The Earl and the Pickpocket by Helen Dickson

Author:Helen Dickson [Helen Dickson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

When the coach drew up outside the mellow, pink-washed manor house, which was midway between Taplow Court and the village of Taplow, Adam climbed out, holding out his hand to assist Edwina. Casting him a look of dangerous fire, she ignored it and stepped down on to the gravel drive. Trying not to let the emotion of being back home overwhelm her, she stood and gazed at her surroundings, which were more familiar to her than anywhere else.

All the soft lushness of the daisy-strewn lawns, trees and colourful vegetation cushioned it from the outside world. Autumn had turned the leaves on the tall trees to russet and gold, some fluttering down in the gentle breeze that rustled the branches, carpeting the ground. Wisteria and scarlet creeper covered the walls of the house. Everything looked the same, and yet nothing was as it had been. Breathing deeply, she wondered where her uncle was.

She heard him approaching long before the man himself became visible. His tread on the gravel path that surrounded the house had a measured, almost sinister steadiness. Finally he appeared round the corner of the house. Nothing about his reaction escaped Edwina. Upon seeing her standing next to Adam, he came to an abrupt halt, his eyes becoming fixed on her. An expression she couldn’t recognise flickered on his austere face, and, even from where she was standing a short distance away, his pale blue eyes seemed very bright and cold. Then he recollected himself and strode briskly towards them.

As always he was elegantly turned out in a black frock coat and sombre grey waistcoat, his neckcloth, tied by an expert hand, held in place by a gold stud. Whereas Edwina’s father had been small in stature and stocky in build, her uncle was quite tall with no excess flesh. His piercing eyes flickered over her, cold and uncompromising.

Henry’s eyes narrowed with annoyance as he looked at his niece. Despite what Edwina thought of him he wasn’t completely lacking in human feeling, and he had been seriously concerned when she had taken it into her head to run away. However, the relief of having her back—unharmed he hoped— vanished the moment he met her defiant stare. Even now, after all she had done, there was regal grace in her bearing, and a stubborn pride in the set of her small chin. She had disgraced him abominably but she still walked with her head high.

‘So, you’ve come back,’ he said in a curt way.

Edwina went rigid at his harsh tone. There was no welcome, no love or affection. She wanted to close her eyes and put her hands over her ears to shut him out completely. Why did it always have to be like this? Why couldn’t he show some softness, some feeling for her?

‘As you see, Uncle,’ she answered, and did not care that she sounded ungracious. Tension tightened her throat suddenly, and a stone settled on her heart. Already she was wishing she had defied Adam and broken free before they had arrived at Oakwood Hall.

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