Read Online The Last of Lady Lansdown by Shirley Kennedy - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shirley Kennedy
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She threw open the half door, flung her arms around Beauty’s neck and buried her face in her silken crest. The horse whinnied in response, causing tears to well in her eyes. She was wiping them away when Timothy appeared.
“She’s in good shape, mum. She’s been over at Lord Gamfield’s stables on the other side of the village. From the looks of her, she’s been well-treated. Lord Gamfield has the best pasture around.”
Jane patted Beauty’s sleek, well-groomed flank. “I can see that, but I thought ...” The shocking truth dawned. Arthur told her he took Beauty to London and sold her at Tattersall’s. That liar! She had assumed she would never see her horse again. All those tears shed! “She has been not five miles from here the whole time?”
“It would seem so, mum.”
She bit back angry words and remembered her manners. “How can I ever thank you? Surely money was involved and I will happily pay you—”
“Oh, no, mum. ’Twas not me what brought her back.”
“Then who?”
“’Twas that guest of Lord Rennie’s. He brought Beauty back this morning and sent me up to the house to fetch you.”
Could it be? “Do you recall his name?” She held her breath.
“Mister Douglas Cartland, I believe he said his name was. He’s the one who is building the canal for Lord Rennie.”
“How could he possibly have known where Beauty was?”
From behind came a familiar male voice. “Simple. Rennie told me. Seems he was with the earl when he made the sale to Gamfield.”
She looked over her shoulder. Him . Simply dressed in a white shirt open at the throat and dark breeches, he stood behind her, a crooked grin on his deeply bronzed face. “Well. Did I get it right? I would hate to think I brought the wrong horse back.”
“Yes, you did.” She withdrew her arms from around Beauty’s neck and whirled around, resisting the wild impulse to fling her arms around Douglas Cartland instead. “It’s Beauty, all right. I am overwhelmed, sir. I cannot thank you enough for bringing her back.” A horrible thought struck her. “She’s not just borrowed, is she? Tell me you don’t have to return her to Lord Gamfield.”
His hearty laugh instantly relieved her mind. “She’s here to stay. Let’s take her outside, shall we?”
“Of course.” Nothing would give her more pleasure than to see her beloved horse in the sunlight, in all her glory. Jane noted Beauty wore the same leather-tooled harness she’d bought for her years earlier, back in the days when she thought her happiness would go on forever. She clipped a lead to the harness and led her horse outside, Cartland close behind. In the courtyard, she checked Beauty over, growing more pleased by the minute as she noted the horse’s hooves were well cared for, her mane and tail free of dust and dirt. She picked up a brush and began stroking Beauty’s shining flanks. “You don’t know how much I worried about her, how I imagined all sorts of horrible ways she could have been mistreated. How can I thank you?”
Cartland stood watching her, a glow of satisfaction in his deep brown eyes. “No need to thank me. It was my pleasure.”
She cocked her head. “You hardly know me. I can’t understand why you would go out of your way to do such a great kindness.”
An ironic smile played on his lips. “Neither can I. A moment of madness, perhaps?”
“At least allow me to reimburse you.”
He shook his head. “If you must pay me back, come riding with me. Have you ridden the trail by the river? It’s quite spectacular.”
“I would love to.” Her heart lifted at the thought of riding Beauty again. She called to Timothy, “Do you still have my saddle?”
“Yes, mum.” The stableman beamed. He disappeared inside.
“I took the river trail once but didn’t get far. It will be so lovely to—” Oh , no ! What was she thinking of? Beatrice’s words came back to her. Despicable ... a depraved individual ... Sir Archibald’s words followed.
“She’s in good shape, mum. She’s been over at Lord Gamfield’s stables on the other side of the village. From the looks of her, she’s been well-treated. Lord Gamfield has the best pasture around.”
Jane patted Beauty’s sleek, well-groomed flank. “I can see that, but I thought ...” The shocking truth dawned. Arthur told her he took Beauty to London and sold her at Tattersall’s. That liar! She had assumed she would never see her horse again. All those tears shed! “She has been not five miles from here the whole time?”
“It would seem so, mum.”
She bit back angry words and remembered her manners. “How can I ever thank you? Surely money was involved and I will happily pay you—”
“Oh, no, mum. ’Twas not me what brought her back.”
“Then who?”
“’Twas that guest of Lord Rennie’s. He brought Beauty back this morning and sent me up to the house to fetch you.”
Could it be? “Do you recall his name?” She held her breath.
“Mister Douglas Cartland, I believe he said his name was. He’s the one who is building the canal for Lord Rennie.”
“How could he possibly have known where Beauty was?”
From behind came a familiar male voice. “Simple. Rennie told me. Seems he was with the earl when he made the sale to Gamfield.”
She looked over her shoulder. Him . Simply dressed in a white shirt open at the throat and dark breeches, he stood behind her, a crooked grin on his deeply bronzed face. “Well. Did I get it right? I would hate to think I brought the wrong horse back.”
“Yes, you did.” She withdrew her arms from around Beauty’s neck and whirled around, resisting the wild impulse to fling her arms around Douglas Cartland instead. “It’s Beauty, all right. I am overwhelmed, sir. I cannot thank you enough for bringing her back.” A horrible thought struck her. “She’s not just borrowed, is she? Tell me you don’t have to return her to Lord Gamfield.”
His hearty laugh instantly relieved her mind. “She’s here to stay. Let’s take her outside, shall we?”
“Of course.” Nothing would give her more pleasure than to see her beloved horse in the sunlight, in all her glory. Jane noted Beauty wore the same leather-tooled harness she’d bought for her years earlier, back in the days when she thought her happiness would go on forever. She clipped a lead to the harness and led her horse outside, Cartland close behind. In the courtyard, she checked Beauty over, growing more pleased by the minute as she noted the horse’s hooves were well cared for, her mane and tail free of dust and dirt. She picked up a brush and began stroking Beauty’s shining flanks. “You don’t know how much I worried about her, how I imagined all sorts of horrible ways she could have been mistreated. How can I thank you?”
Cartland stood watching her, a glow of satisfaction in his deep brown eyes. “No need to thank me. It was my pleasure.”
She cocked her head. “You hardly know me. I can’t understand why you would go out of your way to do such a great kindness.”
An ironic smile played on his lips. “Neither can I. A moment of madness, perhaps?”
“At least allow me to reimburse you.”
He shook his head. “If you must pay me back, come riding with me. Have you ridden the trail by the river? It’s quite spectacular.”
“I would love to.” Her heart lifted at the thought of riding Beauty again. She called to Timothy, “Do you still have my saddle?”
“Yes, mum.” The stableman beamed. He disappeared inside.
“I took the river trail once but didn’t get far. It will be so lovely to—” Oh , no ! What was she thinking of? Beatrice’s words came back to her. Despicable ... a depraved individual ... Sir Archibald’s words followed.
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