The Fleeing Heiress: A funny flight into love. by Buck Gayle

Author:Buck, Gayle [Buck, Gayle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-02-15T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The sight that met their combined, alarmed gaze was astonishing. The chambermaid, who had been left in the entry hall, was backed up against the wall, her hands splayed against the dark wainscoting. Her face was a study in terror as she stared wild-eyed down at the half-dozen cats that stalked up and down in front of her. One of the cats brushed up against the chambermaid’s ankles, and another shattering shriek broke from her throat.

“My babies always know when someone doesn’t like them,” observed Mrs. Partridge mildly. She had hobbled up behind Thea and Lord Cardiff, and she looked at the terrified chambermaid with disapprobation. “Quiet that creature at once. She is giving me the migraine, and my heart is still jumping in my chest like a cricket. I am an old woman. I cannot support such excitement. I shall go write that note for you, Thea.” With that, Mrs. Partridge turned back into the parlor. Her interest in the matter was obviously extinguished.

The chambermaid’s terror had been penetrated by the old lady’s shrill voice. She looked up quickly, and upon catching sight of her mistress, she broke free from the wall and stumbled over to Thea. Falling to her knees and snatching Thea’s hands, she panted, “Save me, miss! They be devils from the pits!”

Thea struggled to free her hands from the woman’s tight clutch but to no avail. “We are leaving very soon. Why don’t you go out to wait in the carriage?” she suggested desperately.

“Thank you, miss!” The chambermaid leaped to her feet and ran as fast as she was capable towards the front door. Cats scattered every which way, yowling complaints. The porter barely had time to throw the door open. The woman whisked herself out of the house, and the porter slammed shut the door with a peculiar satisfaction on his sour face.

Cardiff burst out laughing. “I have never in my life witnessed such a hilarious scene!”

Trying to control her own quivering lips, Thea regarded his lordship reprovingly. “It is not very seemly to laugh at the poor ignorant girl, my lord.”

“I wasn’t. At least, not much. I was just remembering what Thomas said about the cats,” said Cardiff, grinning. His eyes glinted with humor. “Do you recall? He didn’t like ‘all of them staring’ at him.”

“He—he did seem to have an inordinate distaste for them,” admitted Thea, her voice wobbling. Meeting the laughing expression in Lord Cardiff’s eyes, she started giggling. “Oh, poor Thomas!”

“Has he ever dashed out of the house like that, struck by horror?” asked Cardiff with interest. He nudged a particularly inquisitive feline away from his boots. It stalked away, tail held stiffly upright.

“No; at least, I do not think so. But Thomas never did like visiting Aunt Theresa as a boy. He was glad when Papa quarreled with her and we did not visit as often,” said Thea, gurgling still with laughter.

Mrs. Partridge came hobbling back into the entry hall, trailed by several curious cats. She carried a sealed note in her gnarled hand.

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.