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

London.”
    â€œI find diamond cutting interesting, but for me—an unnecessary skill, and the shipping aspect, much too routine.”
    â€œWhat does the proper rectory girl think of your restless temperament?”
    Rogan changed the subject as smoothly as turning a page. “I endured the shipping for almost a year after my graduation from the university. You know I’ve long had plans of sailing here to the Cape to pursue my own dreams. It’s never been far from my thinking.”
    â€œJulien will be surprised.” She read the hard set of his jaw.
    â€œFor the present, it’s just as well he doesn’t know. I plan to go straight to Kimberly to look up Derwent. So then…” He studied her face before continuing. “Can you help Peter understand? I’m sure he’ll try if you give him a chance.”
    â€œIt’s not all Peter,” she admitted, throwing up her hands. “He’s kind enough to me…but he’s away so much of the time at Kimberly.”
    â€œWell, then, go to Kimberly and remind him he has a wife. That will get his attention.”
    She smiled, amused by Rogan’s boldness. “I have gone to Kimberly several times. The family has a beautiful house there. In fact, Cousin Darinda is there now. She spends more time in Kimberly than she does here in Capetown. She’s dreadful, so unamusing. She thinks like a man.”
    Arcilla saw a smile on his face.
    â€œHow interesting. I should think that would make Parnell happy.”
    â€œOn the contrary, Parnell is furious. She keeps him dangling.”
    â€œI’m sure Julien will put an end to the dangling when he decides Parnell deserves the prize of his granddaughter.”
    â€œPrize? Hah. She wants to travel the diamond and gold fields with her grandfather—imagine that! So absurd, but Julien seems pleased to let her accompany him wherever he goes. It is quite annoying how he dotes on her every wish. She can do what no one else can, twist him around her little finger.”
    â€œCan she? How interesting.” He stroked his mustache.
    â€œDon’t get any ideas, my dear brother. Parnell is quite enraptured with her and will demand a duel of anyone else who tries to win her affection,” she said cheerfully. “She can even shoot. She likes to hunt with Uncle Julien.”
    Rogan merely lifted a brow at this news. She hurried on. “But it’s not Darinda, or Peter. It’s Julien sending us to the colony that is so positively ghastly. Darinda wants to come too. Oh, Rogan! You simply
must
be with us and Peter on the venture. If you’d only cooperate with Julien on that gold prospecting dream of yours, it would solve everything.”
    She saw the hard glitter in his eyes beneath the slashing dark brows.
    â€œI refuse to join forces with Sir Julien. What I plan to do, I’ll do on my own without any help from him.” Then his tone relaxed. “But I am sorry about the trek north. It will be hard on you, no doubt, but that’s where Peter comes in. Really, Arcilla, you ought to be able to talk this through with him.”
    Her frustration broke. “Talk to him? I might as well talk to
Jasper
for all the good it does. At least Jasper listens to me.”
    â€œJasper?”
    She saw his eyes darken, and she smiled sweetly and picked up her little poodle that had been sleeping at her feet. “How’s my precious, sweetie Jasper? Oh, you’re such a darling.” She kissed the dog’s little ears, and it licked her cheek.
    Rogan’s mouth twisted. “Really, Arcilla.”
    â€œI’m serious, Rogan. If you don’t join Rhodes’s company, you won’t amount to anything in South Africa. And besides all that, I need you on that trek north. I’d feel so much better if you were there. And Peter needs you too. When he learns you’re here, he’ll be so pleased.”
    Rogan looked immovable. He folded