonnet brim’s shade was none other than the lovely coquette who with no more than a crook of her finger had Miles Fletcher bounding from his chair.
    “Do you know Fletcher’s sister?” Rue shifted his weight again. “She was in here yesterday, evading Walsh.”
    “Evading him?” Aurora had no idea Rue was referring to the young woman they observed through the window.
    Rue laughed softly. “She said she was looking for a book, but I am certain she was hiding from Walsh, for she ducked behind the door when she saw him. I asked her what title she required, being familiar with the library. She said she had not a particular book in mind. Said she wished to be quiet for a few moments, away from the crush. Quiet she was.” He sounded as if he might have enjoyed more noise from Miss Fletcher.
    The painter on the lawn packed up her paints. Aurora directed a piercing look at her brother’s profile. Was it disappointment she saw in his eyes? Was he, along with every other gentleman she came into contact with, enamored of the mysterious dark-haired swan?
    Aurora closed her eyes against the brightness of the sun, the beauty of the young woman and the anguish of knowing that her brother, who had shown no interest whatsoever in any fele since his injury, should be interested now by a pretty creature who was sure to break his heart and then glide away.
    “Rue . . .” she said, with no idea how to go on.
    “Hmmm?” His gaze remained fixed on the woman whom might never so much as