The Larkswood Legacy by Nicola Cornick

Author:Nicola Cornick
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

It was a moment of some delicacy. James Mullineaux was lounging in the doorway, a whimsical smile on his face as he regarded the couple. Annabella, her heart sinking, saw that Alicia was at his shoulder, immaculately beautiful as ever in a dress of bright yellow that should have clashed horribly with her auburn hair, but of course did not. And worse, behind them, but still with an undoubtedly clear view of proceedings, stood her grandmother, the Dowager Countess of Stansfield, whom she had never previously met but whose identity was obvious. Lady Stansfield, in vivid emerald green that matched her bright green eyes, was watching Annabella with an incalculable expression.

‘We had thought to invite you back to Oxenham with us, Annabella,’ Alicia said to her sister, hurrying into the sudden silence, ‘but perhaps, if you have settled your differences with Sir William…’ Her thoughtful gaze travelled from Annabella’s bright red face to Will’s studiously blank one.

‘I have not!’ Annabella snapped. ‘Sir William has made some arrogant and groundless assumptions that his suit would be welcome! Well, it is not, whatever appearances may say to the contrary!’

‘It was a good try though, Will!’ James Mullineaux observed with a broad smile, and Annabella glared at him, quite forgetting that she had always been in awe of her sister’s devastatingly handsome husband.

‘Well, then…’ Alicia said, a little inadequately, as the silence again threatened to become embarrassingly long, ‘would you care to stay at Oxenham for a little, Annabella, just until Larkswood is made more comfortable for you?’

Annabella caught Alicia’s eye and was shaken out of her self-absorption. Preoccupied with her feelings for Will Weston, appalled that she had responded so fervently to his kiss, humiliated to have been discovered thus, she had not really thought how difficult such a meeting could be for Alicia. Now she came forward with a sudden, shy smile to kiss her.

‘Oh Alicia, I am so sorry! I am really so very glad to see you again, and nothing would please me more than to spend some time with you, but only—’ her gaze fell on Will and hardened again ‘—as long as it is understood that I do not give up my claim to Larkswood! I do not care if our father robbed, cheated or murdered his way into this property—I intend to keep it!’

Alicia hugged her, a little apprehensively. Seeing her own temper reflected in someone else was a rather nerve-racking experience. ‘Of course! We can talk about it all later. For now, let us get you out of this place before the whole house comes tumbling about our ears—’

‘Annabella!’ The autocratic tones stopped them all in their tracks. Lady Stansfield had drawn herself up to her full—tiny—height. ‘Come here, my gel.’

Annabella’s heart was suddenly in her mouth. She knew of her grandmother only by repute, but had heard that the old lady was sharper than a needle and never minced her words. She dropped her a demure curtsy. Lady Stansfield’s jewel-bright eyes scanned her face thoughtfully.

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