Aurora by Joan Smith

Author:Joan Smith [Smith, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1980-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Lady Raiker was up, dressed and had her carriage standing ready at the door when Aurora Falkner arrived the next morning. “Just make yourself at home, my dear,” she advised her. “You must not feel you have to be with Charles every minute. His tutor has him in the morning, and he amuses himself pretty well in the afternoon. It is more for the night that I wish someone in the house. With the gypsies about, I do not like to leave the house without someone I trust.” She narrowed her eyes at Aurora in a suspicious manner as she said this, causing her trusted friend to wonder if she had heard so soon about the outing with Kenelm—as indeed she had, and a pretty underhanded stunt she thought it, too.

“I do not let Charles out alone,” she added. “Oh, at the stables or whatnot is allowed, but I have warned him he is not to go beyond the immediate area of the buildings alone. Well, I am off. Wish me well.”

“I wish you a pleasant journey,” was the farthest Aurora could stretch her duplicity. She went into the house, to face two days’ isolation from her friends and family. She had brought books with her to read, some needlework to busy her fingers, letter paper and her own favourite pen, and long before lunchtime had had a go at these occupations. All were equally tedious when carried on in a still house, disturbed only by an occasional servant entering a room on soft feet. To have some company, she had Charles down to lunch with her, a diversion from his usual habit of eating with his tutor. She liked Charles, a handsome and clever boy approaching twelve years; she discovered traces of both Bernard and Kenelm in him.

“May we go out for a ride this afternoon, Aunt Rorie ?” he asked. She was not actually his aunt, but from confusion with her sister he had addressed her so from his early years, and continued to do so.

The day was fine. The sun shone in through the mullioned windows to the table where they ate. The trees waved languorously in the breeze, and most of all to lure her, there was the knowledge that Kenelm would be at the Dower House at three o’clock.

“It might be best not to, with the gypsies camped nearby.”

“We would go by the post road. They wouldn’t bother us on the public road. We can take a groom if you’re afraid. You shouldn’t be afraid with me, Aunt Rorie. I would defend you,” he said, in all seriousness.

“In that case, we shall go for a ride,” she agreed, suppressing a smile.

“I haven’t seen Aunt Marnie and Mimi for ages. Are they angry with me? Mama says they’re angry, but you aren’t. Why are they?”

“They are not angry, Charles. How foolish.”

“Mama says they’re angry because the courts made me Lord Raiker. I would rather be their friend than Lord Raiker,” he said a little sadly.

“I don’t think your mother would want you to go to visit them.

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.