Lavender Lady by Carola Dunn

Author:Carola Dunn [Dunn, Carola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780446327992
Google: mVU0PwAACAAJ
Amazon: 0446327999
Barnesnoble: 0446327999
Goodreads: 2204837
Publisher: Walker & Co
Published: 1982-12-31T11:00:00+00:00

* * * *

By Wednesday afternoon, Hester was exhausted. Even with the assistance of the two maids Jamie had insisted on hiring, it had been no easy business transporting her family to London and settling them in their temporary home. At last everything was unpacked and bestowed in its proper place.

At least she had had no leisure to brood about the breach with Mr. Fairfax—no, Lord Alton—which looked irreparable.

Robbie, having already made friends with a couple of village urchins, had taken off across the fields with strict instructions to stay away from the construction area where the Regent's Canal would soon join the Grand Union. Jamie had unwillingly escorted a tearful Alice to Holles Street. Geoff had nobly offered to take Susan strolling in Hyde Park. The servants retired to the kitchen, and the house was blissfully quiet.

Hester sank into a chair in the small parlour, kicked off her shoes, and tucked her legs beneath her.

Chin in hand, eyes fixed absently on a leafless elm beyond the mullioned window, she mused unhappily for a while. Gradually she drifted into slumber.

The ring of hooves and rattle of wheels on the cobbles outside failed to wake her, as did a firm knocking on the front door. She did not hear a determined masculine voice enquiring for her, nor the maid's breathless answer.

"She be in the parlour, sir, but I dunno if she be at ‘ome,” said Bessie, flustered by the unexpected appearance of a fine gentleman, “bang up to the nines” as she reported to Dora, on the modest doorstep.

Lord Alton did not wait to find out whether or not the mistress of the house was “at home.” He was all too afraid she was not, at least to him.

"In here?” he queried, and pushed open the parlour door.

The click of the latch as he shut it behind him roused Hester. She looked up at him sleepily. The long rays of the setting sun lit on his tall, powerful form and thick, wavy blond hair, and he looked like a Greek god. He sat down in the chair next to hers and took her hand.

"I must apologise for waking you,” he said gravely, “and for a great deal else besides."

She blinked at him, too stunned by her vision of Apollo to answer, or even to take in his words.

"Come, you are still half-asleep.” He laughed softly. “Forgive me while you think me a dream, then wake and remember only that we are friends."

His eyes were pleading with her even while he joked. He needed her compassion, and Hester had never in her life turned away anyone in need.

"We are friends,” she repeated with a wry smile. “Between friends no apologies are needed. I did not trust far enough—"

"No apologies,” he reminded, placing his finger on her lips. He would have preferred to silence her with a kiss, but having made this much progress, he had no intention of rushing his fences and once more losing her precious trust. He asked after her brothers and sisters.

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