Stormswift (1984)(326p) by Madeleine Brent

Author:Madeleine Brent [Brent, Madeleine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical - Romance
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

Henry said, "Why didn't I tell you what, Mim?"

"About you being a lord, of course!"

"But it's painted on the wagon and the booth. Lord Henry Boot's World-famous—"

"Oh, I didn't believe that! Nobody believes it. I just thought it was to make people take notice, especially with a funny name like Boot. That can't be real, even if you are a lord."

"Oh, but it is, Mim. It's the family name. An ancestor of mine in the sixteenth century was Henry Boot. He was made a viscount for services to Queen Elizabeth when he was quite old, and later she promoted his son to be a marquess. I'm afraid I inherited my funny name."

I was embarrassed and said, "Oh dear, I'm sorry I said it was funny name, Henry. I mean, Lord Henry. Or should I call you 'my lord'?"

"God save us all, don't start that sort of rubbish, Mim. You call me Henry."

"Very well." We walked on in silence for a few moments, then I said, "Is a marquess higher than a viscount, then?"

I heard him chuckle. "Oh yes. Marquess is the second grade of the peerage, ranking after a dukedom. Then come earls, viscounts, and barons."

"I don't suppose many of them become Punch and Judy men."

"Well, I haven't heard of any others."

I thought what a silly comment that was for me to have made, but my head was still in something of a whirl after all the anxieties and surprises of the past half hour. In my mind was a confusion of questions I wanted to ask, yet I was beginning to feel shy of Lord Henry. After all, he was in truth a member of the peerage, and it seemed impudent for a girl without a home or name to question him.

But he was still holding my hand, and as we came into the clearing where we had camped for the night he said, "I'm so dry after all that, Mim. Would you come into the wagon and make a cup of tea for us before we go back to bed?"

"Yes . . . yes, of course."

He lit the lamp and sat on the bed at the end of the wagon while I stood a kettle to boil on the spirit stove and set out cups and saucers. After a while he said, "Well, go on, Mim. I'm sure you have questions to ask."

I sat in one of the chairs by the table and said, "You don't mind?"

"Not a bit. I'm rather ashamed at not having been honest with you, for I knew very well you thought the name was a piece of showman's business, and I could easily have told you the truth when you thought I'd stolen that money from Jackson at Cranston Races, but . . . well, I was afraid it might spoil a happy partnership if you knew. You've already changed a little toward me since you found out I'm a genuine lord, and I wish you wouldn't."

I felt relief as I said, "All right, Henry, I'll try not to change.

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