Read Online Mr Forster's Fortune by Lizzie Church - Free Book Online

believe, though I think you might enjoy it still.’
    Cecily could feel a thrill pass through her. She looked at Miss Forster enquiringly.
    ‘I should be most happy, Mr Forster – if your sister will agree to it?’
    Miss Forster smiled at them indulgently.
    ‘Well, I do not see why I should oblige you, Robert, after what you have just accused me of – but if Lady Cecily really is prepared to go with you then I would not say her nay.’
    ‘Good. Then that’s all settled. Shall we walk to the assembly rooms, or would you prefer a chair?’
    Cecily assured him that she was perfectly amenable to a walk and that, indeed, as soon as she had finished her tea she should have to walk back to Pulteney Street to prove it.
    ‘Then allow me to escort you there, my lady. It would give me a very great deal of pleasure, I assure you.’
    Cecily inclined her head graciously and quickly drained her cup. It was not only for his great pleasure that she accepted his arm for the too-short ramble back home.

Chapter 10
    ‘I have just had a letter from Alfred, Lady Cecily.’
    Mrs King, taking breakfast the next morning, looked up sharply from her muffins to gauge the effect of this announcement on her niece.
    Cecily could feel her look upon her. She ignored it studiously and c ontinued with her meal.
    ‘Have you really, aunt? I’m very pleased about it. And what does cousin Alfred have to say?’
    ‘He is planning to visit us in Bath, he says. He has organised some leave, he... and will be coming down post from Guildford.’
    Cecily could feel her heart sink. She carried on eating her ham.
    ‘How splendid,’ she said disingenuously, between morsels. ‘I daresay he deserves a holiday. In fact, now I come to think of it I cannot ever remember him taking one before.’
    Cecily could tell that he r aunt was hoping for a little more enthusiasm than she was actually prepared to pretend.
    ‘Yes, my dear. We will all be glad to see him, that’s for sure...’
    Despite her surprise at her cousin’s suddenly projected appearance it was perhaps fortunate that Cecily had no suspicion of what had actually led up to the announcement of it. Why should she, indeed? Alfred was entitled to ask for a holiday, and what was more natural for him than to join them all for a week or two in Bath? But had she known the preliminaries to this brief but meaningful conversation she would have realised that the visit was no mere accident. For Alfred’s communication had actually been in response to an urgent letter from his father – a letter in which he had alerted Captain King to a matter of grave concern, and in which he had suggested that, really, he should forget his regimentals for a while and get himself down in a post chaise to pursue some more immediate interests of his own.

Chapter 11
    Mr Forster had offered to escort his mother and sister to the pump room th at morning, something he never did as a rule. While they were there, parading around the room and speaking briefly to acquaintance, Cecily and Mrs King appeared as usual, and were immediately claimed by Lady Barnham to join her party, which they were more than happy to do. Cecily and Miss Forster greeted each other kindly and shook each other’s hands. Cecily exchanged courtesies with her ladyship, and cast a demure, though happy, little smile in the specific direction of her son, who charmingly responded in kind.
    ‘I enjoyed our afternoon together yesterday, Miss Forster,’ said Cecily, trying not to stare at her brother. He was looking particularly attractive today, she thought, in a most well-fitting blue tailcoat and stylish hessian boots. ‘Though it is probably just as well that your mama was not at home. I doubt that she would have appreciated our deplorable musical taste.’
    ‘Maybe not, Lady Cecily, though I, for one, enjoyed it immensely and I know that Robert did as well.’
    Cecily allowed herself another swift glance in the direction of Mr Forster. It was gratifying to find