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Authors: Sally James
Tags: Regency Romance
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aunt was so hospitable and interested in their lives in England. Already she was telling lies, inventing excuses, and hating herself for the deception. Joanna had no qualms, though.
‘We are visiting a couple of my friends from school,’ she said cheerfully. ‘One is married now and living in the south, which is why we want to travel there later, after we have seen the one in Lisbon.’
The two weeks they spent at the Quinta das Fontes were enjoyable, but both girls were glad when they could leave. One day Aunt Madalene had remarked that the good Portuguese food must suit them, as Joanna seemed to be putting on weight, and for a horrid moment Catarina thought she knew.
They left, promising to return the following year, and driven by their uncle’s coachman. Catarina insisted they take the public coach from Oporto, but she could not evade Antonio’s escort. It simply was not possible for two young girls to travel on their own, they were told. She could not risk anyone discovering their destination in Lisbon, but Joanna’s inventive mind provided the answer. They were, she said airily, to stay at an hotel for a night or so, as their hosts were away, and they would be collected as soon as the da Sousa family returned to the city. She had only a vague idea of the address where they would be staying, as the family had a couple of town houses and also a country estate.
Antonio was horrified at the notion of two ladies being alone in an hotel, and they were afraid he would insist on remaining with them. Catarina assured him it was considered acceptable in England, and to their relief he said he had to go back home, there were people he had promised to meet there, on business connected with the grape harvest.
Listening to Joanna, Catarina was thankful there were so few surnames in Portugal. There would be dozens, if not hundreds, of families called da Sousa and tracing an individual one would be difficult.
* * * *
By mid-August Jeremy was fit enough to go to Marshington Grange. He was so restless Nicholas was thankful to take him there. At his own house he would have more to do, and Nicholas meant to stay with him for several weeks and help him settle and get to know the people on the estate. Even to himself he did not admit that he hoped to meet Catarina again. She had not said when they would return from the visit to their Portuguese family, but surely they would be back before the winter.
Jeremy insisted he could ride around the estate, not have to travel in a ladies’ gig, but he agreed to rest for a day or so after the tedious coach journey. Then he rebelled, telling Nicholas he was living up to his devilish name, so Nicholas went to the stables to make sure his saddle was put on a placid mare. Jeremy frowned when he saw her, but said nothing more. Nicholas trusted he was beginning to realize his limitations.
It was clear within the first few minutes that Jeremy was finding riding difficult, and after they had ridden as far as the village and seen the new houses, Nicholas insisted on turning back.
As they passed the Dower House Nicholas saw Staines in the garden, and hailed him.
‘When do the ladies plan to return?’
‘Not for some months, my lord. I understand they are visiting several relatives.’
Nicholas thanked him, and was silent all the way back to the house. Jeremy, clearly in pain, did not wish to talk. He winced as he dismounted, and instead of following his normal practice of making sure his horse was properly looked after, he handed the mare to a groom, grimaced at Nicholas and said he would go into the house.
Before he went inside himself Nicholas made sure there was a suitable gig and a pony to pull it. Jeremy might object, and say he felt like a child or a female driving such a conveyance, but if he wanted to be able to tour his land he would have to endure the embarrassment.
After the first few outings Jeremy was reconciled. He met the tenant farmers, listened to their praises of the late
‘We are visiting a couple of my friends from school,’ she said cheerfully. ‘One is married now and living in the south, which is why we want to travel there later, after we have seen the one in Lisbon.’
The two weeks they spent at the Quinta das Fontes were enjoyable, but both girls were glad when they could leave. One day Aunt Madalene had remarked that the good Portuguese food must suit them, as Joanna seemed to be putting on weight, and for a horrid moment Catarina thought she knew.
They left, promising to return the following year, and driven by their uncle’s coachman. Catarina insisted they take the public coach from Oporto, but she could not evade Antonio’s escort. It simply was not possible for two young girls to travel on their own, they were told. She could not risk anyone discovering their destination in Lisbon, but Joanna’s inventive mind provided the answer. They were, she said airily, to stay at an hotel for a night or so, as their hosts were away, and they would be collected as soon as the da Sousa family returned to the city. She had only a vague idea of the address where they would be staying, as the family had a couple of town houses and also a country estate.
Antonio was horrified at the notion of two ladies being alone in an hotel, and they were afraid he would insist on remaining with them. Catarina assured him it was considered acceptable in England, and to their relief he said he had to go back home, there were people he had promised to meet there, on business connected with the grape harvest.
Listening to Joanna, Catarina was thankful there were so few surnames in Portugal. There would be dozens, if not hundreds, of families called da Sousa and tracing an individual one would be difficult.
* * * *
By mid-August Jeremy was fit enough to go to Marshington Grange. He was so restless Nicholas was thankful to take him there. At his own house he would have more to do, and Nicholas meant to stay with him for several weeks and help him settle and get to know the people on the estate. Even to himself he did not admit that he hoped to meet Catarina again. She had not said when they would return from the visit to their Portuguese family, but surely they would be back before the winter.
Jeremy insisted he could ride around the estate, not have to travel in a ladies’ gig, but he agreed to rest for a day or so after the tedious coach journey. Then he rebelled, telling Nicholas he was living up to his devilish name, so Nicholas went to the stables to make sure his saddle was put on a placid mare. Jeremy frowned when he saw her, but said nothing more. Nicholas trusted he was beginning to realize his limitations.
It was clear within the first few minutes that Jeremy was finding riding difficult, and after they had ridden as far as the village and seen the new houses, Nicholas insisted on turning back.
As they passed the Dower House Nicholas saw Staines in the garden, and hailed him.
‘When do the ladies plan to return?’
‘Not for some months, my lord. I understand they are visiting several relatives.’
Nicholas thanked him, and was silent all the way back to the house. Jeremy, clearly in pain, did not wish to talk. He winced as he dismounted, and instead of following his normal practice of making sure his horse was properly looked after, he handed the mare to a groom, grimaced at Nicholas and said he would go into the house.
Before he went inside himself Nicholas made sure there was a suitable gig and a pony to pull it. Jeremy might object, and say he felt like a child or a female driving such a conveyance, but if he wanted to be able to tour his land he would have to endure the embarrassment.
After the first few outings Jeremy was reconciled. He met the tenant farmers, listened to their praises of the late
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