Read Online The India Fan by Victoria Holt - Free Book Online

the gypsies went off at the end of the summer, they left a little something behind. The ittle somethingwas Joshua Curry bundle of mischief from the day he was born. Another such as his father, it was reckoned, and one for the maids to beware of.
    Having heard of Joshua colourful beginnings, I was interested in him. He had black curly hair and sparkling dark eyes which were always smiling and alertor what, I could only guess. He was so darkrown-skinned, lithe and unlike anyone else I knew.
    On this occasion, when Lavinia and I arrived at the stables Joshua was there alone. He grinned at us as we entered. I noticed the change in Lavinia at once, for, though he was only a servant, he was a member of the opposite sex. She dimpled and her eyes shone.
    Joshua touched his forelock, but not in the way most of them did. He gave the impression that he was doing it as a kind of joke and it did not really mean respect.
    re our horses saddled?asked Lavinia haughtily.
    Joshua bowed. h yes, my lady. All waiting for you.
    nd where is Reuben?
    e working. I here, though. I reckon I could be your escort today.
    t is usually Reuben or one of the older men,said Lavinia, but I could see that she was secretly pleased.
    ell, today it yours truly that if you young ladies will have me.
    suppose we must,said Lavinia languidly.
    We went to the horses. I mounted, using the mounting block. I looked back at Lavinia. Joshua was helping her into the saddle. It seemed to take quite a little time. I saw his face close to hers and noticed how his hand rested on her thigh. I thought she might be angry at the familiarity, but she was by no means so. The colour had heightened in her cheeks and her eyes were sparkling.
    hank you, Joshua,she said.
    answer to the name of Jos,he told her. ore friendly, don you think?
    hadn thought about it,said Lavinia, ut I suppose it is.
    I saw his hand on her arm.
    ell then, Jos it is.
    ll right,she said. os.
    We rode out of the stables and soon we were cantering along. Lavinia let me go ahead so that she was behind with Jos. I heard her laughing, and I thought how strange that was. She was usually so haughty with the servants.
    She was more inattentive than ever at her lessons. She was continually studying her face in a looking glass, combing her hair, pulling out little tendrils and letting them spring back, smiling to herself as though she were hoarding some secret.
    despair of teaching that girl anything,sighed Miss York. or two pins I would go to Lady Harriet and tell her it a hopeless task. Really she gets worse than ever.Lavinia did not care. A smugness had settled on her. She was content with life. Something had happened. I was sorry I was the one to discover what.
    Dougal Carruthers had formed a firm friendship with my father and during his stay at Framling he came several times to see us and once to lunch.
    He told us he was staying for three weeks at the House and that his father had been a great friend of Sir William Framling; they were connected with the East India Company and he would shortly be leaving the country. He confessed to my father that he would rather have studied medieval art and architecture. He shrugged his shoulders, adding that it was a tradition that sons of the family should go into the Company, just as Fabian Framling would eventually do.
    Mrs. Janson was not displeased. She reckoned she could put on as good a lunch as Mrs. Bright of the House. All she wanted was notice, and this time she had it.
    I liked Dougal. He was very charming to me and did not treat me as Fabian and his friends hadot unkindly or rudely, but simply as though I did not exist.
    Dougal had a pleasant habit of glancing my way when he was talking, thus giving the impression that he included me in the conversation, and when, occasionally, I offered a comment, he would listen with attention.
    I wished that I had paid more attention when my father talked of the antiquity of our Norman church, so that I could have contributed