Pride of the Courtneys by Margaret Dickinson Read Free Book Online Page A

Georgiana’s growing affection for Charles were soon justified. At any rate, to me.
    Whenever his name was mentioned, her eyes sparkled and an attractive blush suffused her cheeks. And in his presence, she became more alive than ever, if that was possible for she was such an energetic person all the time.
    But unfortunately Charles did not seem to return her affection to such a degree. Admittedly he was most attentive to her and whenever she was present, he could not prevent his eyes from straying to her lovely face continually. But then, what young man could resist her beauty?
    But it was to me that he paid the greatest attention. He began to ask me to go for walks with him, and though this might have been considered improper, Lady Courtney readily agreed to me being allowed to go with him unchaperoned, for she was already beginning to look upon him as a possible husband for me.
    But there were others who did not look upon this friendship with such glee. I was amused to see that I had at last pleased Lady Courtney on one point, but those who were displeased distressed me.
    One, naturally, was Georgiana, and day by day she seemed to grow more reserved and distant with me. This, of course, upset me considerably for she was the greatest friend I had, and had I been in love with Charles, I should have been in two minds whether to reject his attentions because of Georgiana, so great was my affection for her.
    But I knew I was not, and never would be, in love with Charles. If anything, he was the brother I had always wanted, and indeed a dear friend, but I could never entertain the idea of him being my husband.
    I wondered how I could tell Georgiana this, but she had never confided her feelings for Charles to me, and it was all surmise on my part that this was the cause of her unhappiness. But it was obvious that each day she grew more miserable.
    My friendship continued to grow with Charles and was frowned upon by his sister, Evelyn. She, I concluded, had given her life in service, firstly to her parents, and now to her young brother. I learnt, from Charles, that she had been the cause of him becoming a doctor in the first place. Though he was loyal to his sister, and I believed he was very fond of her, Charles felt somewhat restricted in the same way I did with the Courtneys, because he owed her a debt of gratitude.
    â€˜At the time our parents died,’ Charles told me one day as we strolled companionably over the moors, ‘Evelyn was twenty and I seventeen, and studying hard at school. Evelyn was sufficiently educated to be a governess, and rather than let me work to keep us both, she took a post so that I could continue my studies.’
    We sat down beneath a tree.
    â€˜Our parents left us poor, and needless to say, by the time the funerals were paid for, they died within three days of each other, there was no money left.’
    â€˜How dreadful for you to lose them so close together,’ I murmured.
    Charles shrugged.
    â€˜Neither Evelyn nor I felt much love for them. My mother was a weak, bad-tempered creature. I hate to speak ill of the dead, Louella, but believe me it is the truth. And my father was a blustering drunkard most of the time. Not the most congenial surroundings for two sensitive children.’
    I thought about Evelyn Corby. No doubt she inherited her mother’s sulkiness, but she was by no means weak. I was beginning to see that she doted on her brother and had him exactly where she wanted him—in her power because he was grateful for the sacrifice she had made for him.
    Charles continued.
    â€˜Evelyn worked so that I might study. Because my parents had suffered considerably in their last months, Evelyn decided that I should become a doctor. The idea appealed to me, though I was a little doubtful of my capabilities. However, I progressed well and my tutors were pleased, and here I am now in my first practice, a fully-fledged doctor.’ And he added with sincerity, ‘I hope