The Switch by Lynsay Sands Read Free Book Online Page B

and sighed. Things had not been going very well for the last two days. He had been suffering horribly from a hangover when he had finally managed to get the brother and sister to breakfast and then to depart the day before. Much to his disgust, despite the amount the boy had imbibed, Charles had not seemed to suffer the same problem. He had been grossly cheerful throughout yesterday's ride, smiling and happily chatting away to his sister, while Radcliffe had felt as if his head were splitting in half. He had been more than grateful when they had arrived at the inn at which they'd spent last night.
    Radcliffe had immediately hired a messenger from the nearby village to ride into London and fetch back his carriage. He had then joined the twosome for supper before retiring early to bed to nurse his head, only to awaken in the middle of the night to find the lad once again wrapped around him like a second skin. Unfortunately, he had also found, much to his dismay, that he'd been quite enjoying the experience.
    Disentangling himself, Raclcliffe had slipped from the bed and spent the rest of the night sitting in a chair, gazing fretfully into the fire. The experience had only convinced him more than ever that he must visit a brothel the moment he arrived in London.
    With dawn had come the arrival of his carriage. Unfortunately, the driver had hit a nit in the dark on his hurried journey and had only just managed to make it to the inn ere the front wheel had split. After making arrangements for it to be fixed and follow them to the city, Radcliffe had gone to the nearby village to hire a carriage. This small, rickety old trap had been all he had been able to come up with. Riding in it was tantamount to torture. He was sure his
very teeth had been shaken loose after the first hour. Should he open his mouth, every tooth housed within was likely to tumble right out.
    Now he had a sick boy to contend with. Worse yet, the boy's violent reaction to the ride was raising a rather similar response within himself. Radcliffe was positive should he stand there another moment, he would be kneeling in the giass losing his own breakfast. Cursing abruptly, he whirled away and paced off along the road in search of fresh air.
    "There, there," Beth cooed, smoothing her hand over her sister's back soothingly as Radcliffe marched away.
    Charlie groaned as the last of her stomach's contents left her body, then collapsed backward away from the mess to lie on the ground miserably. After a moment, she opened her eyes to peer solemnly at her sister. "I am dying," she announced stoically.
    Beth smiled faintly at the dramatic announcement and shook her head. "Nay, love. 'Tis merely the traveling sickness."
    "Traveling sickness?" Charlie frowned. "What the devil
is
that?"
    " 'Tis what Mother called it. Father had it too. He could not bear to ride in an enclosed conveyance. Why do you think they did not care to travel?"
    Charlie's eyes widened, then narrowed on her sister. "Why are you not ill then?"
    Beth shrugged. "I suppose I inherited mother's more stalwart constitution."
    "We are twins, Beth. Identical in every way, no?"
    "Apparently not so identical as all that." Sighing, Charlie sat up slowly to glare at the carriage. " 'Tis that damned contraption. What a hellish invention it is."
    "Aye. It is most uncomfortable," Beth murmured on a sigh, then glanced at her once more. "Do you think you could keep down the potion now?"
    Charlie nodded and drank from the vial Beth lifted to her lips. Hoping the liquid would settle in her stomach, she did not rise then but remained where she sat, her gaze moving along the empty lane. "Where has Radcliffe got to?"
    Beth shrugged mildly. "I suspect he has gone to find his own little patch along the road. He was looking rather green himself."
    Surprised pleasure flooded Charlie at that. "Really?"
    "You need not look so pleased at the prospect,"
    Beth chastised dryly and Charlie grimaced.
    "And why should I not? The man has