Lord Atherton's Ward by Fenella Miller Read Free Book Online Page B

many gowns as I have for the coming season.’
    ‘Very true, which is why I shall do nothing to annoy Atherton, after all he now has to pay all our expenses. As we shall all be obliged to live under his roof for several months it would be most uncomfortable if we were permanently at daggers drawn.’
    That night her dreams were filled once more with images of a dark haired man from whom she was perpetually running away. Her dream companion’s features were indistinct, but his rich baritone echoed clearly in her ears. Having been a constant topic of conversation in the first weeks after her return, Atherton had not been mentioned during Lady Isabelle’s visit. Her aunt had departed not wishing to be in residence when he did arrive; she had vowed never to be under the same roof with him as long as she lived.
    They had received no word from him about the coming season. His man of affairs had visited twice, but as far as Sarah knew no one else had been spying on them. She would not have decided to ride to a place she knew Sir John had forbidden her to go if she had thought her actions were being watched.
    The next morning dawned warm and golden; Sarah was determined to make the most of it. ‘Jane, I’m going to go out on Sultan. It’s a perfect day and could be the last time I get to gallop along the sand. Can’t I persuade you to accompany me?’
    ‘No, thank you. I shall spend time in the garden tending to the roses. I should not go too far, Foster says that a change in the weather is overdue. There are storms coming in from the sea any moment now.’
    Sarah stared out of the window, the sky was a perfect blue, the trees still. ‘Well, if there is bad weather coming, I doubt it will be today. I intend to take a picnic with me.’
    ‘Tell them in the stable yard exactly where you intend to go, just in case our visitors arrive and I need to send for you.’
    She knew if she told Jane where she was actually going her sister would try and prevent her. The beach she preferred was difficult to access, but well worth the hardship. ‘Yes, of course I will. I must get organised if I am to enjoy a full day out.’
    ‘I suppose you shall be riding astride as usual?’
    ‘You know I shall. It is far safer, and although I’m going to the beach, I shall remain on Ellison land. I shall not be outraging anybody’s sensibilities for the only people who might see me flouting convention will be our own tenants, and they have no opinion on the matter.’
    * * * *
    Perry stretched his legs along the squabs and smiled at his companion. ‘We should be there in another hour, Dickon. I must say I’m glad to have your company, travelling to Ipswich would have been tedious without you.’
    His companion grinned, and ran a hand through his mop of blond hair. ‘Always happy to be of service, Perry. From what I’ve heard the Ellison girls are both diamonds of the first water. You’ve been remarkably close lipped about your wards, why is that, I wonder?’ He bent forward to rub his leg. ‘I can’t imagine why you feel you needed me for support. You should be in your element, flirting with a beautiful young women. What more could a man want after an arduous summer jawing with politicians? ‘
    ‘I am their guardian. It would be outrageous for me to take advantage of my position.’ He closed his eyes and even after all these months he could still see an image of Miss Ellison; her green eyes had haunted him all summer. ‘In fact I object to nothing about the younger girl, Miss Jane, she is everything she ought to be. It is the older, Sarah Ellison, that I find impossible to deal with. I find myself either wishing to strangle her or….’ He didn’t finish - one did not discuss such things even with one’s closest friend.
    He was three years older than Dickon, but had forged a friendship when they had met at Cambridge many years before. Colonel, Lord Mainwaring had served in Wellington’s army, but had had resigned his commission