The Prodigal Peer by Elisabeth Kidd

Author:Elisabeth Kidd [Kidd, Elisabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 2017-12-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Feeling uncomfortably conspicuous returning to the Hall the next day in the carriage Philip had sent for her, Fleur was grateful that none of the family were visible when she arrived. The instant a footman put down the steps, she descended quickly from this too-grand conveyance and hurried into the house.

She was not to escape so easily, however.

“Oh, there you are, Fleur, dear,” said Lady Edwina. “We have missed you.”

Fleur paused her steps, expecting to be asked to fulfill some request, but Lady Edwina merely smiled graciously and went on her way. Mildly puzzled, Fleur did the same, only to next encounter Edmund coming in from the stables, his hair windblown and his face flushed. He saw her, bade her a good morning, said she would forgive him if he went off to change his clothes, and hoped they would have a chance to talk later.

Her puzzlement growing, Fleur continued on her way, but when she passed the study—which was not on her way, but she hoped to encounter Philip before too long—Mr. Shaw spotted her from within and greeted her.

“By the by, Miss Stanyon,” he said, hurrying to the door to detain her for a moment, “I have been meaning to speak with you, but with all that has been going on of late….” He shrugged as if to say he wished he had more of an influence on events than he did, and invited her into the study.

Having no reason to refuse, Fleur entered to find the servant Thomas taking his ease in a leather chair. However, he jumped up the instant he saw Fleur and sketched a bow in her direction.

“Good morning, miss.”

She nodded, and Mr. Shaw collected some papers from the desk and handed them to Thomas. “These are the letters I wished you to deliver. You may go now.”

He waited until Thomas had closed the door behind himself, then said, “I am attempting to instill some ambition in young Thomas, but I fear my strictures on proving himself honest and dependable in order to secure a regular position in the household have not thus far borne fruit—and least not so clearly that I feel ready to bring him to his lordship’s notice, nor indeed to give him carte blanche to wander about the house.”

“What is it you wished to see me about?” Fleur said, when he lapsed into speculative silence. She feared he might ask her to intervene on Thomas’s behalf with Philip, and she did not care to allow this notion to occur to Mr. Shaw as well. She did not know Thomas, and what she did know she was wary of. She knew that he was Mr. Shaw’s nephew and did not wish to upset Bertram by any criticism of the young man, who had, after all, done nothing wrong.

But Mr. Shaw smiled and seemed to forget Thomas for the moment. “I do beg your pardon, Miss Stanyon. I did not mean to detain you. It is only…it occurs to me that

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