Read Online Lady Faith Takes a Leap by Maggi Andersen - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Maggi Andersen
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brother, Bart’s, wife, Emily, was a kindly soul, but they lived in York, and although Honor was a favorite of his mother’s, she and Edward seldom came to Brandreth Park.
“I do not want to see you unhappy.” Her fine, expressive eyes turned sad. “Not now you’re finding your feet after troubling times. Cast your net wide, my love,” she said. “And now leave me. I wish to dress. We are to go to the spring at Tunbridge Wells today. I plan to take the waters. Faith is to accompany me.” She tapped her chin with a finger. “As Lady Montrose and her daughter will be joining us, perhaps it’s better if you do not. There’s no sense in exciting the good lady unnecessarily.”
He rose. “Very well, Mama. Enjoy your outing.”
Vaughn kissed his mother and left her in her floral boudoir. He was surprisingly disappointed, for taking the waters held little attraction for him. Walking along the drive, he returned to the house.
His conversation with his mother made him cast his mind back as he strode along. He’d given up on his dreams after being sent down from Oxford. Chaloner’s parliamentary activities were concerned with improving the lives of his tenant farmers. Admirable though that was, Vaughn had wished to become a Member of Parliament who introduced important reform that would affect the whole country. He kicked the gravel with his boot. Pipe dreams were best forgotten, but he still yearned to make his father proud. Despite his father departing this earth years ago, regret was like a tight fist in his chest.
John Strathairn had trusted him enough to take on a position of responsibility. For that, Vaughn would always be grateful, for he now had the skills to forge a decent, rewarding life. He was ready to earn the respect of his family. Chaloner should understand that and trust him too.
The Baxendale curricle drove past him on the carriageway. He caught a glimpse of Faith sitting alone. His thoughts immediately returned to how curvy and sweetly scented her body had been in his arms the night of the fire. Damn, he wanted to drag her off to his bed and kiss every inch of her soft skin. He sighed and sent more gravel rolling away with an impatient kick. A man would be lucky to have her for his wife.
Chapter Seven
The curricle pulled up in front of the rambling, ivy-covered, old redbrick house. Holding on to her hat, tugged by the cool breeze, Faith descended onto the driveway of Brandreth Park. She was to join the dowager’s party to visit the Royal Tunbridge Wells Spring. Straightening her skirts, Faith prepared to follow the liveried footman to the house. Would Vaughn accompany them today? She firmed her lips. She should not be thinking of him. It would serve her better to focus on her new beau, who was to join them in Tunbridge Wells.
“Hullo, Faith.”
Faith turned, wondering if her traitorous thoughts had conjured him up. Vaughn walked from the direction of the dower house in riding clothes, his Hessians polished to a high shine and a beaver hat set over his black locks. No need for buckram wadding in those shoulders, she thought with a sigh. She recalled their last meeting when her hair had been in a braid and she’d barely a stitch on. She bit her lip and frowned. She was not entirely convinced he’d needed to carry her! She steeled herself and curtseyed.
“My lord.”
“How very formal, Faith.” He removed his hat and bowed from the neck. A ray of sunlight alighted on his thick, straight hair, and her fingers curled as if buried deep in the silken strands. The rush of need to step closer and touch him rocked her. Mr. Sefton, she reminded herself fiercely, had perfectly presentable dark brown hair.
“Vaughn,” she corrected coolly, gaining control of herself. But it still gave her far too much pleasure to say his name. “Thank you again for coming to my aid the night of the fire,” she managed to say without blushing. “Have you been to see your mother?”
“No need to
“I do not want to see you unhappy.” Her fine, expressive eyes turned sad. “Not now you’re finding your feet after troubling times. Cast your net wide, my love,” she said. “And now leave me. I wish to dress. We are to go to the spring at Tunbridge Wells today. I plan to take the waters. Faith is to accompany me.” She tapped her chin with a finger. “As Lady Montrose and her daughter will be joining us, perhaps it’s better if you do not. There’s no sense in exciting the good lady unnecessarily.”
He rose. “Very well, Mama. Enjoy your outing.”
Vaughn kissed his mother and left her in her floral boudoir. He was surprisingly disappointed, for taking the waters held little attraction for him. Walking along the drive, he returned to the house.
His conversation with his mother made him cast his mind back as he strode along. He’d given up on his dreams after being sent down from Oxford. Chaloner’s parliamentary activities were concerned with improving the lives of his tenant farmers. Admirable though that was, Vaughn had wished to become a Member of Parliament who introduced important reform that would affect the whole country. He kicked the gravel with his boot. Pipe dreams were best forgotten, but he still yearned to make his father proud. Despite his father departing this earth years ago, regret was like a tight fist in his chest.
John Strathairn had trusted him enough to take on a position of responsibility. For that, Vaughn would always be grateful, for he now had the skills to forge a decent, rewarding life. He was ready to earn the respect of his family. Chaloner should understand that and trust him too.
The Baxendale curricle drove past him on the carriageway. He caught a glimpse of Faith sitting alone. His thoughts immediately returned to how curvy and sweetly scented her body had been in his arms the night of the fire. Damn, he wanted to drag her off to his bed and kiss every inch of her soft skin. He sighed and sent more gravel rolling away with an impatient kick. A man would be lucky to have her for his wife.
Chapter Seven
The curricle pulled up in front of the rambling, ivy-covered, old redbrick house. Holding on to her hat, tugged by the cool breeze, Faith descended onto the driveway of Brandreth Park. She was to join the dowager’s party to visit the Royal Tunbridge Wells Spring. Straightening her skirts, Faith prepared to follow the liveried footman to the house. Would Vaughn accompany them today? She firmed her lips. She should not be thinking of him. It would serve her better to focus on her new beau, who was to join them in Tunbridge Wells.
“Hullo, Faith.”
Faith turned, wondering if her traitorous thoughts had conjured him up. Vaughn walked from the direction of the dower house in riding clothes, his Hessians polished to a high shine and a beaver hat set over his black locks. No need for buckram wadding in those shoulders, she thought with a sigh. She recalled their last meeting when her hair had been in a braid and she’d barely a stitch on. She bit her lip and frowned. She was not entirely convinced he’d needed to carry her! She steeled herself and curtseyed.
“My lord.”
“How very formal, Faith.” He removed his hat and bowed from the neck. A ray of sunlight alighted on his thick, straight hair, and her fingers curled as if buried deep in the silken strands. The rush of need to step closer and touch him rocked her. Mr. Sefton, she reminded herself fiercely, had perfectly presentable dark brown hair.
“Vaughn,” she corrected coolly, gaining control of herself. But it still gave her far too much pleasure to say his name. “Thank you again for coming to my aid the night of the fire,” she managed to say without blushing. “Have you been to see your mother?”
“No need to
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