A Season for the Heart by Elizabeth Chater Read Free Book Online Page B

still in leading strings.” Pommy rallied him.
    The color was bright in His Lordship’s cheeks, making him look a good deal younger. He said firmly, “To business, little witch. We shall proceed to Exeter tomorrow morning, by which time, I trust, if the good Stewart’s diagnosis is correct, our Fair Unknown will be sufficiently restored to travel. Although Exeter is not Paris, or even London, it should be able to supply us with two wardrobes which will pass muster in Town until I can arrange for a dressmaker to wait upon you in Lady Masterson’s home.” He paused, frowning a little. “I have an idea about our guest. I believe she may be a Londoner running away from something, or someone. She bears the signs of careful upbringing. See if she will confide in you, Pommy. We cannot leave her here in this provincial town without friends or acquaintances or even funds to keep her.”
    “And she is far too beautiful and helpless to be abandoned,” Pommy said softly.
    “As you say,” agreed His Lordship. “Now I have arranged that one of the older serving women will sit up with our guest while you sleep, for I cannot have two invalids upon my hands tomorrow, can I?” the Earl neatly countered her protest before Pommy could voice it.
    Still Pommy made it. “I said I would sit with her.”
    “She will be asleep,” promised the Earl. “Dr. Stewart gave her a sedative.”
    In the event, the Earl was proven correct on all counts, for when Pommy entered the bedroom very quietly, it was to behold a motherly female nodding in a rocking chair, a trundle bed set up in a corner, and the Fair Unknown fast asleep in the four-poster. Blessing the Earl, Pommy settled into the cot for the most peaceful slumber she had enjoyed in a long time.

 
    Five
     
    The Earl’s party made a late start on the following morning. After disposing of a hearty breakfast in bed, the Fair Unknown acknowledged herself recovered from her exposure, and quite fit to travel. She permitted Pommy, now very much aware of time passing, to help her to dress, but then sent for Mrs. Ainton to compliment her upon the quickness with which her laundress had rinsed and dried her guest’s muddied clothing.
    “For it is most proper to thank those who wait upon one, especially if they render any service outside of the ordinary,” she advised Pommy in her sweet breathy voice.
    “Our host has been waiting for an hour,” Pommy advised her , with a little less than perfect charity.
    The Beauty still did not move very quickly, though perfectly gracious and willing, and when Pommy finally shepherded her down to the front door, the Earl was discovered pacing back and forth in the sunshine beside his restive team with a rather grim look upon his countenance. Although he cast an enigmatic glance at the Beauty and a quizzical one at Pommy, he did not remark upon their dilatory appearance. Since the score had already been settled, the two females were handed at once into the rear set while His Lordship elected to place himself on the seat facing, where he could overlook them both without turning.
    After about ten minutes of formal silence, Pommy could bear it no longer. “My Lord,” she began, “we must first thank you for the really remarkable forbearance you displayed in waiting so long for us this morning—”
    “True,” said the Earl, succinctly.
    “But it was my fault,” confessed the Fair Unknown. “From some cause or other I can never seem to move at a pace which satisfies anyone else. My papa is wont to say that I drive him to a frenzy, and my dressers are forever leaving in a huff!” Two large tears brimmed over her eyelids and slid down her flawless cheeks. “I am truly sorry for it.”
    The Earl was regarding her with such alarm that Pommy could not prevent a small chuckle from escaping. That would teach him to give her a Look! His own face relaxed into a smile, and he leaned forward to offer the Beauty one of his snowy handkerchieves. While she neatly