Read Online Fenella J. Miller by A Dangerous Deception - Free Book Online
Authors: A Dangerous Deception
Ads: Link
better staying in bed.’
‘I do hope it’s nothing serious, Nanny? Has she caught a chill from playing in the snow?’
‘No, Miss Roberts, I think it was eating too much of cook’s plum cake last night before supper, it has upset her stomach. A quiet day in bed will soon put her right again.’
‘Good, give her my love, and I shall see her as usual tomorrow.’
Cassie realized that she had a day to herself, no duties to perform, no lessons to take, and knew immediately what she wished to do with her unexpected free time. She would enquire about borrowing a horse, it was long time since she’d ridden, but she thought it was a skill one never forgot. She was walking though the entrance hall as her employer was about to leave the house.
‘Good morning Miss Roberts, I was about to send for you. I shall be leaving for Kent to collect
your friend as soon as I return from some important estate business. The sudden thaw has caused flooding in some of the cottages and they are in need of urgent repair. I wish to see for myself what needs doing.’
‘You are a conscientious landlord, Mr Anderson. I have a favour to ask, is there a quiet horse that I might borrow? Your daughter has a stomach upset, nothing serious I can assure you, but I am free of my duties today and rather thought I might try my hand at riding again.’
‘Yes, there is a mare that is used to pull the gig sometimes, but she also goes smoothly under sidesaddle. I shall ask Ned to saddle her up for you and be ready to accompany you when you come down.’
Cassie raced back upstairs unaware she showed an expanse of trim ankle that was most unseemly. She burst into her bedchamber where Molly was talking to the chambermaid.
‘Molly, I am to go riding, it is a good thing that I thought to bring a habit with me. Can you help me change, I do not wish to keep the horses waiting in this weather.’
She arrived at the stables to find a small chestnut mare standing placidly her reins looped over the arm of a smiling groom. ‘Good morning, Miss Roberts, the master says I am to accompany you wherever you wish to go. You’ll not come to any harm on Bess here, she is as quiet and gentle as a lamb.’
Cassie took the reins and turned to allow him to toss her up in to the saddle. She placed her knee around the pommel and rammed her other foot home in the stirrup iron. Then she carefully adjusted the skirts of her habit and was ready to go. As they clattered out on to the gravel circle in front of the house a young footman ran down the steps waving a letter.
‘Miss Roberts, this note has just arrived from the village, the boy said that it was urgent.’
Cassie frowned. Why should anyone be sending her a note, she knew no one living there? Then she smiled, she knew who it was from – Ann had arrived and finding her cottage occupied was contacting her for advice.
She urged her mare across to the footman and leant down to the take the note, it was folded and sealed with a blob of plain red wax. She dropped her reins, she twisting them round her knee, sure the animal would remain still whilst she perused her letter. She recognised the handwriting immediately.
My dear friend,
As you have no doubt guessed , I am now in the village and waiting to meet you. I’m staying at the inn, I have taken rooms there for the present, please come and see me as soon as you may, I have urgent news for you from Upton Manor.
My very best wishes,
Ann
Cassie read the note again, there was something slightly odd about it, something she could not quite put her finger on, it seemed a trifle stilted. She smiled and folded it up – never mind that – she could ask Ann herself when they met. She leant down and gave the piece of paper back to the waiting footman.
‘Could you give that to Mr Anderson when he returns? It is very important that he reads it at once. Please tell him that I am going into the village, he will understand.’
The footman turned and hurried
‘I do hope it’s nothing serious, Nanny? Has she caught a chill from playing in the snow?’
‘No, Miss Roberts, I think it was eating too much of cook’s plum cake last night before supper, it has upset her stomach. A quiet day in bed will soon put her right again.’
‘Good, give her my love, and I shall see her as usual tomorrow.’
Cassie realized that she had a day to herself, no duties to perform, no lessons to take, and knew immediately what she wished to do with her unexpected free time. She would enquire about borrowing a horse, it was long time since she’d ridden, but she thought it was a skill one never forgot. She was walking though the entrance hall as her employer was about to leave the house.
‘Good morning Miss Roberts, I was about to send for you. I shall be leaving for Kent to collect
your friend as soon as I return from some important estate business. The sudden thaw has caused flooding in some of the cottages and they are in need of urgent repair. I wish to see for myself what needs doing.’
‘You are a conscientious landlord, Mr Anderson. I have a favour to ask, is there a quiet horse that I might borrow? Your daughter has a stomach upset, nothing serious I can assure you, but I am free of my duties today and rather thought I might try my hand at riding again.’
‘Yes, there is a mare that is used to pull the gig sometimes, but she also goes smoothly under sidesaddle. I shall ask Ned to saddle her up for you and be ready to accompany you when you come down.’
Cassie raced back upstairs unaware she showed an expanse of trim ankle that was most unseemly. She burst into her bedchamber where Molly was talking to the chambermaid.
‘Molly, I am to go riding, it is a good thing that I thought to bring a habit with me. Can you help me change, I do not wish to keep the horses waiting in this weather.’
She arrived at the stables to find a small chestnut mare standing placidly her reins looped over the arm of a smiling groom. ‘Good morning, Miss Roberts, the master says I am to accompany you wherever you wish to go. You’ll not come to any harm on Bess here, she is as quiet and gentle as a lamb.’
Cassie took the reins and turned to allow him to toss her up in to the saddle. She placed her knee around the pommel and rammed her other foot home in the stirrup iron. Then she carefully adjusted the skirts of her habit and was ready to go. As they clattered out on to the gravel circle in front of the house a young footman ran down the steps waving a letter.
‘Miss Roberts, this note has just arrived from the village, the boy said that it was urgent.’
Cassie frowned. Why should anyone be sending her a note, she knew no one living there? Then she smiled, she knew who it was from – Ann had arrived and finding her cottage occupied was contacting her for advice.
She urged her mare across to the footman and leant down to the take the note, it was folded and sealed with a blob of plain red wax. She dropped her reins, she twisting them round her knee, sure the animal would remain still whilst she perused her letter. She recognised the handwriting immediately.
My dear friend,
As you have no doubt guessed , I am now in the village and waiting to meet you. I’m staying at the inn, I have taken rooms there for the present, please come and see me as soon as you may, I have urgent news for you from Upton Manor.
My very best wishes,
Ann
Cassie read the note again, there was something slightly odd about it, something she could not quite put her finger on, it seemed a trifle stilted. She smiled and folded it up – never mind that – she could ask Ann herself when they met. She leant down and gave the piece of paper back to the waiting footman.
‘Could you give that to Mr Anderson when he returns? It is very important that he reads it at once. Please tell him that I am going into the village, he will understand.’
The footman turned and hurried
Similar Books
