Lord Anguish by Sydney Jane Baily & Dragonblade Publishing

Author:Sydney Jane Baily & Dragonblade Publishing [Baily, Sydney Jane & Publishing, Dragonblade]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Medieval, Romance, Fiction
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2019-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

The Great Ouse was not exactly the Thames. Maggie knew the river was very long, but there, near Turvey House, it seemed hardly any different from the River Don near Simon and Jenny’s Belton Park. Their carriage ride had taken slightly longer to get to the river than to the church since they’d driven practically back to the manor before taking a left onto a path leading down to the chosen picnic area. Mrs. Mackle, the Angsley’s extremely capable housekeeper, had sent servants to lay out a grand spread.

Where they alighted from the landau, there were multiple large cloths on which were already placed a stack of plates and silverware. Servants had carried down baskets of food and drink, which they now dished out as the ladies and gentlemen gathered around.

Grayson and John came last, and everyone turned away as the injured earl was helped from his chair to stretch out upon a blanket.

When he groaned, though, Maggie whipped her head around to see him rubbing his thigh before he pulled his laudanum bottle from his pocket. To her delight, however, he looked at it and then returned it to his coat without opening it. Maybe Simon’s words had got through to him after all.

She was pleased to see the meal was light, merely individual cold pastry pies filled with meat and vegetables, easy to hold in one hand, along with fruits and cheeses. She drank only lemonade and noticed Jane did the same. The older ladies tipped back glasses of wine, and Maggie wondered if the ability to keep one’s head came with age. All of a sudden, she missed her own mother and wondered what was happening back at Sheffield with Jenny, Eleanor, and the new baby.

Lost in thought, she nearly didn’t notice when Jane gestured for her to walk to the water’s edge. Brushing the crumbs from her hands, she stood up and followed. It seemed it was the time of reckoning. Or maybe Jane would simply try to be rid of any competition by shoving Maggie into the river.

“Don’t go swimming, girls,” Lady Cambrey called after them, as if knowing Maggie’s thoughts. “Looks can be deceiving, and the current is rather swift.”

“I haven’t swum in a river or in the sea since I was a child,” Jane mused. “I think it would be fun and most definitely refreshing.”

Maggie looked out at the moving waters. “Perhaps deadly unless you’re a strong swimmer. There are probably bends in the river where it is more placid.”

Frankly, she was surprised at Jane’s words, still thinking her more reserved than she’d proven herself to be either now or the night before. It seemed there was an adventurous, amusing Jane, one who had captured John’s heart, and Maggie was only now seeing her.

Jane’s glance went from the river to lock onto Maggie.

“I simply wanted to say thank you.”

Oh, of course. Why hadn’t that occurred to Maggie? She’d assumed it had to be about John. Offering her a reassuring smile, Maggie waved her hand, trivializing the moment.

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