In the Wake of the Wind by Kingsley Katherine

Author:Kingsley, Katherine [Kingsley, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION/Romance/Historical
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2013-10-05T14:00:00+00:00

Elspeth finished her experiments for the day, happily stoppering up the various bottles and piling her notes together. She washed and changed, looking forward to dinner, for she had a prodigious appetite and a chess game to win from Delaware afterwards.

She was also mightily curious to see Aiden, for the chambermaid had told her he’d returned. High time, too. To her way of thinking Serafina was spending far too much time with the duke—oh, yes, she knew all about it, she thought darkly, skewering her hairpins firmly into place.

“There’s only trouble that can come from it,” she said over her shoulder to Basil. “Don’t we just know it? Serafina’s reasons for popping over there might be as innocent as the day is long, but she belongs with her husband, and Aiden’s a fool for leaving her alone so long with nothing else to do.”

“Silly man,” Basil squawked in agreement.

“Just so,” Elspeth said with satisfaction. “If matters are going to go differently this time around, Aiden needs to keep his eyes open and his head up. At least Serafina has finally started to see that he might have some merit after all, or so she says. Goddess, but she gave me some bad moments there last month, kicking up such a fuss.” She scowled. “Don’t know what got into the girl when all she’s ever wanted is that man. It’s not as if I didn’t do everything in my power to see that she got him. And then what does she do? Practically spits in his face, and who knows why?”

“Bad girl,” Basil crooned lovingly.

“Simply misguided,” Elspeth corrected. “Maybe she expected an exact double for all I know. But never mind, we’re back on the right track. It’s that Charlotte who worries me now—she’ll take anything and twist it to get her own way, just like before, and we both know what a disaster that ended up. I’m telling you, the duke had better watch his step all the way around.”

Elspeth dug in a drawer and pulled out a biscuit. “Here you are, dearest. This will have to be your supper, since that dreadful woman won’t allow you at the table. I don’t know why I let Serafina talk me into giving Charlotte my special potion. I ought to have doctored it, I really should have done, put stinging nettles into it.”

“Do no harm, do no harm.” Basil grabbed the biscuit in one foot and started to munch on it, crumbs flying everywhere.

“Don’t you go telling me,” Elspeth said with annoyance. “I’m doing my best to stay out of the way, and don’t think it’s easy. But you and I both know that the lot of them have to sort out their own problems, or it’s no good.”

She returned to her dressing table and liberally scattered a puff full of powder on her face. She peered into the mirror. “Not bad for an old woman,” she said cheerfully, her spirits restored. “Now back to business. I’m going down to see what’s what with those two.

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