Read Online The Moonless Night by Joan Smith - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Joan Smith
Tags: Regency Romane
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smile of gratitude for his tact, Marie agreed readily, very happy to escape Lord Sanford.
“I’ll go with you and see what mischief you’ve created there,” Sanford said in his rudest voice, which was very rude indeed.
Chapter 6
Sir Henry went back into his Hall, and the others went around to the stables. “I don’t have a spare hack,” David said in an angry tone to Sanford. “That is, I have offered my spare to Mr. Benson. She is a barb, a sweet goer.”
“I brought my own mount,” Sanford said, unoffended.
Marie stepped quickly forward to secure Mr. Benson’s company, but was soon out-talked by her brother. With a mount to be lent, he had Benson's ear to explain the animal’s excellence. Seemingly unaware of his unpopularity, Sanford turned to Marie. “What is Benson doing here?” were his first private words to her.
Unhappy to have been cheated out of a walk with the spy, she answered snippily, “He is a family connection, Lord Sanford. His presence wants less explaining than some other people’s.”
“Who else is putting up with you?” he asked at once.
“You are the only other guest,” she answered.
“And wished at Jericho, I assume, from your manner, but you must see that winch and chain are a wretched idea.”
“With your love of Napoleon, it must please you that the chain might allow his escape.”
“I don’t want him to escape. I hope there is no attempt to rescue him at all, but if there is, that chain will be damnably in the way. How do the authorities come to allow it?”
“Bolt Hall is private property, sir. My father’s private property, and if he wishes to put a chain under the bay, he shall do it.”
“The bay isn’t his private property. I’11 find out who owns the other side, where the chain ends.”
“The other side is Crown land, and we have a patent letter dating hundreds of years ago giving permission for the chain.”
This exchange of pleasantries saw them at the stable door.
When the mounts were led out, there was surprise on David’s face to see Lard Sanford’s mount, an Arab stallion, a thoroughbred with flaring nostrils, a wide, deep chest and neat legs.
“Nice bit of blood,” he was startled into saying, looking jealously at the animal.
“Thank you, I am a little particular about what I ride.” A passing glance to David’s own mount said without words that he saw the attitude was not mutual.
They set off together, the four of them. David was not about to admit there was a horse in the kingdom could outdistance his own, and by urging his gelding on relentlessly he managed to keep pace with Sanford, which pleased Marie very well as it gave her a chance to talk to Benson.
“What is Sanford doing here at this time?” he asked repeating the other man’s question regarding himself.
“Father is a close friend of Lord Bathurst. It is his being godson to Bathurst that accounts for it. How unfortunate he should have come.”
“He won’t find the company to his liking, Miss Boltwood. I don’t think you will be long saddled with him.”
“Who is he, anyway?”
“A member of the ton in London. A fashionable fribble. It is pretty clear he has come here to make mischief. He has no real interest in anything but parties and his jackets, and his various estates, of course.”
“I wish he would go on to Wight as he mentioned doing.”
“I hadn’t realized he owned a place there. His major seat is Paisley Park, in Devon, not far from Oakhurst, my own place. You must have read of it in the guide books. A huge heap, full of art-works. A bit of an art collector in his spare time, which is all of his time.”
“He is very unfriendly for a neighbor. He hardly spoke to you.”
“Oh, I am beneath his lordship’s touch. You will have noticed he holds himself very high. Thinks he owns the world.”
“That will not influence my father. He will not destroy the winch and chain.”
“We must see he does not. Such an excellent safeguard. You
“I’ll go with you and see what mischief you’ve created there,” Sanford said in his rudest voice, which was very rude indeed.
Chapter 6
Sir Henry went back into his Hall, and the others went around to the stables. “I don’t have a spare hack,” David said in an angry tone to Sanford. “That is, I have offered my spare to Mr. Benson. She is a barb, a sweet goer.”
“I brought my own mount,” Sanford said, unoffended.
Marie stepped quickly forward to secure Mr. Benson’s company, but was soon out-talked by her brother. With a mount to be lent, he had Benson's ear to explain the animal’s excellence. Seemingly unaware of his unpopularity, Sanford turned to Marie. “What is Benson doing here?” were his first private words to her.
Unhappy to have been cheated out of a walk with the spy, she answered snippily, “He is a family connection, Lord Sanford. His presence wants less explaining than some other people’s.”
“Who else is putting up with you?” he asked at once.
“You are the only other guest,” she answered.
“And wished at Jericho, I assume, from your manner, but you must see that winch and chain are a wretched idea.”
“With your love of Napoleon, it must please you that the chain might allow his escape.”
“I don’t want him to escape. I hope there is no attempt to rescue him at all, but if there is, that chain will be damnably in the way. How do the authorities come to allow it?”
“Bolt Hall is private property, sir. My father’s private property, and if he wishes to put a chain under the bay, he shall do it.”
“The bay isn’t his private property. I’11 find out who owns the other side, where the chain ends.”
“The other side is Crown land, and we have a patent letter dating hundreds of years ago giving permission for the chain.”
This exchange of pleasantries saw them at the stable door.
When the mounts were led out, there was surprise on David’s face to see Lard Sanford’s mount, an Arab stallion, a thoroughbred with flaring nostrils, a wide, deep chest and neat legs.
“Nice bit of blood,” he was startled into saying, looking jealously at the animal.
“Thank you, I am a little particular about what I ride.” A passing glance to David’s own mount said without words that he saw the attitude was not mutual.
They set off together, the four of them. David was not about to admit there was a horse in the kingdom could outdistance his own, and by urging his gelding on relentlessly he managed to keep pace with Sanford, which pleased Marie very well as it gave her a chance to talk to Benson.
“What is Sanford doing here at this time?” he asked repeating the other man’s question regarding himself.
“Father is a close friend of Lord Bathurst. It is his being godson to Bathurst that accounts for it. How unfortunate he should have come.”
“He won’t find the company to his liking, Miss Boltwood. I don’t think you will be long saddled with him.”
“Who is he, anyway?”
“A member of the ton in London. A fashionable fribble. It is pretty clear he has come here to make mischief. He has no real interest in anything but parties and his jackets, and his various estates, of course.”
“I wish he would go on to Wight as he mentioned doing.”
“I hadn’t realized he owned a place there. His major seat is Paisley Park, in Devon, not far from Oakhurst, my own place. You must have read of it in the guide books. A huge heap, full of art-works. A bit of an art collector in his spare time, which is all of his time.”
“He is very unfriendly for a neighbor. He hardly spoke to you.”
“Oh, I am beneath his lordship’s touch. You will have noticed he holds himself very high. Thinks he owns the world.”
“That will not influence my father. He will not destroy the winch and chain.”
“We must see he does not. Such an excellent safeguard. You
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