Regency Debutantes by Margaret McPhee Read Free Book Online Page B

hold around his uncle’s neck. He was secured in place by Nathaniel’s arms and then the pair were off and running, galloping up the broad stone stairs in front of Collingborne House, accompanied by Mirabelle’s laughter and Nurse’s snorts of disapproval.
    Charlie’s giggles reverberated around the ornate hallway, up the splendid sweep of the staircase and along the full length of the picture gallery, through the green drawing room and back down the servants’ stairwell. The boy squealed with delight as his uncle attempted some neighing noises and stamped his boots against the marble floor to simulate the clatter of hooves. Just as they rounded the corner to head back to the blue drawing room and Mirabelle, Nathaniel stopped dead in his tracks. For there, not two feet in front of them, in imminent danger of being mown down by Nathaniel and his small passenger, stood the Earl of Porchester and Viscount Farleigh. Both heads swivelled round to view the intruders, the old man’s face haughty with censure, the younger’s gaping with shock.
    ‘Charles?’ Henry managed to utter, as he regained a grip on himself. His countenance resumed its normal staid facade and he raised his eyebrows in enquiry to his brother.
    The earl said nothing, only looked briefly at Nathaniel with sharp brown eyes. His cool, unwelcoming expression alteredas his gaze shifted to his grandson, and although it could hardly be described as a smile, there was a definite thawing in its glacial manner.
    ‘Papa!’ Charlie’s sticky hands reached out towards his father.
    Nathaniel shifted the child round and handed the small squat body to his brother. ‘Mirabelle and the children have just arrived. She wanted it to be something of a surprise for you. I left her in the blue drawing room.’
    ‘Quite.’ There was no disputing the disapproving tone in the earl’s voice. He did not look at Nathaniel.
    ‘We had better take you to find your mother, young man.’ Henry tried unsuccessfully to disengage his son’s arms from around his neck. ‘Be careful of Papa’s neckcloth, Charles.’
    Charlie completely ignored the caution and pressed a slobbery kiss to his father’s cheek.
    Henry sighed, but Nathaniel could see the pride and affection in his brother’s eyes as he turned and headed off to meet his wife.
    The two men stood facing one another, an uneasy silence between them. Up until this point they had managed to avoid any close meeting.
    ‘You’ll be leaving tomorrow?’ the earl said sourly.
    Nathaniel inclined his head. ‘Yes, sir. My ship sails in one week and there’s much to be prepared.’ He looked into the old man’s face, so very like his own, knowing as he did before every voyage that this might be the last time he looked upon it. ‘I’d like to speak to you, sir, before I leave Collingborne, if that’s agreeable to you.’
    ‘Agreeable is hardly a word I’d use to describe how I feel, but—’ he waved his gaunt hand in a nonchalant gesture ‘—I’m prepared to listen. Get on and say what you must, boy.’
    ‘Perhaps the library would be a more suitable surrounding?’ Nathaniel indicated the door close by.
    The earl grunted noncommittally, but walked towards the door anyway.
    Once within the library, Porchester lowered himself into one of the large winged chairs and lounged comfortably back. He eyed his son with disdain. ‘Well? What is it that you want to say?’
    Nathaniel still stood, not having been invited to sit. He knew his father was cantankerous with him at the best of times. He moved towards the fireplace and eyed the blackened grate before facing his father once more. ‘Will you take a drink?’
    The old face broke into a cynical smile. ‘Is what you have to say really that bad?’ When Nathaniel did not reply, he continued, ‘Why not? A port might help make your words a trifle more palatable.’
    Nathaniel reached for the decanter, poured two glasses and handed one to his father. ‘Your good health,