The Whispering Rocks by Sandra Heath Read Free Book Online Page A

harm and remains healthy enough to sire a thousand offspring.”
    “Hmm, well I suppose you know what you’re doing, but I don’t want anything to happen to that animal. By the way, if the war against Napoleon goes well, I’ll get that French stud I told you of before. I have high hopes of bringing new blood to the Mannerby stud.”
    “As you say, I know what I’m doing, and as for the French horses, well I have little time for them. You’d be making a mistake, an expensive mistake.” Paul spoke brusquely, which surprised Sarah.
    “A gentleman pays little attention to whether matters are expensive or not. It is a la mode to do as one pleases, spend what one wishes, and to ignore the consequences if they’re unsuitable. But then, as you insist upon working for your living, you no doubt have little time for such sentiments.”
    Paul remained silent.
    Stratford’s grin could be heard in his voice. “Then I take my leave of you. When shall you call for my daughter?”
    “After breakfast in the morning. But I brought no carriage with me on this trip.”
    “I’ll send her in one of mine. I bid you good day.” Stratford’s footsteps crunched unevenly away along the footpath until they vanished from hearing.
    As silent as a mouse Sarah waited for Paul to leave, but he seemed content to remain where he was. At last his footsteps were heard—but they were approaching her hiding place! Her eyes widened in alarm, but he did not see her, for he stopped just before the hedge. He was so near that she could make out the gray of his coat through the thick yew and see the shiny black leather of his riding boots.
    She heard the long exhalation of his breath and the savage whisper of anger. “Will you never allow me to forget how much I owe you, Stratford? You have Mannerby; that should suffice without foisting your slut of a daughter on me! Innocent as a newborn babe, is she? If that’s the case then I’m a Chinaman!”
    Then he was gone.
    Sarah stood at last, her hands shaking. She was stunned at the distaste manifested in that whispering voice. She began to walk slowly back toward the house, aware of Paul Ransome heading toward the stable block far ahead of her. She must face facts. Tomorrow she should be going with him to Mannerby and so would have to put up with his dislike. What an uncomfortable prospect that had suddenly become.
     

Chapter Seven
     
    On the morning of her departure Sarah was dressed by Betty with special care. Finally the maid put down the comb and brush and looked at her mistress in the mirror.
    “There, Miss Sarah, you look a treat, honest you do.” Proudly she touched a curl here, patted a tiny plait there, and generally fussed over the black hair.
    Sarah smiled. “Shall you like going away from here, Betty? It will be a great change for you.”
    “Well, I shall miss Liza, that I will—’cept for my mother, she’s all I’ve got. But I want to be with you, for you’re so sweet and gentle, and friendly.”
    Wryly, Sarah pulled a face. “I’ve been criticized for that. No lady should speak so freely with her maid. The stalwart souls at Almack’s would surely swoon clear away at such familiarity.”
    “I can’t see what’s so marvelous about that place. It’s awful. I ‘ad to ‘elp out there once; Lady ‘Ermione sent me. They stood around in their fine clothes talking, then they danced a bit, then they talked some more, and everyone was watching everyone else like a load of ‘awks. And the food! Well, my mother would ‘ave been ashamed to put out food like that. The lemonade was a funny color, the tea was almost cold, the bread and butter was curled up at the edges and the cake was stale! Stale! Liza went there, too, to attend Mrs. ‘Olland before she was ill. She said it was dull, too. I can’t think why they all want to go. There’s much more exciting places to go than Almack’s.”
    She shook her head at the antics of the gentry and then crossed the room to open the