Read Online Martha Schroeder by Lady Megs Gamble - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lady Megs Gamble
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are on your way to Hedgemere, as we are?”
“Yes. I am thinking of purchasing a property now that I am retired. Lady Margaret seems very knowledgeable, and Hedgemere is a property of the size I am considering.” James knew that he sounded stiff and pompous. He always did when he was caught unawares.
Childhood loneliness had fostered shyness, and early command had added the tone of chilly aloofness. He tried from time to time to adopt a friendlier tone, but it seldom answered. Today, faced with Mrs. Headley and her two daughters, he had all he could do not to bolt.
“Yes, she is a most knowledgeable landowner, I will give her that.” Mrs. Headley shook her head. “A very strange upbringing she’s had—what there’s been of it. More often left to her own devices by that governess of hers. No wonder Lady Margaret is as independent and outspoken as she is. Who was there to teach her how to go on?”
James longed to tell the woman that Lady Meg was twice the woman with four times the charm of both the Headley girls combined! How dare Mrs. Headley find fault with her? Shouldn’t she rather be helping Meg, if indeed she needed any lessons in how to go on in society! If her own daughters were anything to judge by, Mrs. Headley didn’t have much of use to say on the subject!
Though he of course kept his thoughts to himself, James’s frown must have communicated his lack of sympathy with her strictures, for Mrs. Headley tried an ingratiating laugh and said, “But I can see that you’re already enlisted in the ranks of her friends and admirers. Most of the men seem to be. Oh, not that she flirts or anything of the kind!”
James glared at her, his eyes hard as sapphires. How dare she insinuate that Lady Meg was anything but a complete lady? Meg’s behavior when he himself had first met her was conveniently forgotten. He saw her in his mind’s eye only as she was when she had smiled at him and talked with him at Mattingly Place the evening before. Lovely. Vivacious. Glowing with life and friendliness.
“She has been most kind to me.”
“Ah, yes. So I have noted.” James heard the dry, speculative tone in Mrs. Headley’s voice but had no idea how to counter it. Had this provincial gossip guessed what he and Meg had agreed to?
As they headed into the drive that led to the house, James thought of what marriage would mean. Not just the abstractions of home and family, or the scenes he had pictured of himself as the center of both. This time he thought of all that would be required in order to arrive at that state. Of the kind of talk, the open-hearted honesty that Meg showed so easily but that he had seldom even attempted. Was it possible for him to learn at this late date?
James shook himself out of his brown study and found they now stood outside the wide oak door of Lady Meg’s house. He smiled and dismounted and found as the door opened to reveal the aging butler that his heart quailed within him.
“Is Lady Margaret or Miss Fairchild at home, Meadows?” Mrs. Headley demanded.
As they were ushered into the house, James had a strong urge to find Lady Meg and whisk her away from this critical, observant lady. Unfortunately, he knew that Meg would never countenance such rudeness, even if he attempted it. Get a hold on yourself! You didn’t run from Boney’s ships or the pirates; you ‘re surely not going to be frightened away by this old beldam!
The ill-assorted party was shown into the drawing room. In a matter of minutes, Annis Fairchild entered with an apologetic smile.
“Lady Margaret is away from the house right now,” she said, holding out her hand to Mrs. Headley and smiling at the two girls. “You know she’s in the saddle a great deal of the time. But is there anything that I can help you with, Mrs. Headley?” She gestured to the older woman to be seated and then asked, “Can I perhaps offer you some tea or other refreshment?”
Mrs. Headley frowned a little, as if she was not quite
“Yes. I am thinking of purchasing a property now that I am retired. Lady Margaret seems very knowledgeable, and Hedgemere is a property of the size I am considering.” James knew that he sounded stiff and pompous. He always did when he was caught unawares.
Childhood loneliness had fostered shyness, and early command had added the tone of chilly aloofness. He tried from time to time to adopt a friendlier tone, but it seldom answered. Today, faced with Mrs. Headley and her two daughters, he had all he could do not to bolt.
“Yes, she is a most knowledgeable landowner, I will give her that.” Mrs. Headley shook her head. “A very strange upbringing she’s had—what there’s been of it. More often left to her own devices by that governess of hers. No wonder Lady Margaret is as independent and outspoken as she is. Who was there to teach her how to go on?”
James longed to tell the woman that Lady Meg was twice the woman with four times the charm of both the Headley girls combined! How dare Mrs. Headley find fault with her? Shouldn’t she rather be helping Meg, if indeed she needed any lessons in how to go on in society! If her own daughters were anything to judge by, Mrs. Headley didn’t have much of use to say on the subject!
Though he of course kept his thoughts to himself, James’s frown must have communicated his lack of sympathy with her strictures, for Mrs. Headley tried an ingratiating laugh and said, “But I can see that you’re already enlisted in the ranks of her friends and admirers. Most of the men seem to be. Oh, not that she flirts or anything of the kind!”
James glared at her, his eyes hard as sapphires. How dare she insinuate that Lady Meg was anything but a complete lady? Meg’s behavior when he himself had first met her was conveniently forgotten. He saw her in his mind’s eye only as she was when she had smiled at him and talked with him at Mattingly Place the evening before. Lovely. Vivacious. Glowing with life and friendliness.
“She has been most kind to me.”
“Ah, yes. So I have noted.” James heard the dry, speculative tone in Mrs. Headley’s voice but had no idea how to counter it. Had this provincial gossip guessed what he and Meg had agreed to?
As they headed into the drive that led to the house, James thought of what marriage would mean. Not just the abstractions of home and family, or the scenes he had pictured of himself as the center of both. This time he thought of all that would be required in order to arrive at that state. Of the kind of talk, the open-hearted honesty that Meg showed so easily but that he had seldom even attempted. Was it possible for him to learn at this late date?
James shook himself out of his brown study and found they now stood outside the wide oak door of Lady Meg’s house. He smiled and dismounted and found as the door opened to reveal the aging butler that his heart quailed within him.
“Is Lady Margaret or Miss Fairchild at home, Meadows?” Mrs. Headley demanded.
As they were ushered into the house, James had a strong urge to find Lady Meg and whisk her away from this critical, observant lady. Unfortunately, he knew that Meg would never countenance such rudeness, even if he attempted it. Get a hold on yourself! You didn’t run from Boney’s ships or the pirates; you ‘re surely not going to be frightened away by this old beldam!
The ill-assorted party was shown into the drawing room. In a matter of minutes, Annis Fairchild entered with an apologetic smile.
“Lady Margaret is away from the house right now,” she said, holding out her hand to Mrs. Headley and smiling at the two girls. “You know she’s in the saddle a great deal of the time. But is there anything that I can help you with, Mrs. Headley?” She gestured to the older woman to be seated and then asked, “Can I perhaps offer you some tea or other refreshment?”
Mrs. Headley frowned a little, as if she was not quite
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