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

don’t you see? So’s she won’t get naught for them. And then, Ranulf says the count gives the gent the name of someone who would say the cattle were ill.”
    Lily heard a grunt from Mr. Fish. She drew a steadying breath but kept smiling. “There, you see? You and Ranulf have done the right thing to tell me, Agatha. Thank you. I’ll not breathe a word of this to the count. No one will speak of it outside this room. And aspromised, you and Ranulf will be rewarded for doing such a great service for Ashwood.”
    “Agatha,” Mr. Fish said, “you must do as the countess bids you. Whatever Ranulf tells you, you must keep quite to yourself. Do you understand? You and Ranulf must not say a word of this to anyone.”
    “Aye,” Agatha said, nodding vigorously. “Not a word will pass these lips.”
    Mr. Fish looked dubious, but he gestured to the door. “Meet me in the butler’s pantry and I shall reward you for your courage.”
    “Thank you, Agatha,” Lily said, rising up from the settee.
    As Louis and Agatha went out, Lily looked at Mr. Fish.
    “I had hoped that we might bring in some money with the sale of those cattle,” he started.
    “But I think we cannot rely on any of our plans at present, Mr. Fish. We must rethink things and try to stop him.”
    Mr. Fish sighed. “I agree,” he conceded. “However, I still cannot recommend putting this man, Ranulf, into such a precarious position. As his sister said, he has two children to provide for.”
    “We will take great care,” Lily assured him. “But I cannot see another option available to us. Can you?”
    “I must say that I do, madam,” Mr. Fish said tightly. “As I have previously advised you, I think you might use your position to its fullest advantage.”
    “And how shall I do that?”
    “By building the bridges your cousin damaged,” he said flatly.
    Lily sighed and glanced longingly at the window. How she would like to be out there, in the world, and away from the problems of Ashwood. “I understand you, Mr. Fish . . . but no one is rushing to befriend me, are they? I have tried very hard to atone for Keira’s betrayal, but it is rather difficult after the fiasco of our summer gala.”
    The ladies of the St. Bartholomew’s Charity Society, otherwise known as The Society, had been very helpful in staging the summer gala, the festival held at Ashwood each year to celebrate the summer harvest and benefit the orphanage. The gala had not been held in several years, but with the ladies’ considerable aid, Keira had put it on this summer to great success. Unfortunately, and quite by coincidence, it had been during the gala that Lily had arrived at Ashwood. Everyone, including Lily, had discovered Keira’s fraud that evening. Keira had been forced to announce to the assembled guests that she was not, in fact, the Countess of Ashwood but the cousin of the true and rightful countess, Lily.
    And then she’d introduced Lily.
    Oh, what a long summer it had been.
    “I am aware of the obstacles,” Mr. Fish said. “But if I may, there are three ladies who hold particular sway in our little community. Lady Horncastle, Mrs. Morton,and Mrs. Ogle. Any one of them would be a valuable asset to you.”
    “You know very well that Mrs. Ogle has refused my invitations to dine. Mrs. Morton came to tea with her friend, Miss Babcock, but they have been slow to warm to me. And though Lady Horncastle was kind enough to invite me to tea early on, I think you will agree that it was to have a good look at the latest Countess of Ashwood rather than an effort to extend an olive branch.”
    “I grant you, it is not an easy task,” Mr. Fish said. “There are still many hurt feelings for your cousin’s deception. And frankly, madam, there are some who believe you were somehow complicit in the fraud.”
    Lily sighed. “I know very well you mean Mrs. Ogle.”
    “ You mustn’t pay her the slightest mind, ” Mrs. Morton had advised Lily at tea. “ Her nose is pushed out of