Highlander in Disguise by Julia London

Author:Julia London [Julia London]
Language: eng, eng
Format: epub
Publisher: S & S
Published: 2005-07-08T22:00:00+00:00

Nineteen

A nna’s step was much lighter the next afternoon as she hurried to her lessons. Her “impromptu” encounter with Drake Lockhart the day before had renewed her hope that all was not lost, that she might indeed one day find herself in the enviable position of being Mrs. Lockhart.

She snuck into the mews from Cavendish Street and ran to the side door where Mr. Dudley usually met her. She gave the door three quick raps, waited excitedly for him to answer, and when he pulled the door open a crack, she leaned in, smiling. “Good afternoon, Mr. Dudley! Glorious day!”

The old man’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, and he pulled the door open a little more, stuck his head through.

“Oh, I’m quite alone!” she said gaily, and putting a hand on the door, pushed it open, hardly noticing that she had inadvertently pushed Mr. Dudley back, too, as she stepped inside the dark entrance. “You should really see about putting some sconces here,” she offered helpfully. “It’s dreadfully dark, don’t you think?”

The old man blinked up at her as she pulled her gloves from her hands, finger by finger. “I suppose he’s in the usual spot, pouty and cross because I’m calling? He shouldn’t fret in the least, for I think our lessons will come to a desirable end shortly.” She turned a beaming smile to Dudley and held out her gloves.

“Aye,” Dudley said, and stuck out his hand, grimacing slightly, fingers curled uncomfortably, to receive them.

Anna hesitantly deposited the gloves, then untied the ribbon of her bonnet as she eyed the butler. “Are you quite all right, Mr. Dudley?”

“Aye. Bit o’ gout, ’tis all.”

“Oh dear. My grandmother suffered terribly from it. She often made a remedy for her gout from the flowers of an autumn crocus plant. Shall I bring you a tincture?”

Dudley grimaced in pain again. “I’d no’ ask for such favor, I swear I wouldna, miss, but we’ve precious few medicinals, and I do seem to be suffering unusually so.”

With a sympathetic smile, Anna carefully patted his arm. “We can’t have that, sir. Consider it done,” she said with an adamant nod before removing her bonnet and placing it on a small console. “I’ll bring it round on the morrow.”

“Thank ye kindly, Miss Addison,” he said, still grimacing as he laid the gloves next to her bonnet.

“Shall I go on?” she asked, motioning to the rest of the house. “I know the way. No need for you to suffer the walk,” she said, and without waiting for an answer, carried on, humming a little tune.

“Something smells delicious!” she called over her shoulder to Dudley, and lifting her skirts, she ran lightly up the servants’ stairs to the first floor, where her lessons were held. As she strolled down the much brighter corridor, she passed an open door, and noticed Grif’s valet standing at the window that overlooked the street. “Good day, Mr. MacAlister!” she called.

The man whipped around, held up a finger to his lips, and motioned for her to come inside.

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.