The Notorious Lord Havergal by Joan Smith

Author:Joan Smith [Smith, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780449218464
Publisher: Fawcett
Published: 2015-03-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

In Ashford, there was a fire at the vicarage, which cast the memory of Havergal and the duke into limbo. Like everyone else, Lettie and Violet drove into the village the next day to offer help and see the ruins, not necessarily in that order. When they returned, they were told a gentleman was waiting to see them.

Lettie found it hard to believe that the quiet, well-bred, harried, and really not at all handsome lord sitting in her saloon could be Havergal’s papa. How had this austere gentleman given birth to such a comet as Havergal? It surpassed all understanding.

“Was there any particular reason why you wish to be rid of the trust, Miss Beddoes?” he inquired, after he had been given a glass of wine, and the purpose of his visit was revealed.

“The idea came from your son. It struck me as a good one.”

“But why? I cannot think the quarterly writing of a check is what distresses you. Come now, tell the truth. I am the lad’s father. What has he done?”

Loath as she was to reveal Havergal’s sins, Lettie knew some excuse must be given. She said vaguely, “Our correspondence was more frequent than that, Lord Cauleigh. Havergal often requests advances that are not in keeping with your cousin Horace’s intentions. He can be quite insistent.”

“I know it well,” he admitted. “He was used to harass me in the same way, till I put my foot down. You have only to give him a categorical no, and that will be the end of it.”

“I believe I did that the last time.”

“Has he bothered you since?”

“No, but that was only ten days ago. I have no doubt--”

“I believe you may be mistaken. Jacob—Havergal—has turned over a new leaf. He has left off seeing a certain set of wild bucks and taken his seat in the House. That will keep him out of mischief while he is in town, and at the Season’s close, he tells me he plans to come to Willow Hall.”

“Do you believe this improvement will last?” she asked bluntly.

“I do, for I believe there is a lady at the bottom of it. He mentioned marriage, yet each lady I brought forth was rejected. It is my belief that he has already made up his mind, and it is for her that he is reforming. Jacob was always more easily led by a lady than anyone else. His mama’s influence— they were close. The same warm, excitable temper and good looks, but she knew how to handle him. It was when she died that he went to the bad. Pity. If the match he has in his eye is a lady of character, I expect she turned him off, and he is out to show her he can be as upstanding as the next fellow. Why else would he go to Almack’s? It is my intention to encourage this liaison if the lady is even so much as genteel.”

Lettie listened with keen interest and just a little heaviness of the heart.

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.