Read Online Lord Clayborne's Fancy by Laura Matthews - Free Book Online Page A

as Meg has desired it and Miss Turnpeck is agreeable.”
    “Certainly, if you all wish it. Do you feel well? You look a trifle downpin,” he remarked, his intent brown eyes surveying her pallor.
    “It’s just the headache. I’m sure it will go away when we’re out in the air. I’ve arranged for the picnic hamper and we should all be ready in an hour, if that will be convenient.”
    “As you wish, but we could put the picnic off until another day if you’re not feeling well.”
    “No, I shall be fine. Everyone is looking forward to it.”
    When the carriage was rolling along the country lanes, Rebecca did feel better, laughing with Meg and listening to Miss Turnpeck’s monologues on the countryside. Clayborne chose a spot where a brook bubbled by, with a view over the fields and forests. Meg and Rebecca wandered off arm in arm to discard their half boots and stockings and wade in the brook. The sound of their laughter and the sight of skipping stones brought an affectionate, indulgent smile to Miss Turnpeck’s countenance.
    “I remember the picnics we used to have at Farthington Hall when all four girls were there. So much giggling and getting into mischief as they did. I thought they would never grow up, but look at them now,” she sighed, and though Clayborne did look at them, his expression was unreadable.
    Miss Turnpeck had set to helping the coachman lay out the food, and Clayborne, considering this an excellent opportunity, pursued his desire for more information.
    “Yesterday when you were speaking of the stray dog Rebecca befriended,” he began, “I think you mentioned a fellow with whom I have a slight acquaintance—Thomas Burns.” He was trying to invent some physical description or pinpoint the area the fellow lived in, but it was unnecessary, as Miss Turnpeck seldom needed much encouragement to free her rambling tongue.
    “Oh, do you know Mr. Burns? It turned out that he lived not so far from us, on the other side of Salisbury. Have you been to his family home? Wilsted Manor, I believe it is called.” She did not allow Clayborne a chance to reply to this, so he merely smiled to encourage her. “Dressed like a dandy, he was, the day we met him. He wore those high shirt points so he could hardly turn his head. It’s a wonder he didn’t run over the both of them. We had been in Salisbury, you know, shopping for yardage for the girls’ gowns for Trudy’s wedding. Such a lovely wedding it was, with Trudy absolutely radiant and her young man so pale I was sure he would faint. They were married from the village church and I feel certain there were never so many people there before. And the wedding feast afterwards...” she exclaimed, ready to divulge all the details of it.
    Clayborne did not wish her to be sidetracked yet, so he said quite untruthfully, “Most splendid it must have been. My wife has often spoken of it. And I believe Thomas,” he unblinkingly used the young man’s Christian name as if he were his oldest friend, “was there, too.”
    “Yes, and I was that surprised to see him. I didn’t know that he was acquainted with Mr. Chalmers, Trudy’s husband, you know, but they appear to have been close friends over the years. And I am surprised, as Mr. Chalmers is the most upright young man and I cannot for the life of me imagine his racketing about the countryside with Mr. Burns. Oh, excuse me, Lord Clayborne, if I am speaking of one of your close friends, too,” she mumbled in embarrassment.
    “No, no, a mere acquaintance. I have heard,” he continued helpfully, and without the least remorse, “that he was quite ramshackle in those days.”
    “Yes, for Mary brought tales of him and teased Rebecca with them. Heaven knows where Mary would hear such gossip. I am sure she never kept her ears so wide open in the schoolroom,” she sniffed. “Mary is the one for hanging about the stables and gossiping with the maids at the Bird in Hand, though I am sure that I do my best to have