The Mistress Diaries by Julianne Maclean

Author:Julianne Maclean [Maclean, Julianne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Historical
Publisher: Avon
Published: 2010-07-04T22:00:00+00:00

“I don’t see why we should waste our time, unless you think you might change your mind.”

She considered the possibility for a moment, then shook her head. “No, I don’t think so, not when we have other places to see. Perhaps we will like them better.”

“We shall hope.”

With that he handed her back up into the coach and they set off again.

“A place near a lake would be nice,” he commented as they rumbled past the small stone church.

“Yes. I could teach June to swim.”

“And I could teach her to fish.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Do you really believe that is a proper accomplishment for a young lady?”

He gazed across at her with resolve. “It will be for my daughter.”

Amused by his unusual paternal ideas, she chuckled to herself.

They passed the church and drove for miles down a narrow, winding lane, across green hills dotted with white sheep, through sections of wooded farmland until they came to the next property.

It was a large farmhouse built of gray stone, with small windows and a heavy slate roof that sank like a hammock under its own weight. The barn was snug to the house, and Cassandra was sure she would be able to smell the pigs from her bedroom window.

“I don’t even think we need to get out,” Vincent said as he opened the door and looked at the craggy, weather-beaten house.

“I quite agree. Would it be acceptable to move on?”

He tapped the roof with his walking stick. “Next property please, Jenson.”

The coach lurched forward again, and they were soon rolling along the open, English countryside.

“How many other properties are there to consider today?” Cassandra asked, feeling somewhat discouraged as she folded her gloved hands on her lap.

“I regret to say only one.”

“And if it is not suitable?”

His voice was reassuring. “Then we shall head home and try again another day. There is no need to rush into anything. There will be other properties.”

Relieved, she settled back in the seat and retreated into her private thoughts again, thinking of Molly and June and how lovely the dower house was compared to the properties they had just seen. She did not want to be difficult to please, but perhaps they might need to consider a different price range.

A short time later they came to a stone carriage house and wrought-iron gate, which required them to stop so the driver could step down and push the gate open.

“This looks more promising,” Vincent said, leaning forward to admire the wooded acreage as they crossed onto the property.

They traveled up a long, shady, tree-lined drive to an exquisite manor house built of brick and surrounded by overgrown rose gardens, not yet in bloom. A wide lawn stretched down to a private lake with a boathouse and dock—just as they had spoken about on the way there. The coach pulled to a halt in front of a flagstone walkway, which led up to the house.

“This is Langley Hall,” Vincent informed her, as if sensing her interest in the origins of the house.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.