Alias Lord John: A Regency Adventure by Lily Milner

Author:Lily Milner [Milner, Lily]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Quality Street Books
Published: 2020-10-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

On the walk to the farm Poppy explained that Miss Annie Longreach had begun a school for the children of the parish at the little church hall, but now that she was forced to manage the farm the lessons had stopped. A maid and a farm worker came in from the village each day to help at the farm, but how long that could continue was uncertain.

A slightly built woman with dark eyes and black hair plaited and tied with a thin ribbon greeted them at the door. 'My lord, and Miss Poppy. Have you walked here in this weather? Please do come in and sit by the fire.'

Miss Annie Longreach was dressed in serviceable calico embroidered around the hem and wrists with fine stitching. Her thin face was drawn, perhaps by her recent sorrow. She bobbed a quick curtsy, but her eyes did not leave them. Rigal was surprised. He had expected a farm girl with coarse features and shoulders strong enough to carry milk pails and heave sacks of turnips. Instead, here was a woman with a cultured voice and a rather frail figure. Her stare, however, was direct and fearless, and he suspected a strong pride.

'The boys are out on the farm,' she said. 'They have too much to do now without Edward. The kettle is on the hob. You should have tea to warm you.'

Was this a criticism of Lord John? Did she blame him for the riot and her brother's death? There was an awkward pause before Poppy quickly stepped in. 'We were in need of exercise,' she said. 'Lord John has injured his shoulder, so he cannot ride.'

'Oh, of course. I heard. I am sorry, my lord. I also heard there was shooting in the woods.'

'Nothing to be alarmed at,' he said. 'A shot, yes. Far away, but near enough to frighten my horse.' News certainly travelled fast in these rural communities. The servant network had been busy.

'Rumours are rife since my brother's accident. And as there have been no charges laid …'

So that was it. Annie Longreach was not happy to know that Lord John had convinced the constabulary not to investigate the death.

'There may yet be charges laid,' he said. He saw Poppy's eyes widen at that. 'But not here. The riot was started by agitators from elsewhere, and I intend to make sure they are caught.'

'Do you have information about that, my lord?' The cups rattled as she set them on a tray. The comment had startled her.

'As a matter of fact, no, but I expect to have it to hand very soon.'

Why did he feel obliged to tell her this? Perhaps her frailty and the fact that she was still grieving for her brother had prompted it. He also needed information, and it was necessary to have her on side.

Tea was served, and as he sipped from a delicate china cup, produced no doubt for the lord's benefit alone, Poppy tried to lighten the meeting by giving news of her time in London and the latest fashions there.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.