Patricia Wynn by Lord Tom Read Free Book Online Page B

non, non!” As Tom stepped back and raised his hands to his head as if to ward off a blow, she shrieked even louder and began to flail him with her floppy reticule. “Idiot!” she screamed in her best French accent.
    “Here, here now, madam!” cried the customs official, seriously alarmed. “Get a hold of yourself! There’s no need to carry on like that. The lad couldn’t help it!”
    But Susan refused to be calmed. She carried on with a series of oaths and insults, which, if they tended to be rather repetitious due to her lack of a suitable vocabulary, were nonetheless convincing. Even Peg, her eyes huge orbs, had the good sense to keep out of her way.
    Finally, Tom, occasionally keeping a hand aloft to avoid the random blows of the reticule, managed to stuff the dumped belongings back into the bag and stagger to his feet. With no interference now from the customs official, he gathered up the rest of Susan’s bags and was waved onward by the sympathetic officers of the Crown.
    Susan followed, muttering an occasional “idiot” or “imbécile” for the benefit of the officers, who were mopping their brows and exchanging comments about “murderous foreigners” and “Latin temperaments,” until they reached the carriage and safety. Then, avoiding as best she could the sight of Tom’s woeful countenance as he held the door for her, she climbed into the carriage. Once inside, however, she heaved an enormous sigh of relief before covering her face, veil and all, with both hands to smother the sound of her laughter.
    She remained in this position until a sudden lurch called her to the present and she realized that they were on the move. And only then did she remember Peg. The hussy had taken advantage of her mistress’s anger to hop aboard the box alongside Tom, and even now, if Susan could only have seen, was sitting shockingly close beside him.
    But Susan was still elated with her triumph over the customs agents, so without a moment’s hesitation, she pulled down the window to the carriage and cried, “Halt!”
    Tom pulled up the horses with a suddenness which nearly dislodged her from her seat, but she did not let that disturb her. “Peg!” Susan called in a tone which, considering the scene she had just witnessed, the wayward maid did not dare disobey. Within minutes, the carriage had started up again and Peg was inside, riding with her back to the horses and a scowl upon her face.
     

Chapter Four
     
    The carriage bowled along at a cheery pace, as if the driver were laughing to himself on the box. Inside, Susan was at pains not to let her shoulders shake or a chuckle escape her lips, as she regarded sulky Peg from beneath her widow’s veil. The whole episode had left her feeling gay and triumphant, and she could only wish she were up on the box sharing a laugh with Tom instead of continuing the pose for Peg’s benefit.
    Tom! She caught herself up short. Lord Harleston to you, she reminded herself, feeling suddenly less cheerful. The next time she saw him would be nearly the last, for they planned to let Peg down in London and travel on until they reached her governess’s house next day. Susan had protested the lack of rest for Lord Harleston in such a rigorous schedule, but he had laughed and reminded her of his much more Spartan life in the Peninsula. It would be nothing to him after enduring days in the saddle. They would stop along the road to break their journey and he would enjoy having a bite and a pint with the ostlers and coachmen in the public rooms.
    Peg shifted complainingly in the seat, as if she were used to a more luxurious form of travel. Susan frowned at the tiresome girl, her sense of humour momentarily gone. At least she would soon be rid of her! That was one thing she need not regret.
    But she had to admit to herself that she would regret losing Lord Harleston’s company. She had never experienced anything quite so pleasurable as planning this escapade with him, despite her early