Havencross by Julie Daines

Author:Julie Daines
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency romance, mystery, woman, suspence, past, truth, clean.
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2017-06-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Elaine

Elaine and the Beafords had taken the longer way home, where the roads were better, so she’d not seen anything of the wreck Gareth was describing.

“You’re limping. Are you hurt?” Elaine asked Lord Chiverton.

“Perfectly fine; just landed a bit off. Nothing to worry about.”

She wasn’t, not really. Thoughts of confronting her father to tell him about the body of her brother left very little room in her mind for Lord Chiverton’s overturned phaeton.

She took off her filthy pelisse and handed it to Betsy. Her hem was in shreds and her bonnet drifting out into the Atlantic, but that hardly mattered.

Aunt Rose appeared, Uncle Charles pushing her through the front door into the entry where they all stood divesting themselves of the worst of it. Uncle Charles’s carriage had ridden off to take Miss Tippet back to her home.

Lord Chiverton yanked off his soiled coat. “Blasted thing cost me a king’s ransom.”

“I’m sorry about your phaeton.” Elaine assumed he was talking about his carriage, but perhaps she was mistaken. “And I’m sorry about your coat.”

Mr. Winkleigh and Gareth stood at the foot of the steps, speaking in hushed tones. Gareth would be asking the whereabouts of her father, explaining that there was news that could not wait.

“I don’t have time for this,” Lord Chiverton said, pacing furiously across the entryway floor. “I don’t have time to go to Camelford and back. I’ve got other business this evening.”

It was unclear to whom Lord Chiverton was speaking. Uncle Charles was busy lifting his wife out of her chair, proclaiming again how she’d overdone herself today. Gareth was following Mr. Winkleigh down the hall toward her father’s library. Elaine supposed he must be talking to her, though she knew nothing about Camelford’s carriage maker nor the piecing together of high flyers.

“You can take our coach if you need transportation,” she said. “Or a horse, as the rain has let up and it is the fastest way into Camelford. You can ford the River Camel up north and save yourself the trip down to the bridge. I’m sure the coach maker will do all he can to have your carriage up and working as soon as possible.”

Lord Chiverton ran over to her and kissed her hand. “Brilliant idea! Thank you, my love.” Then he darted out the front door.

Gareth must have taken it upon himself to inform her father. That was brave of him. Just before the library, he paused, catching her eye, his eyebrows raised, asking if she wanted to join him.

She could let him deal with her father all on his own. He would do it well. Her father had always gotten on with the elder Mr. Kemp, and Gareth too, when he’d come to run with John. After the long silence between her and her father, perhaps now was not the best time to attempt conciliation. But if she waited for the best time, she might be waiting forever.

Those first few days, she’d hated her father for ruining her chances with Lord Chiverton.

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