A Perfect Likeness by Sandra Heath

Author:Sandra Heath [Heath, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1985-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

She could hear the rain on the conservatory as she rode into the quadrangle. The enclosing walls seemed to accentuate the noise of the storm, making the wind’s noise howl around the battlements and through the ruined stones of the old abbey. She hadn’t noticed Felix’s traveling carriage preceding her, but now she saw it as it drew to a weary standstill by the porch. She reined in in dismay, for Felix was one person she had no desire to see.

The steward emerged from the porch, a large umbrella in readiness, and the bedraggled footmen, their livery soaked by the rain, climbed down from their perch to open the carriage doors. In the second before they did so, they exchanged wary glances which caught Bryony’s attention, and as Felix at last alighted she saw that his face was dark with brooding anger.

He stood there for a moment by the carriage, the rain spattering his excellent coat in the second before the umbrella was raised above him. He looked very elegant and handsome, but his appearance was marred by the dissatisfaction twisting his mouth and by the angry coldness of his eyes.

One of the footmen stepped unwisely close to him, splashing his boots, and with a furious oath Felix rounded on him. “You clumsy oaf!” he cried. “I’ll ... !” He broke off then as he suddenly noticed Bryony. For a long moment he stared at her, a mixture of emotions crossing his face, but then, quite unexpectedly, he smiled. Suddenly careless of the effect of the rain upon his clothes, he stepped from the shelter of the umbrella and strode through the gathering puddles toward her. “Good morning, Miss St. Charles, how very good it is to see you again.”

Astonished at this sudden change, she gazed down at him. “Is it?”

“Is it a good morning? Or is it good to see you?” He was all charm and good humor, as if they had parted the best of friends.

She didn’t trust him. “I would hardly have expected such a warm greeting from you, not after the way you spoke to me when last we met.”

His smile became a little rueful. “My conscience weighs heavily, Miss St. Charles. I’ve suffered considerably from the knowledge that I behaved quite despicably toward you before I left. I must ask you to forgive me.”

“And if I do, will you then turn upon me again?”

“No, Miss St. Charles, I will not, although I can hardly blame you for not believing that.”

“Good, sir, for I do not.”

He raised an eyebrow, his expression thoughtful then. “How very changed you are, something momentous has evidently happened during my absence.”

“You are getting very wet, sir. Should you not be going inside?”

He smiled again. “Now I know something has been going on. Will you not tell me?”

“Oh, I think not, sir, for I rather imagine the duchess would like to tell you everything herself.” She slipped down from the horse before he had time to assist her.

He caught her hand suddenly.

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