Fenella J Miller by A House Party Read Free Book Online Page B

the
protection of Lord Weston, however temporary that might be. A young lady
without a male protector was far more vulnerable to predatory males intent on securing themselves a wealthy wife than a
girl with a father or brother to take care of her.
    The impressive front door was
open to allow a cooling breeze to blow through the house, she was relieved no vigilant footman leapt out of the gloom to offer to conduct
her to her chambers. She was unused to having so many servants around; at Nettleford House they managed very well with six inside
staff and six outside. Goodness knows how many Weston employed - it must be
over one hundred.
    She ran lightly across the marble
hall, her walking boots clicking rhythmically. She ran up the curving
staircase, but was forced to pause to consider her direction when she reached
the second floor. She closed her eyes for a moment trying to recall how many
doors down the corridor her own rooms were situated.
    No. This was no good, she would
have to retrace her steps and find a servant to help her. She was about to
descend to the hall when she heard male voices and instinctively hid herself in
the shadows. She watched Lord Weston stride across the empty space followed
half a pace behind by a very anxious looking red-coated captain.
    As soon as they had vanished
towards the rear of the house she continued her journey. Where was Will when one wanted him? She hesitated, marooned in the
centre of the sea of black and white tiles, her rose pink dimity gown a
dramatic contrast to the starkness of the floor.
    ‘Miss Coombs,
how delightful, to meet you a second time in one afternoon. Can I be of
assistance?’
    ‘You can, Mr Weston. I’m afraid
that I misremember the exact location of my apartment. And neither can I find a
bell-strap to tug in order to summon someone to take me there.’
    Mr Weston smiled and she couldn’t
fail to notice t he was an attractive man and so much more obliging than his
cousin.
    ‘Your apartment I cannot find,
but I know where there is a bell-pull. Allow me to show you where it’s hidden.’
He walked over to the mantel shelf and reached into an alcove hidden in the
wall. ‘It’s here, Miss Coombs. I’ve summoned help for you.’
    He bowed politely. ‘If you’ll
excuse me, I’m expected elsewhere. I only returned to the house to collect a
book from the library my mother particularly wished to read.’
    ‘Thank you, sir. I’m certain
someone will come at any moment to direct me.’
    Mary was waiting anxiously when
she finally arrived in her apartment. ‘There you are, miss, I was that worried
you weren’t going to leave yourself time to change. It’s almost four o’clock
now.’
    ‘We have plenty of time. I’m
surprised no one downstairs told you they don’t keep country hours here. Dinner
isn’t served until seven. However Lord Weston has asked me to come down at six;
he has something he wishes to say to me in private.’
    Her maid would draw her own
conclusions about the meeting. It wouldn’t hurt for the staff to be half
expecting the erroneous announcement which was coming that evening. ‘I still
have time to rest for an hour, Mary. I’ll wear my new evening gown, the one in
eau-de-nil silk. I would like the turquoise jewellery set out for me as well.’
    Her maid bobbed a curtsey; her
narrow features alight with pleasure. ‘An excellent choice,
Miss Coombs. I’m sure you want to look you’re very best to night.’
    The bedchamber was pleasantly
cool after the heat of the garden. Mary had had the foresight to draw the
curtains and close the shutters across the two massive windows. As she
disrobed, Penny could sense the excitement in her companion, but Mary was far
too well-trained to ask that particular question.
    ‘There, miss, you pop into your
bed and rest. I’ll call you in an hour. It’s a good thing we’ve been given
chambers at the back of the house. It must be like an oven at the front.’
    ‘Being south facing makes Headingly a