Read Online Parthena's Promise by Valerie Holmes - Free Book Online
Authors: Valerie Holmes
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you have told me what had befallen you, and I accept the truth of it, so are we to be friends?” he asked.
Parthena felt so ashamed that she had stooped so low as to become a common thief and could not be more grateful that Mr Jerome Fender was a just gentleman.
“I think we already are. You are certainly being a far better friend to me than I have been to you. I shamed myself and…”
He leaned forward as he stood and gently kissed her forehead as he straightened up. “That is in the past. Now let us focus on the future. We stay here one more night and leave on the morning coach. No fear is needed, you are safe. You shall sleep under the covers and I on top. It is our business and no one else will know. I am a practical man, that is all, and you will be safer in a room with me than one on your own in such a place as this.”
Thena watched as he carried the tray outside the room and left it on the floor for the girl to collect. Returning to her, he stared out of the small window that overlooked the stable yard. “I have a horse to see to. Would you care to join me and we shall explore the town of Gorebeck and perhaps find you a new pair of boots. You have all but destroyed those on your cross moor adventure.”
She looked down at her feet. They were a sorry sight even though the nuns had tried to resurrect her boots, especially when seen next to the finer quality of her dress.
“I owe you so much already, Jerome,” she offered.
“Perhaps, but it is of no consequence. Fate has brought us together, Thena, so let us not fight that and instead work together to unravel the knot of deception. I suspect that is what your cousin has formed, and do not forget, I am a man of law. I shall unravel his knots, see you have what is your right to have, and if anyone needs bringing to justice, I think it will be him.”
“But have you nothing else you should be doing? Are you not a busy man? You gain nothing from all of this,” Thena commented, and saw a slow smile cross his handsome face.
“I was busy at war – I am no longer. I should be returning to my dear mama who will be so wanting to see me settled down in a legal practice, with a society wife positioned in a respectable home. So you are quite wrong, for I believe I have much to gain by doing the correct thing by you.”
Thena stood and pulled on her pelisse. “Then I have been fortunate indeed.”
Chapter 8
Thena stood before the old grit-stone Jacobean building. Leaham Hall had been in her family for two generations and had been her father’s pride and joy. His grandfather had saved the life of a lord, and in his gratitude that lord had left one of his estates to him along with a legacy that would be able to keep it going. The legacy, what happened to it? Why was she so easily cast off? Her father’s greatest sorrow had been his inability to beget a son and heir, but he had always been a loving, caring father to her and never begrudged her anything. Thena did not consider for one moment it was possible that he would not look to her future also. He knew that his heart was weakening and had had time to prepare them, so why would he not leave a will. She swallowed back unshed tears, for this was her home no more, and now she had to face the man – a stranger to her, who had planned her fall. Thena’s anger stopped her from giving in to melancholy. Instead she raised her head high as she walked up to the door of the building that should have been the entrance to her home, and paused. Should she knock or enter? Then she smiled; she would be damned if she was going to knock on her own door. Thena turned the large iron handle and swung the door open wide before walking boldly in, dropping her bag on the floor inside the hallway.
Elsie Hubbart, the upper house maid, was the first person that Thena saw as she scuttled from the servants’ stairs toward the day room.
“Hubbart!” Thena snapped. She had not intended to give the woman a fright, but if
Parthena felt so ashamed that she had stooped so low as to become a common thief and could not be more grateful that Mr Jerome Fender was a just gentleman.
“I think we already are. You are certainly being a far better friend to me than I have been to you. I shamed myself and…”
He leaned forward as he stood and gently kissed her forehead as he straightened up. “That is in the past. Now let us focus on the future. We stay here one more night and leave on the morning coach. No fear is needed, you are safe. You shall sleep under the covers and I on top. It is our business and no one else will know. I am a practical man, that is all, and you will be safer in a room with me than one on your own in such a place as this.”
Thena watched as he carried the tray outside the room and left it on the floor for the girl to collect. Returning to her, he stared out of the small window that overlooked the stable yard. “I have a horse to see to. Would you care to join me and we shall explore the town of Gorebeck and perhaps find you a new pair of boots. You have all but destroyed those on your cross moor adventure.”
She looked down at her feet. They were a sorry sight even though the nuns had tried to resurrect her boots, especially when seen next to the finer quality of her dress.
“I owe you so much already, Jerome,” she offered.
“Perhaps, but it is of no consequence. Fate has brought us together, Thena, so let us not fight that and instead work together to unravel the knot of deception. I suspect that is what your cousin has formed, and do not forget, I am a man of law. I shall unravel his knots, see you have what is your right to have, and if anyone needs bringing to justice, I think it will be him.”
“But have you nothing else you should be doing? Are you not a busy man? You gain nothing from all of this,” Thena commented, and saw a slow smile cross his handsome face.
“I was busy at war – I am no longer. I should be returning to my dear mama who will be so wanting to see me settled down in a legal practice, with a society wife positioned in a respectable home. So you are quite wrong, for I believe I have much to gain by doing the correct thing by you.”
Thena stood and pulled on her pelisse. “Then I have been fortunate indeed.”
Chapter 8
Thena stood before the old grit-stone Jacobean building. Leaham Hall had been in her family for two generations and had been her father’s pride and joy. His grandfather had saved the life of a lord, and in his gratitude that lord had left one of his estates to him along with a legacy that would be able to keep it going. The legacy, what happened to it? Why was she so easily cast off? Her father’s greatest sorrow had been his inability to beget a son and heir, but he had always been a loving, caring father to her and never begrudged her anything. Thena did not consider for one moment it was possible that he would not look to her future also. He knew that his heart was weakening and had had time to prepare them, so why would he not leave a will. She swallowed back unshed tears, for this was her home no more, and now she had to face the man – a stranger to her, who had planned her fall. Thena’s anger stopped her from giving in to melancholy. Instead she raised her head high as she walked up to the door of the building that should have been the entrance to her home, and paused. Should she knock or enter? Then she smiled; she would be damned if she was going to knock on her own door. Thena turned the large iron handle and swung the door open wide before walking boldly in, dropping her bag on the floor inside the hallway.
Elsie Hubbart, the upper house maid, was the first person that Thena saw as she scuttled from the servants’ stairs toward the day room.
“Hubbart!” Thena snapped. She had not intended to give the woman a fright, but if
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