Read Online Yesterday's Promise by Linda Lee Chaikin - Free Book Online

Rogan’s blunt retort. “I warned him repeatedly that the marriage was all wrong.”
    She looked at him, suddenly offended at his frankness. She drew back against the seat. “You told Julien about
me?
”
    â€œOf course. Oh, Arcilla, don’t look so betrayed. You’re undisciplined and foolish at times, and your lack of discretion is known to both of us. So let’s not pretend. But now you’re a married woman, and there’s no changing any of it.”
    â€œOh, I know all that,” she said hoarsely. Rogan could talk to her like this, and she didn’t find it as threatening or offensive as when Julienlooked at her with his cold eye, or when the haughty face of Lady Willowby watched her at the ball with lifted silvery brow filled with judgment.
    â€œThen if you know these things, you must begin to grow up. You must think of your husband, too, not merely waltzing the night away under the Capetown stars taken with some handsome soldier.”
    â€œThomas isn’t a soldier.”
    â€œBeside the point. And”—he gave her a dry glance—“Julien would hire pirates to capture the ship you were on before he’d allow you to escape to London. He wanted you to marry Peter for a reason: diamonds. And Peter’s family is extremely powerful in politics. Julien has definite plans for you and Peter, plans that will suit his own greedy purposes. Now, that’s no surprise, is it? You knew as much from the beginning. We both knew.”
    Yes, she knew, only too well. Life in Capetown was far different from what she had expected. But things hadn’t seemed as dreadful back in England. She hadn’t wanted to come to South Africa, but Peter convinced her it wouldn’t be as odious as she had feared. But it was worse!
    She frowned at Rogan, but under his wry gaze, she broke into a smile and then laughed, an uncomfortable laugh. “Oh, Rogan, how well you know me. You and Evy, both. And how I’ve missed you. And Evy, too. I wish she were here now to lecture me. How is Evy, by the way?”
    He did not answer at once, and she gave him an amused, searching glance. “You have your own problems, I see.”
    â€œThere are no problems,” came the smooth voice. “Evy was fine when I left Grimston Way, though Grace Havering died.”
    â€œDid she? How unpleasant for Evy. She’s all alone now.”
    â€œShe has Mrs. Croft,” came his firm voice, as though he didn’t want to think otherwise.
    Arcilla thought it was because he did not want to worry.
    â€œMrs. Croft, that dear old bastion of strength, is as much of an ‘Auntie’ as Evy could wish for. Evy also went back to music school. In fact, she’ll open her own school soon.”
    Arcilla winced at the boring thought. Piano… She had always loathed piano because it meant long hours of tedious practice.
    â€œFar better Evy were here with me. Do you suppose—”
    â€œNo. She has her own life to live, and you have yours now. I’ll tell you what I think, Arcilla. I think Julien is right to a certain extent.”
    â€œJulien, right?” She could not hide the surprise in her voice. This she hadn’t expected from her brother, who normally went along with her wishes.
    â€œYes, I don’t really approve of the long, perhaps dangerous trek to the Zambezi, but since Peter is going and will help represent Rhodes’s company at the colony, you would do well to be with your husband.”
    â€œBut Peter is so dreadful,” she said, trying to make light of his suggestion. She didn’t want to admit Rogan was right. “I shall never forgive him for doing just as Julien wants. Parnell, too. He and Peter both are at Kimberly doing whatever Sir Julien bids them.” She looked at him with a little caution. “If Julien knew you were here, he would be upset. You were supposed to finish out your year at the business in