Moonstone Obsession (Moonstone Romance Book 1) by Elizabeth Ellen Carter

Author:Elizabeth Ellen Carter [Carter, Elizabeth Ellen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Business Communications Management
Published: 2018-01-17T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Selina debated whether to speak to James and William about the encounter with Viscount Canalissy. However, the look of delight on her beloved brother’s face at seeing her made Selina decide to say nothing about the man’s appearance and threat.

She determined to find out what “evidence” he had and then she would tell them, although she strongly suspected it was nothing James was not already aware of. She was now convinced it was the same threat that Abigail held over James.

Pleased to see her brother again, Selina pushed the unpleasantness out of her thoughts. Saturday would come soon enough.

It was a light supper that evening back at Penventen Hall. Colonel Pickering and Lieutenant Walsh had accepted an invitation to attend while Lady Abigail begged off, apparently tired from her lengthy ride. It had been suggested she squeeze in with the others in the carriage for the return journey, but her pride would not allow it.

After supper, the younger members of the party retired to the drawing room.

Some conversed, others read. Selina was delighted when James suggested they play chess. It placed them quietly together aside from the others.

After a few minutes, James, surveying the pieces on the board, murmured casually, “What did Canalissy want?”

“How did you know... oh...”

Jackson. Of course. How could she have expected him not to tell James?

“It was nothing,” Selina said quietly. “He was being a nuisance, that's all.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Just making mischief.”

She felt James' eyes on her and sensed his doubt, if not of her then of Canalissy's motives, as she moved one of her chess pieces.

“If you're sure, then,” replied James and he reached in and took the rook she had just moved with one of his knights.

Selina looked up at him with a scowl at the loss. James grinned back at her.

Some time later when the Lieutenant took his leave to organise the evening patrol, Lady Edith decided on an early night for herself.

Inevitably, being the fashion of the salon, the conversation among those who remained turned to politics, the intent among the men especially to engage and savour in the cut and thrust of debate.

“Personally, I believe the likes of Wilberforce need to be held accountable to the nation for trying to ruin the lives of hardworking Englishmen,” announced Edgar over his brandy.

“Without the African, our plantations would grow back to jungles and further costly tariffs would be needed to protect our sugar trade from the French. Not to mention that copper and guns manufactured in Birmingham are greatly sought after in Africa where some of the most despotic and cruel slave drivers are the Africans themselves.”

“The fact that some of the Africans themselves behave poorly towards their fellow men is hardly a ringing endorsement of slavery,” observed the Colonel coolly as he swirled the amber liquid in his own snifter.

“Well, perhaps,” said Edgar. “I concede that slavery is not a perfect means of labour organisation by any means, but it is certainly one of the most enduring. No great political or military power has ever emerged except through the economic benefits of slavery.

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