Joan Smith by Never Let Me Go

Author:Never Let Me Go
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Lord Raventhorpe paid the formal visit to Sir Giles in his study at Chêne Bay, and heard exactly what he expected to hear. Sir Giles pokered up and adopted a righteous tone. The oak-lined office and the handsome desk lent him an air of authority he had not enjoyed before garnering the plum position as Arabella’s guardian. In fact, his reputation had been on the shady side. Raventhorpe bristled at the hypocrisy of this parvenu reading him a lecture on morals.

“Arabella is much too young, milord. No offense intended, but your lordship’s reputation is not all one could wish in a companion for such a young girl, with no knowledge of the world. In another year, perhaps, we shall see. I had thought of presenting her in London.”

Beneath the polite words, the air crackled with suppressed hostility. Their eyes met and held. Raventhorpe’s knowing gaze caused a flush to darken Throckley’s cheeks.

“Am I to understand you are not allowing anyone to court Arabella for the next year?” he asked.

“She will attend the balls and assemblies, properly chaperoned. Private outings will be curtailed. I do not approve of her slipping off into the park for clandestine meetings.”

“That was the only sort of meeting allowed us under your stringent guardianship. I daresay her private meetings will be limited to William?”

Sir Giles bridled up like an angry mare. “What are you suggesting, sir?”

“I am suggesting you would be very happy to see your son marry Arabella’s fortune,” Raventhorpe answered bluntly. “You shall hear from me if you try forcing her hand.”

Throckley reined in his temper. “No one is forcing her to do anything. She is only a child. It is my duty to look out for her best interests. I am extremely busy. I must ask you to leave now, milord.”

“It will be my pleasure,” Raventhorpe replied, and strode from the room.

He continued meeting Arabella by the weir, but it was a great drain on his time and patience and integrity. The distance of ten miles each way was an obstacle, and as autumn advanced into winter, the weir was no longer a feasible trysting spot. Raventhorpe, accustomed to having things very much his own way, thought Arabella did not appreciate the effort he was making to see her, and his great control in not seducing her. He hinted at the former.

“It’s not easy for me either, Alexander,” she scolded, shivering as the chilly blast of a November wind invaded her pelisse. “I had to claim a headache to leave Mrs. Melton’s dinner party just to be here in time to meet you, and now all you do is scold. It was bad enough that Mrs. Meyers made me take a blue pill to fight off a cold,” she said childishly. “And there was to be dancing after dinner at the Meltons' for the youngsters, too.”

“I daresay William was of the party?”

“Naturally she invited us all.”

“Did William bring you home?”

“Yes. Sir Giles wanted a game of whist. I offered to go home alone.

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