The Master of Stonegrave Hall by Helen Dickson

Author:Helen Dickson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-09-03T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Mrs Fenwick had replied to Victoria’s letter, expressing her condolences for her recent loss and saying how pleased they would be to have her stay with them. Two weeks more of being alone in the house with Laurence, night after night dining together. He was always so proper and distant, never hinting by word or deed that he even remembered what they had both felt on that first riding lesson—how they had become physically aware of each other, that they had kissed and touched each other’s faces, the gesture both intimate and ridiculously sweet.

The Fenwick residence was a large, imposing house along The Mount just outside York. Mr Fenwick was a respected lawyer in the city, his wife wrapped up in all manner of charity work. With three sons, Amelia was their only daughter and the youngest.

Arranging to collect her on his return in about six weeks’ time, telling her he would write and let her know the exact date, Laurence carried on to London. As much as Victoria was sad to see him go, her sadness was set aside when she became caught up in the household she had come to know so well from the times she had spent there whilst attending the Academy.

She was happy to be with Amelia again, a vivacious brunette. So much had happened to Victoria since she had left the Academy that they had plenty to talk about. On a day of pale-yellow sunshine, when white clouds drifted gently across the River Ouse like cotton wool, they entered York to do some shopping, returning three hours later after visiting shops popular with those who could afford the exorbitant price of garments made specially. All were to be delivered to the Fenwick residence, most of them for Victoria. She sighed, but there was no sadness in that sigh—only the sheer pleasure of satisfaction.

Victoria enjoyed herself in York as much as her mourning allowed. After six weeks she received a letter from Laurence, informing her that business commitments meant he had to remain in London longer than he’d expected and that she should make her own arrangements for returning to Stonegrave Hall. She stared at the letter, thinking of Laurence, and she lifted her hand to touch her cheek with the tips of her fingers, just as she had done countless times during the past few weeks. She closed her eyes and imagined far more—a kiss, a touch, his hand on her breast. With these thoughts uppermost in her mind, she decided to return to Stonegrave Hall.

* * *

Laurence stretched out his long legs and lifted his head, encouraging the light breeze which had just sprung up outside the open upper window to lay its coolness upon his face. Shadows lengthened as the sun sank rapidly in the sky over London’s docklands, where he sat in his office at Rockford Enterprises. Then the night, deep and swift, was upon him.

Brandon, his secretary, appeared from nowhere, shaking the floorboards with his heavy tread.

‘Your brandy, sir,

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.