The Heart That Lies by April Munday Read Free Book Online Page B

Smith thought would be embarrassed by his attentions. The more he thought about it the more it seemed to him that Smith had spent more time with him than with anyone else. He shook his head and started to try out a tune that had been running through his mind all evening. It was only when it occurred to him that the rather feminine tune really represented Smith that he came to an abrupt stop. Through the open window he heard the clock in the nearby church strike three times. He stood and carefully covered the keys of the pianoforte, resolving that tomorrow night he would spend some time on his own sonata.
    He snuffed out the candles as he left the room and went upstairs, hoping that he would be able to sleep and to sleep without dreaming.
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Three
     
    Smith stood as Meldon entered the foyer of the gaming club. It had been a week since Meldon had seen the boy and he looked as if he had not slept for a single one of those seven nights.
    “Are you well?” he asked with some concern after they had shaken hands.
    “Well enough, thank you.”
    “Come in and have a drink. Have you been here long? I apologise for being late; my sister would not let me leave her house unless I ate with them.”
    Meldon was very annoyed that Caro had pressed him so hard to stay. She knew that this was his card night, but she had chosen tonight to take him to task for not marrying , again. They had discussed his need for heirs even though Meldon had pointed out that her son John would inherit everything, save the title. “It’s all in my will,” he had explained, even though Caro had read it. It was not, however, right in her eyes that the title should go out of the family. Meldon did not like quarrelling with his sister. Usually their views differed little, but this one area was a grave cause for disagreement when Caro chose to raise it. It didn’t help matters that Meldon knew she was right. He must marry and soon. He had not poured his soul into his estate to see it go anywhere other than to a son and he wanted to live long enough to show his son how to carry on after him. His own father had died when Meldon had been fifteen and he had felt the responsibility sit heavily on his shoulders. It was not that his father had not prepared him well, but there was so much he still had to learn. It was only with the help of his mother and General Warren that he had managed to build on what had gone before at Meldon Hall. He had a natural gift for managing his estate and it gave him pleasure to see his fields and livestock flourish. When he made money he managed to keep it and his house became a place guests were happy to visit. As Caro had said, any sensible woman would be happy to marry him. Meldon had retorted that he wouldn’t take a sensible woman. Two sensible people in a marriage would be one too many. He hadn’t meant it. He meant only that he found the young girls he was introduced to too vapid and foolish. He knew the kind of woman he wanted would be clever enough to ask questions about where he went and why he spent so much time with Finch and General Warren. Marrying that kind of woman would mean giving up spying, for he would not lie to such a wife.
    Seeing Smith again did not improve his temper. He was angry with Caro, which would leave him little energy to deal with the discomfort that Smith caused. And, despite being prepared for it, the discomfort was great.
    “I have not been here long, Lord Meldon. I was not sure you would play this evening.”
    “Yes, I’m playing. We’ll have a peaceful evening. I have not invited any guests. Tonight is just for my friends.”
    “Then perhaps I should leave.”
    The boy looked uncomfortable and Meldon regretted his outburst.
    “No, that’s not what I meant. You fitted in very well last time you played. Some of my guests forget they are guests.” He was more tired than he thought; he was usually more guarded in conversation.
    He led the boy into the smallest of the