Skylark by Jo Beverley Read Free Book Online Page A

don’t always obey will.
    “I’m all right. . . .” she tried.
    “Going sheet-white and swaying is Lady Skylark’s latest party trick, is it?” He went to the fireplace and rang the bell.
    “All the rage in these parts.” She managed to say it lightly, but was relieved to be sitting down. She even closed her eyes and leaned her head against the back of the sofa for a moment, listening as if from a distance as Thomas arrived, apologizing fervently for having forgotten the visitor.
    “Never mind that,” Stephen said with cool authority. “Mrs. Gardeyne needs a restorative. Sweet tea and brandy. Immediately.”
    Thomas left and Laura opened her eyes. Despite everything, she even found herself smiling. “How typical of you, Stephen, to be giving orders in someone else’s house.”
    “Playing lord of creation. Do you mind?”
    “Of course not.”
    But what if he’d come to tear her bit of creation apart?
    A final act of revenge? No, she couldn’t imagine Stephen sinking so low. They had been friends once, good friends.
    He came to sit beside her on the sofa and she noted a new grace in him. He had grown into his height and strength, but that shouldn’t surprise her. They had met now and then over the past six years.
    He was in boots and leather breeches. Country wear, but London made, she noted. After all, they called him the Political Dandy. A riding crop lay with his hat and gloves on a table.
    He’d ridden here. From where? People rarely chose to ride long distances—off the hunting field, that was.
    His lips twitched. “As readable as ever, Laura. What am I doing here? I stopped by to speak to Caldfort about some Parliamentary matters.”
    She straightened and gathered her wits. “Yes, you said. But stopped by? Berkshire is hardly next door to Devon or London.”
    “A little out of the way. Am I unwelcome?”
    Yes . But she couldn’t say that.
    “Of course not. It’s only that I’m still shaken by the incident with Harry. I fear you’ve wasted a journey, however. I doubt Lord Caldfort will appear in Parliament again. He can hardly leave the house.” She lowered her voice. “He may not last long.”
    “Unfortunate. He’s always been a supporter of military reform, which is the issue in hand.”
    She tried to read his expression, but he’d always been skilled at concealing thoughts and feelings. Was the explanation of his presence that simple? No connection to her father-in-law’s distress? She distrusted coincidence, but she supposed it did happen.
    The tea arrived with the brandy decanter on the side. Stephen would have poured, but Laura insisted, even though the pot felt heavy in her still-unsteady hands. She stirred more sugar into her cup than she normally took, and let Stephen add some brandy. As soon as she sipped, her nerves began to calm and she smiled at him.
    “This is exactly the thing. You must have thought me demented.”
    “Just distressed. A threat to your son is explanation enough.”
    She froze with her cup halfway to her lips. “Threat?” His brows rose. “Possible poison is a threat, is it not?”
    She forced a laugh. “Yes, of course. It’s just that threat sounds deliberate, and of course it was not. An accident, that’s all.”
    She was babbling, so she occupied her mouth with tea again.
    When he didn’t say anything, she grimaced at him. “This has not been a good day, but there’s no mystery, so don’t turn your gimlet mind to it.”
    “You know the source of the tainted bun?”
    She should have known she wouldn’t deflect him.
    She gestured it away. “Oh, it probably wasn’t tainted at all. Children’s stomachs are upset by the slightest thing, including excitement. If I’m distressed, it’s that I fear I forced the emetic on Harry for no reason, and he’s wrung out, poor mite. If not, I’d take you up to meet him. So,” she said, forcing the conversation back to his affairs, “what journey brings you past Caldfort?”
    She thought he might reject