Read Online The Heart's Companion by Holly Newman - Free Book Online Page A

and down, pulling on Nurse Twinkleham’s arm. That redoubtable woman took the added weight in stride, her attention on the gentleman who was casting vicious aspersions on one of her charges.
    "Accident! What happened to my son weren’t no accident. That hellion Bertram is responsible. It’s what comes of being cabined and cribbed by a bunch of mollycoddling spinster women. And if that boy ain’t here, it must be ’cause he knows he’s earned and due for a whipping," Mr. Culpepper roared, his lower lip thrust pugnaciously forward.
    "I beg your pardon," huffed Lady Elsbeth.
    "Cut line, Culpepper," snapped a deep voice from behind the group.
    They all turned, astonished to see the Earl of Royce descending from an elegant equipage. He was accompanied by a disheveled Bertram who, it appeared, was developing a splendid black eye.
    "There you are, you little beast!"
    Mr. Culpepper strode over to Bertram and would have taken him by the lapels to shake him like a dog if the earl hadn’t laid a hand square in the middle of his chest, holding him at bay.
    "Now see here, Royce, what’s the meanin’ of this? Can’t you see what he did to my boy Henry? You’re no kin of the boy. Stand away. The lad needs to be punished," he said, pushing up his coat sleeves.
    Royce held the man firm. One corner of his mouth rose in cold, sneering contempt. "What I see first is that Miss Grantley has obviously met with some accident for which she needs attention, not verbal bullying from a man of breeding who should know better. Furthermore, I see nothing in your Henry’s condition to indicate he got the worst of the match."
    A frown of uncertainty creased Mr. Culpepper’s brow. He turned to look at Miss Grantley, finally appreciating her condition. "What happened to you?" he inquired bluntly, pouting a bit for having his sails trimmed.
    During the altercation Jane managed to mentally adopt her formal society cloak. "I misstepped and took a tumble down a hill," she said serenely. "Won’t you all come inside? I’m confident we can discuss this situation in a more civilized fashion with the addition of some refreshments." She gracefully extended her arm in the direction of the house and proceeded, head held high despite the trailing ruffle, filthy attire, and squashed bonnet, to lead the way.
    It was a surprisingly subdued group that followed in her trail. Mrs. Culpepper, requesting her husband’s arm in lachrymose accents, leaned heavily on him as they walked toward the manor. Her whimpering and sniffles accompanied the procession. Henry sneered at Bertram and tried to look superior. Bertram held his head high, adopting Royce’s disdainful mien. Maria Culpepper, though engaged to the son of Viscount Lemington, sidled up to the earl to bat her faintly darkened eyelashes and beg, in high breathy accents, his arm to the house. The earl looked down his nose at her and allowed faint surprise to lift his brows. He gently reminded her she was not a matron yet, and Lady Elsbeth Ainstree's position as daughter of a duke came before hers. Miss Culpepper blushed fiercely, stammering excuses, and ran off to follow her parents.
    Lady Elsbeth’s lips twitched once, but she kept them from turning upward in a smile. "Well done," she murmured, her eyes dancing with contained mirth.
    "Do you think so?" drawled the earl.
    "Oh yes, and don’t try to play that bored, jaded aristocrat with me. I’m entirely too familiar with the role. I know it for what it is and isn’t."
    "Why do I feel back in the schoolroom suddenly?" the earl mused to no one in particular. "And I find myself wondering how you came by your knowledge, for you are much too young."
    Lady Elsbeth could not help but preen slightly at his compliment, but in reaction looked at him more severely. "I am older than you, my lord, and I’ll thank you to cease your cozening ways."
    He did not respond to her scold, but stared ahead at Jane as she led the group. There was a considering expression in his