Lord Somerton's Heir by Alison Stuart Read Free Book Online

unintelligible.’
    He smiled at the memory of Connie’s reply to his letter. It had been filled with scratching out and exclamation marks.
    ‘Oh, you’ve a brother and sister?’ Fanny declared. ‘How marvellous. Are they Kingsleys too?’
    ‘No. They are my half siblings. My brother, Matthew, teaches at the local grammar school and my sister, Constance, is something of an artist.’
    Fanny blinked. ‘They work?’
    The comment brought Sebastian up with a jolt. Of course they worked. His Captain’s pay alone was barely enough to support them. As soon as Matt had been old enough, he had taken a teaching post at the village school. Any thought of Oxford had been out of the question. Connie’s choice of profession had been her own. She had told him in no uncertain terms that she wished to contribute to the household and her considerable artistic talent would be otherwise wasted. For someone so young she had already garnered several lucrative commissions.
    ‘When will they be arriving?’ Isabel cut in before Sebastian could respond.
    Sebastian’s gaze drifted to the window and the wide expanse of parkland beyond. His land, he presumed.
    ‘I thought it best to wait a little while. At least until I’ve found my feet.’
    Fanny gave a small cry of distress, her hand flying to a well-endowed bosom that threatened at any moment to burst free of the low cut neckline of her dress. ‘Oh, but you simply can’t leave them to moulder in some dreary little corner. You must bring them to Brantstone.’
    She reached across and took her brother’s hand, looking up at him with a fond smile. ‘Freddy and I have been talking and we think you should hold a ball.’
    ‘A ball?’ Isabel set her cup down, the cup rattling in the saucer.
    ‘Oh! With your agreement of course, cousin Isabel,’ Fanny said. ‘Any earlier would have been quite improper, but you did say you would be moving to the dower house as soon as the new Lord Somerton was installed.’
    ‘The dower house is not quite ready,’ Isabel said. She paused and glanced at Sebastian, ‘Although for once I must agree with you, Freddy. I think a ball would be an excellent idea.’
    Fanny clasped her hands together. ‘Oh, dear Isabel, I’m so glad you are in agreement. Freddy and I have it all planned. The neighbours must be simply dying to meet the new Lord Somerton and what better way than a ball?’
    Sebastian glanced at Isabel, looking for rescue, but he seemed to be on his own. ‘I’m not sure a ball —’ he began.
    ‘Somerton,’ Freddy broke in. ‘What better way to launch you into society than a ball at Brantstone? It will be the talk of the county.’
    ‘I don’t need to be launched into society —’ Sebastian began to say, but Fanny had already moved ahead.
    ‘Freddy and I are set on the first week in September. Aren’t we, Freddy?’
    ‘Absolutely,’ Freddy concurred.
    Sebastian cast another desperate look at Isabel. This time she returned a sympathetic smile.
    ‘That’s only six weeks, Fanny,’ Isabel observed.
    ‘Plenty of time. Please don’t concern yourself, Lady Somerton. I know you will be quite busy enough with the dower house. Freddy and I are happy to organize it all and it will be marvellous to be of some use.’ Fanny shot Sebastian a smile of such incredible sweetness that his opposition to the very idea of a ball melted. ‘And of course, Lord Somerton, your brother and sister will be here by then. It will be a wonderful welcome to them and set you up in fine form for the season. You can’t say no, dear cousin Sebastian.’
    They both returned his horrified look with hopeful smiles.
    ‘If you think that it is an appropriate way for me to start this new role, then so be it. But don’t expect me to dance, Miss Lynch.’
    Fanny blinked. ‘Not dance? But why ever not, cousin Sebastian? Oh dear, do you have a bad leg? Remember, Freddy, poor Miles Otterley could not dance because he had a French musket ball lodged in his