Read Online Lament for a Lost Lover by Philippa Carr - Free Book Online Page A

“And are you deeply shocked? Would you send me away for fear I contaminate you and your little sister and perhaps your brother?”
    “You will leave Lucas alone,” I said fiercely.
    “He is young enough to be safe. You do not understand me. I am a normal woman, Arabella. I love and I give and I take. That is all. You have seen Jabot. Surely you understand?”
    “He was Fleurette’s lover too.”
    “That was before I came. She never forgave me, but if I had not been there, there would have been someone else.”
    “What I don’t understand is that you seem to take it all so lightly.”
    “That, dear Arabella, is the way to life. Enjoy it while you can, and when that which you enjoyed passes from you, look for something else to take its place.”
    “It must have been very dull for you at the château after these adventures. We had no lovers to offer you.”
    “You had a certain comfort. I was tired of the road. I knew they were going to fail in Paris. I had had enough of them all … even Jabot. I think he was cooling off and I like to be the one who cools off first. You interested me greatly. Do you know, as soon as I saw you I knew we should be friends. I enjoyed my little charade … and the way you took it was just what I would have expected of you. Now you have made me respectable for your mother and that has strengthened the bonds between us. You know that, Arabella.”
    “I wish …” I began.
    “That I were the sort of young woman you would meet in your normal social round if you were in England? No, you don’t. You know I am different. That’s why you like me. I could never conform to a pattern. And do you know, Arabella, I have a feeling that you couldn’t either.”
    “I don’t know. I feel I don’t know very much about myself.”
    “Never mind. You’re learning.” She yawned. “And do you know, I fancy there may be some surprises in store for you. Now I will go to my room. Good night, Arabella.”
    After she had left me I sat thinking of her for a long time.
    A few days later a messenger rode over with a letter which was addressed to me.
    I sent him to Marianne and Jeanne to be given food and drink and a room to rest in while I read my letter. It was addressed to Mistress Arabella Tolworthy, and came from Villers Tourron.
Dear Mistress Tolworthy,
    I have had the great pleasure of meeting your parents in Cologne and have heard much about you and your family. We have recently arrived at Villers Tourron and, as like yourselves, are in exile awaiting the summons to return, I think it would give us all great pleasure if we met. We have a large house here and although not like home, we can entertain our friends. Your parents have given their permission for you and your brother to visit us and I and my family are hoping that you will do so. My son and daughter are with me at the moment. Edwin, my son, will shortly be joining the King, for as you know there is much activity in that quarter just now and hopes are high. If you would care to accept this invitation, do please give a message to our man. It is a two days’ journey by road and there is a comfortable inn on the way where you could spend the night. There is no reason why we should delay and I suggest that you should come in two weeks’ time. Do please say yes. Having met your parents and heard so much about you, we are all eager to meet you and your brother.
    Matilda Eversleigh.
    I was delighted. It would be interesting. I went to find Lucas to tell him about it.
    He was in the schoolroom with Harriet. I was glad the children were not there. They would hate our going away, but naturally we could not expect the Eversleighs to invite them.
    “Lucas,” I cried, “here’s an invitation from the Eversleighs.”
    “The people our mother mentioned. Let me see.”
    He read the letter, Harriet looking over his shoulder as he did so.
    “You want to go?” she asked.
    “I think we must. Our parents want us to.”
    “It should be