Read Online In the Wake of the Wind by Katherine Kingsley - Free Book Online Page B

sound of the knocker still echoed hollowly in her ear. “Oh, Auntie,” she whispered, “I think I’m suddenly afraid.” Her future lay behind that door, and she had no idea of what to expect now that she was actually faced with it.
    “Nonsense, child,” Elspeth said. “There’s nothing to fear. Isn’t this what we’ve planned for all this time?”
    Serafina nodded and swallowed hard. “I know I’m being foolish.”
    “More valerian root for you, dearie,” Elspeth said, patting her arm as the door creaked open. “Miss Elspeth Beaton and Miss Serafina Segrave to see Lord Aubrey,” Elspeth intoned to the startled butler as if she were the queen of England herself.
    The next thing she knew, Serafina found herself swept across a huge marble hallway in Elspeth’s wake, led into a drawing room, and announced by the butler, who promptly disappeared.
    She looked around nervously as if she might find Aiden hiding in a corner, but there was no one to be seen other than a beautiful blond woman who sat in a chair near one of the long windows, a rug over her lap, her dark blue dress high necked and long sleeved.
    Her hands jerked in her lap as if she’d been taken by surprise, and the embroidery frame she was holding tumbled from them and fell to the floor. “Good evening,” she said, ignoring it, her blue eyes fixed on Serafina in an expression Serafina could only interpret as horror.
    “Good—good evening,” Serafina stammered miserably, knowing what the woman must be thinking, and feeling uglier than she ever had. “I hope we haven’t come at an inconvenient time…”
    “Not at all,” the woman said, quickly hooding her eyes. “I am Lady Charlotte Delaware, Aubrey’s sister. Forgive me for not rising, but I am crippled.”
    “Oh—oh, I’m so sorry!” Serafina said, startled. She walked quickly across the room and picked up the embroidery, handing it to Charlotte. “How very distressing for you.”
    “‘The bread of adversity, and the waters of affliction,’” Charlotte said coldly. “Isaiah thirty, twenty. Please do not waste your sympathy on the cross that the Good Lord in His wisdom has given me to bear.”
    “I beg your pardon,” Serafina said, feeling as if she’d just been slapped. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I do hope we will be the best of friends,” she said, kneeling by the chair and taking one of Charlotte’s hands in her own.
    Charlotte pulled her hand away. “That remains to be seen,” she said. “And I am not a lap dog to be petted.”
    Stung, Serafina stood, swallowing hard. Lady Charlotte Delaware was obviously displeased with her in the extreme. A cold knot of fear took hold at the thought that her brother might have the same reaction. She stared down at the floor, wanting to drop directly through it.
    Elspeth, who had been unusually silent, stepped forward. “Where is Aubrey?” she demanded and Serafina glanced up, wanting to know the very same thing.
    Charlotte shifted her gaze past Serafina to Elspeth, and both her eyebrows raised high as she looked Elspeth up and down. “I’m afraid my brother was called away on business at the last minute. He asked me to convey his regrets.”
    “Oh, I see,” Serafina said, not sure if she was disappointed or relieved. Her confidence was already badly shaken, and she wasn’t sure if she could bear for Aiden to look at her with the same measure of disgust. “Well, I’m sure his business must be very important.”
    “Naturally,” Charlotte said, her voice dripping with frost.
    “Then where, may I ask, is Delaware?” Elspeth said, hands planted on her hips. “I find this a very odd greeting for the woman about to become the new countess of Aubrey.”
    Serafina wanted to curl up into a ball, since she didn’t think Charlotte needed any reminding of a topic she obviously found distasteful. “Perhaps he has also been called away on business?” she said tactfully.
    Charlotte’s chilly gaze returned to Serafina.