The Luckless Elopement by Dorothy Mack

Author:Dorothy Mack
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781913335625
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2019-10-30T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

“Your aunt? Do you refer to Lady Honoria Blakney?” asked Mr. Massingham, suiting his steps to Vicky’s as she cut across a corner of an area of shrubbery to head for a gate in the brick wall.

“Yes, of course. Why, how do you know my aunt’s name?” she demanded, pulling up short and facing Mr. Massingham squarely.

“She and my mother were school friends.”

“You know my aunt?” Vicky was astounded.

“I was used to, but I haven’t seen her since I was a schoolboy myself. It must be all of fifteen years,” mused Mr. Massingham.

“Why did you never mention the fact before?”

He looked faintly surprised at the suspicious expression on Miss Seymour’s face, but answered readily, “The subject never came up.”

Vicky showed a disposition to question this simplistic response, but the man gestured to the wooden door. “Through here?”

She nodded absently and led the way through the gate onto a flagstone terrace that bordered the carriage drive. Her thoughts were in a whirl, but there was no time to examine them, for her aunt’s travelling chaise, with its trim newly painted bright yellow, had already pulled up to the entrance as a second carriage loaded with baggage entered the drive. Cavanaugh was opening the chaise door as a breathless Vicky arrived in front of the entrance with Mr. Massingham in tow. She had just time to note the oddity of a saddle horse tied to the back of the coach when a familiar figure descended stiffly from it, assisted by Cavanaugh.

“Aunt! How glad I am to see you, but why did you not let me know that you were coming?”

Vicky launched herself at her relative, embracing her exuberantly until the older woman complained, “That’s enough, child, you’ve knocked my new hat askew.”

“And what are you about, wearing such a quiz of a hat in the first place?” teased her niece gaily. “I leave you for no more than a fortnight and you appear…” She broke off to stare open-mouthed at the man who had followed her aunt onto the drive. “Gregory! What are you doing here?”

“Victoria, you will give Ellerby a very odd notion of Leicestershire hospitality if you continue to goggle at him in that ridiculous manner,” Lady Honoria said warningly. “He’s here because I invited him, of course. I was very grateful for his escort on the journey.”

“Yes, of … of course. How do you do, Gregory?” stammered Vicky, giving the embarrassed man her hand. “Please forgive my lapse of manners, but this is all so unexpected.” Her eye fell on Mr. Massingham standing quietly at her side, regarding this newest arrival with interest. “Allow me to present Mr. Massingham to you both,” she said quickly, feeling as witless as a Bedlamite under the combined onslaught of surprises. “Lady Honoria Blakney, Lord Ellerby, sir.”

The men bowed politely, but before they could open their mouths, Lady Honoria exclaimed, “Massingham? Andrew Massingham?” The older woman peered closely at the man beside her niece in lively astonishment.

“The very same, Lady Honoria,” he admitted, kissing her hand with a warmth that Vicky had never seen him display before.

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