The Revenge of Lord Eberlin by Julia London Read Free Book Online Page A

really—that is, I do not care to ride them. I do like to pet them. Mr. Bechtel lets me feed apples—”
    “Darling, what happened then?” Lily asked, bringing her back to the point.
    “What? Oh yes, he brought me home. I invited him for tea. I should have, should I not? But he said no.”
    “That’s all there is?” Lily prodded.
    Lucy shrugged. “I wonder why he should be weeping. Perhaps he lost his dog.”
    “I hardly think he was weeping,” Lily said with a wry smile. Plotting his next act of malice was more likely. “Now see here, young miss, you are not to wander off without telling someone where you are going. And if you think to wander all the way to Uppington Church, you must have someone with you. That’s very far!”
    “It’s not so far,” Lucy protested, but Lily touched her finger to her lips to keep her from saying more.
    “An escort,” she said again.
    Lucy slouched against the back of the divan. “Very well,” she said, resigned.
    “Go and ask Mrs. Thorpe to draw you a bath, and tell Ann she must wash your hair,” she added at the sight of Lucy’s tangled locks.
    With a great sigh, Lucy stood up. “I don’t like baths,” she muttered as she went.
    When Lucy had gone, Lily looked at Mr. Fish. “What was he doing in the woods, with his head between his hands? He looked rather triumphant this morning, did he not?” she demanded. “I do not trust him at all.”
    “I think he now has what he wants,” Mr. Fish said calmly.
    “The acreage?” Lily thought of what Tobin had said to her weeks ago, that he intended to ruin her. Andwhat he’d said on the drive today—that he would bring her to heel. She suddenly hugged herself against the small, not unpleasant tremor that shot through her. Tobin was a vile, evil man . . . but he also had the sort of bold virility that made parents want to lock their daughters’ doors and daughters want to climb out windows.
    “I think he wants more,” she said, trying to erase the image of his mouth.
    “What more?” Mr. Fish asked.
    “I scarcely know, but—oh!” she said suddenly. “With the events of the day, I have forgotten that our little maid has brought news from Tiber Park.” Lily hurried to the door and opened it, sending the footman outside it for Louis and the chambermaid.
    “Madam, I cannot advise this course of action,” Mr. Fish said disapprovingly.
    Lily ignored him.
    When Louis reappeared he had Agatha in tow, a tiny little thing whose cap was almost too big for her head. She stood at the threshold anxiously rubbing one thumb with the other.
    “Come in, come in,” Lily said, smiling, and took the young woman by the elbow to draw her inside. “I understand you have something you wish to tell us?”
    “No mu’um, not me. It’s my brother, he’s the one.” She looked pleadingly at Louis, clearly distressed.
    “Go on. Tell them,” Louis said and put his hand on Agatha’s back, forcing her to step forward.
    “I fear my brother will lose his position, mu’um,” Agatha said, a little frantically. “He’s just earned it, and he’s two babies to feed.”
    “He won’t lose his position,” Lily assured her. “Whatever news he sends will remain our secret.” She gestured for Agatha to sit, and the maid perched reluctantly on the very edge of the settee.
    Lily smiled kindly in spite of her racing heart. “What position does your brother occupy at Tiber Park?”
    “Footman. That is, he’s learning to be one.”
    “What is his name?” Lily continued pleasantly.
    “Ranulf.” She glanced at Louis; he nodded his encouragement. “He…he was to pour whiskey for the gents that had come for the weekend. So he pours the whiskeys, and he stands back as he ought to have done, and the count, he says to the gent down from London that Lady Ashwood was to sell her cattle, and that he should let it be known the cattle were diseased. And I says to Ranulf, I say, why would he say such a thing? And Ranulf, he says to me, Agatha,