Read Online Trondelaine Castle by April Lynn Kihlstrom - Free Book Online Page B

quite
interested to know about this. Charles insisted Miss
Pratt was a young lady, but if so, why was she working?
Not that Miss Pratt ever gave one cause to complain of
a lack of breeding, but she was, after all, an American
and here under odd circumstances. Well, whatever,
Gwen liked Miss Pratt. And Lord Richard’s valet,
William, ought not to speak so about her.
    All this ran through Gwen’s mind in the brief
moments as she set down the tray and Wendy thanked
her. As Wendy had no further requests, Gwen returned
to the kitchen. It was a relief to wait on someone who
was not always making demands. Still, it was a shame
the master wouldn’t consider Lady Sylvia more
seriously. She was so suitable in every way. And it was
time Lord Richard began thinking of an heir, wasn’t it?
    Actually, Lord Richard was thinking of Sylvia at
that moment. He had just remembered a promise to
take her to the theater that evening. It was late to be
calling her to cancel their date, but it had to be done.
She would be angry, but that couldn’t be helped. Why
not drive to London at once? his conscience asked. You
could be there in time to change.
    He shook his head. No, I won’t leave the castle with
her here. I just don’t trust her. Nonsense, his conscience
argued, Charles is an efficient protector of the castle. All right, he conceded, it’s a convenient excuse to
cancel the date with Sylvia. I just don’t want to go to
the theater tonight.

    The mental argument resolved, Lord Richard went
upstairs to phone Lady Sylvia. Of the three phones in
the house, his would have the most privacy. The other
two were in the kitchen and the library, where he would
surely be overheard.
    Sylvia answered immediately in her purring voice,
“Why, darling, how wonderful of you call! No one has
seen you for days, and Peter wagered you would beg off
for tonight. I shall be so pleased to prove him wrong.
But where have you been hiding yourself, darling?”
    Lord Richard felt distinctly uncomfortable. “Actually, Sylvia, I’m calling to beg off. No, don’t be angry
with me, I simply can’t help it. Something important
has come up and I can’t leave my work. I’m dreadfully
sorry.”
    “I see. Well, never mind, darling, I understand. But
where are you and when shall I see you?” she
demanded.
    “I’m here at Trondelaine and frankly, Sylvia, I don’t
know yet when I’ll be free. But I promise I’ll call you as
soon as I know.”
    “Oh, darling! You poor dear, you sound dreadfully
overworked. Why don’t I bring Peter and Harry and a
few of our other friends to Trondelaine? This weekend?
I promise we won’t intrude on you while you’re
working. But you’ll have to relax sometime won’t
you?”
    “I’d rather not have a crowd,” he said wearily.
    “Oh, darling!” she said happily. “How stupid of me!
Of course I won’t bring them, then. I agree a quiet
weekend with just the two of us would be much nicer.”

    “Sylvia, I want to be alone,” he explained patiently.
“You do understand, don’t you… darling?”
    “I suppose,” she replied pettishly. “Well, enjoy your
solitude and call me when you have time from your
work.”
    With relief he said, “Thank you, Sylvia. I knew you’d
understand. And I promise I’ll call you as soon as I can.
Now, I must get back to my work. Goodbye… darling.”
    “Cheers.” Slowly, Sylvia hung up the phone, various
suspicions and plans flitting through her mind.
    Lord Richard, on the other hand, only felt relief that
matters had gone better than expected. Sylvia had been
surprisingly understanding, particularly since his
explanation had sounded so odd. But Wendy’s
presence at Trondelaine was one of those things one
just could not tell Sylvia about. Her patience, after all,
was not infinite.
    Dear Sylvia! He might have made up his mind about
her already if he hadn’t known that both her mother
and his had secretly schemed for their