The Reckless Love of an Heir by Jane Lark

Author:Jane Lark
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008139834
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2016-06-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Susan leaned aside slightly as a footman poured her a third cup of coffee, then took away her barely touched breakfast plate.

“Darling you have hardly eaten a thing, are you still feeling unwell?” Her mother asked from the end of the table to her right.

Susan had endured half an hour of Alethea stating her hopes that Henry would call today, and that he would resume his attentions.

If he did come Susan could not be within the house. She would be called downstairs and she could not claim a headache every day.

Her stomach coiled and twisted with nausea, fear and guilt. She could not eat. She had no sense of hunger only distress.

“Are you unwell, Susan? You’re very pale,” her father stated.

Alethea had left the table and gone upstairs, to prepare herself to ride out in Hyde Park with the Earl of Stourton, no matter that she hoped Henry would call.

Susan had remained at the table to enable this conversation.

“Did you not sleep?” her mother progressed.

Susan breathed in. She did not like to lie, but she had to. “I could not sleep,” She looked at her mother. “I do not feel well. The air here disagrees with me …” That was the only excuse she had been able to think of in the dark in her room as Alethea had slept. “I wish to go home.” She looked at her father, he would be the one to arrange it if she was allowed to leave. “Papa…”

“Where has this come from?” His fingers touched the end of his pale moustache and twisted the tip. “You have seemed merry enough, until last night.”

“I have been trying to enjoy myself for Alethea’s sake, but I shall only ruin things for her if I stay. I can no longer pretend. I have a headache daily, and… I hate it here.” She looked at her mother. Her mother would react from emotion; she would be the one to persuade her father. “I feel sick, constantly, Mama. Please may I go home?”

“We are only to be here four more weeks. Can you not bear it for that long?”

“It will look odd, Susan.” Her father added.

They sounded annoyed.

If they did not agree she would run away, she would not remain in this house if Henry called. She looked at her mother, then her father. “No one will notice I am not here.” Six months ago that would have been true. It was not true now. Henry would notice. But he could not care. What had grown between them, had to die. “I want to leave today. My trunks may follow.” She looked at her mother her voice shifting from a plea to desperation. “I want to be at home, Mama. I do not like it here anymore. London has made me unwell.”

Her mother stood up and came about the table, then wrapped her arms about Susan, holding her firmly. “What has happened?”

Susan did not reply but nor did she pull away, she had craved comfort last night when she’d lain in bed.

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