Read Online Oxford Whispers by Marion Croslydon - Free Book Online
Authors: Marion Croslydon
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heard already dashed any hope of Robert and Sarah living a long, happy life together. One year at best. She didn’t want to know more. But she had to.
“He didn’t mention the name of the wife?”
“She was a Lady Elizabeth something, from a Royalist family up north.”
Madison brought her hand to her mouth to cover the gasp this revelation caused.
The Cavalier never married Sarah. They were indeed the Romeo and Juliet of their time. Social and political divides had crushed any hope for their love.
Unless Sarah died before she could marry Robert.
BACK IN OXFORD, opposite Christ Church College, Peter paced along a hidden corner of St. Aldate’s. How long had he gone back and forth on the same stretch of pavement? He didn’t care. With all his muscles tensed, he kept his neck lowered, his head tucked down and his hands clenched into fists. The frozen gesture held his emotions in check. Always had, always would.
His mumbling stopped when he turned his body toward the entrance gate of the college. When would Sarah be back from Magway? Since her return to Oxford he’d kept her on a tight leash. He had managed to scare her yesterday, when he made her fall from her bicycle. Today, however, she had evaded him. He could not prevent her from going on this journey with the nobleman.
Peter stood straight, the cold wrapping his body in its November grasp. He pulled his jacket tighter around him as a barrier to the wind.
The reality of this modern world interfered with the flow of his consciousness. The cars thundered by and the electric lamps shined an intrusive light on his face. But at its core, nothing had changed. He loved Sarah and he hated her. His emotions confused him, tore him apart.
At last. They were here. The nobleman stopped his extravagant carriage, and Peter took a few steps away. He didn’t want them to recognize him.
The fingers on his right hand dug into the palm of his left. What were they doing? Probably already “making out,” as they said nowadays. Peter did not expect better from sinners like them.
Sarah stepped out of the car, as did Dallembert. He took her satchel from the trunk of his automobile and handed it to her. If only Peter could hear what they were saying … He leaned forward and his eyes focused on his prey.
It was happening all over again. The arrogance of the nobleman melted when he looked down at Sarah. She comported herself well, feigning modesty, but lust radiated from their unconscious courtship. When Peter had proposed to her, Sarah had sworn to him her love for the Cavalier was real, overwhelming. She had no choice, she’d explained when he confronted her.
Now, Sarah had found the Cavalier again. For the first time, they were reunited. Peter’s wandering spirit would not let that happen. Oxford would be the theater of their love once again, as it had been so many centuries before.
Shutting his eyes, he winced at the burning fire of his jealousy. He had tried hard to forget, to seize the opportunities the capricious roll of fate had provided him.
His attempts had all been in vain. He had always known that, one day, Sarah and Robert would find each other again. That one day he would again be wronged by their love. His fate was sealed a long time ago, on that dreadful afternoon in the clearing.
No. He would fight this. He had won once. He could win again. Shaking himself from the powerful clutch of his memories, he saw a range of new possibilities. He would spy, he would befriend, he would lie, and he would kill. That prospect made him rejoice, brought him comfort. His fate was to demand and execute justice.
Chapter 11
I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW long it takes Davies to get us coffee,” Pippa hissed, glancing in the direction of the conference room’s exit. “The museum’s shop is a staircase away, and the seminar should start any minute now.” She turned her head back and nodded toward the stage. “Madison, your Doctor McCain is the sexiest panelist I’ve ever
“He didn’t mention the name of the wife?”
“She was a Lady Elizabeth something, from a Royalist family up north.”
Madison brought her hand to her mouth to cover the gasp this revelation caused.
The Cavalier never married Sarah. They were indeed the Romeo and Juliet of their time. Social and political divides had crushed any hope for their love.
Unless Sarah died before she could marry Robert.
BACK IN OXFORD, opposite Christ Church College, Peter paced along a hidden corner of St. Aldate’s. How long had he gone back and forth on the same stretch of pavement? He didn’t care. With all his muscles tensed, he kept his neck lowered, his head tucked down and his hands clenched into fists. The frozen gesture held his emotions in check. Always had, always would.
His mumbling stopped when he turned his body toward the entrance gate of the college. When would Sarah be back from Magway? Since her return to Oxford he’d kept her on a tight leash. He had managed to scare her yesterday, when he made her fall from her bicycle. Today, however, she had evaded him. He could not prevent her from going on this journey with the nobleman.
Peter stood straight, the cold wrapping his body in its November grasp. He pulled his jacket tighter around him as a barrier to the wind.
The reality of this modern world interfered with the flow of his consciousness. The cars thundered by and the electric lamps shined an intrusive light on his face. But at its core, nothing had changed. He loved Sarah and he hated her. His emotions confused him, tore him apart.
At last. They were here. The nobleman stopped his extravagant carriage, and Peter took a few steps away. He didn’t want them to recognize him.
The fingers on his right hand dug into the palm of his left. What were they doing? Probably already “making out,” as they said nowadays. Peter did not expect better from sinners like them.
Sarah stepped out of the car, as did Dallembert. He took her satchel from the trunk of his automobile and handed it to her. If only Peter could hear what they were saying … He leaned forward and his eyes focused on his prey.
It was happening all over again. The arrogance of the nobleman melted when he looked down at Sarah. She comported herself well, feigning modesty, but lust radiated from their unconscious courtship. When Peter had proposed to her, Sarah had sworn to him her love for the Cavalier was real, overwhelming. She had no choice, she’d explained when he confronted her.
Now, Sarah had found the Cavalier again. For the first time, they were reunited. Peter’s wandering spirit would not let that happen. Oxford would be the theater of their love once again, as it had been so many centuries before.
Shutting his eyes, he winced at the burning fire of his jealousy. He had tried hard to forget, to seize the opportunities the capricious roll of fate had provided him.
His attempts had all been in vain. He had always known that, one day, Sarah and Robert would find each other again. That one day he would again be wronged by their love. His fate was sealed a long time ago, on that dreadful afternoon in the clearing.
No. He would fight this. He had won once. He could win again. Shaking himself from the powerful clutch of his memories, he saw a range of new possibilities. He would spy, he would befriend, he would lie, and he would kill. That prospect made him rejoice, brought him comfort. His fate was to demand and execute justice.
Chapter 11
I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW long it takes Davies to get us coffee,” Pippa hissed, glancing in the direction of the conference room’s exit. “The museum’s shop is a staircase away, and the seminar should start any minute now.” She turned her head back and nodded toward the stage. “Madison, your Doctor McCain is the sexiest panelist I’ve ever
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