A Scandalous Journey: The Amberley Chronicles by May Burnett

Author:May Burnett [Burnett, May]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mind Games Publications
Published: 2016-02-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

After more restless hours and a hurried breakfast that weighed in her stomach like a stone, Monique climbed into the barouche with her Uncle James and the twins. They had volunteered to come along, in Violet’s case from curiosity, Monique thought a trifle resentfully; Roger had proffered his escort as extra protection, in case she was still in danger after all.

She had known Roger and Violet all her life, ever since she had first visited their home in Sussex when she was only one year old, and they were four. Three years and her diminutive size had been a great gulf, which had only slowly diminished over the years. Violet, blonde and tall like her mother, had been athletic and restless even as a child. Luckily her highhandedness was more directed at Roger and Verena than at Monique. At twenty-four she could have married many times over, and had refused a large number of eligible proposals. When a girl was well-born, rich and good-looking, she could afford to take her time. Marriages were taking place rather later these days, than in the previous generation. Perhaps the problem was not the young ladies’ too strict requirements, but the unsatisfactory nature of modern young men? They were so stodgy, so boring, for the most part. Where were the dashing regency bucks of the previous generation? Now men dressed in dull black and stovepipe hats, smoked pipes, and were consumed with ambition.

Roger might make a good husband one day, when he matured a little more. He had the characteristic chestnut hair of the Ellsworthy family, but like Violet he had inherited his mother’s startling sky-blue eyes. Since coming down from university he was much sought after, as ambitious mothers expected him to be his uncle Amberley’s heir in due course. His younger brother, still at Oxford at twenty years of age, was far less popular despite his pleasant character and strong resemblance to Roger.

“How should we proceed?” Monique asked Uncle James. “Do you know this magistrate? Is he a reasonable man?”

“I don’t know him well. Sir Claud Russell is not on particularly good terms with our family,” James Ellsworthy explained. “He is about ten years younger than I, only forty or so, and thinks very highly of himself. He tends to be overly harsh with miscreants of humble background, at least in my opinion.”

“That does not sound hopeful for your Captain,” Violet said to Monique. “I have not met Sir Claud, but in London I have known others of that type.”

“In this case, we have in our favour that the accusation comes from elsewhere, and Sir Claud cannot know all the particulars. It still may be difficult to prise your young man out of his clutches.”

“He’s not my young man,” Monique protested. “My friend or ally, no more.”

“Would you be equally passionate in my defence, if I were unjustly imprisoned?” Roger quizzed her.

“You have a large family who would move heaven and earth to save you,” Monique reminded him. “Your name, your fortune and connections are greatly superior to those of Captain Kinninmont.

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