Honoria and the Family Obligation (The Fentons Book 1) by Alicia Cameron

Author:Alicia Cameron [Cameron, Alicia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2017-05-02T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Lord Sumner Receives a Letter

Scribster and Allison met on the way to an early breakfast. ‘I don’t think you should offer for Miss Fenton,’ he said, getting to the point.

‘Well, I’ll hardly do it in these circumstances. I never told you how the proposal fared.’

‘You proposed already?’

‘I would have if she hadn’t kept interrupting me.’

‘Did she? And you thought she would wait meekly until her parents’ greatest hope came to pass.’

‘You wound my pride — perhaps she could like me for more than her parents’ sake. Actually, she was delightfully pert and I became interested for the first time. Thanks for that.’

‘You’re thanking me?’ said Scribster at the last step.

Allison put his hand on his shoulder. ‘It was you who kept saying she had hidden depths.’

‘I did.’

‘And it tipped me over into talking to her. The delay was about to get embarrassing for all the family. But she ripped me up — when I told her she must know how I admired her, she said she could never have guessed from my behaviour.’ He laughed. ‘I had to admire her honesty. I was becoming inured to my fate.’

‘How did she reply to your offer?’

‘I never got the chance to finish it. You interrupted — I thought you must know.’

‘I thought so. Anyway, you must not do so now.’

‘Of course not. What kind of self-interested dolt do you think me? And what’s it to do with you anyway?’

‘You’d be surprised.’

They entered the breakfast room to find only Lieutenant Prescott and Honoria. The Lieutenant’s large handkerchief was in Honoria’s hand and she looked up.

‘Good morning Mr Allison, Mr Scribster,’ she said, with a smile, but still a little watery-eyed. ‘I am sorry that you see me thus. I assure you that I’m much better now. Lieutenant Prescott was most kind.’

‘Are your sister and Lady Sumner still abed?’

‘Serena has gone to your kitchens to make a rub for Benedict’s bruises. She seems to think if it’s efficacious for horses, it will be good for him.’ She gave a little laugh. ‘Then she is going to let Mama come back here to rest. Lady Sumner and I will stay here and I must wait for the afternoon, when Papa says I may relieve my sister. He wishes me to rest again, as I had such a late night. Papa is already gone, I think. Could you get a footman to find a hackney for Serena?’

‘I will take her myself,’ said Allison determinedly. ‘And you should rest.’

‘I cannot. I shall just wait here until I am needed.’

Mr Scribster said, ‘You will very likely chafe yourself into low spirits if you do that. Don’t be a little f—’

Allison looked askance at his friend. Almost calling a guest a fool was more rudeness than even he could display normally.

Honoria frowned at him, her sadness dispelled for a moment.

‘That is why I have invited Miss Fenton to a ride around the park with me in your tilbury, Rowley. I’ve ordered it to be put to. Clear away the cobwebs before she has to tend to the sick.

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