Lord Atherton's Ward Read Online Free Page A

started issuing dictates.’
    ‘How then, Lady Isabelle, do you suggest I persuade my wards to follow my instructions?’
    ‘It is far too late for that, I am afraid. I think it would be better if you left them in my charge, we can live here and you can call in whenever you wish to check that they are behaving themselves in accordance with your wishes.’
    Perry was about to refuse, but hesitated. Was this such a bad idea? If he insisted they moved to Chelmsford he would be obliged to visit regularly to see they were not leading his sisters astray. He shuddered at the thought. Duty visits at Christmas and Easter were more than enough. When they came to him in Town he could escape to his club, he had no such bolt hole at Highfield Hall. This way he could keep an eye on them and continue to live the life he chose. His own house was only about fifteen minutes walk away in Grosvenor Square.
    ‘I think that is an excellent solution, my lady. However, I shall need to speak to both girls before I leave. I’m sure you understand matters cannot be left as they are between us.’
    ‘In which case, I shall leave you here and go up and fetch them.’ She paused as if carefully selecting her next words. ‘My nieces are intelligent and spirited young women, not like the simpering debutantes you might have come across in Town. If you treat them with respect I can promise you, you will deal famously.’
    He watched her sail from the room and knew he had been warned. If there was one thing he disliked above all others it was being told what to do. His eyes flashed and his mouth thinned. If Lady Isabelle thought he was going to allow two provincial chits to dictate to him, she was very much mistaken.
     

Chapter Three
     
    Lady Isabelle swept into the sitting room without pausing to announce herself causing Sarah to leap to her feet expecting to be confronted by Lord Atherton. Greatly relieved to find it was her great aunt she relaxed. ‘Aunt Isabelle, is something wrong? You look somewhat flustered.’
    ‘And well I might, young lady, as I have just spent fifteen minutes in the company of your guardian. He wishes to see you both immediately.’
    More orders! ‘I shall not go down, I shall send a message saying I have the headache. The wretched man is too fond of issuing commands.’
    ‘I think we should go down, Sarah. We have treated him abominably and whether we like it or not, he has the law on his side and could make our lives wretched if he chose to do so.’
    ‘The voice of reason, Jane, as always. I shall compromise. Am I not always open to discussion?’ She ignored the derisive snort from her great aunt. ‘I shall go down and speak to him, but you shall stay behind. I’ll not have him berating you with something that is none of your doing. I shall apologise prettily and that will be the end of the matter.’
    ‘Very well. My headache has come back and I fear I am getting on my megrims. I shall send Mary to fetch me a tisane and retire to bed.’
    Sarah’s face softened and she hurried to her sister’s side. ‘You should have told me, I am so sorry. I shall tell Lord Atherton you are unwell. Now, is my gown creased or my hair in disarray?’
    Assured by both ladies that she was looking charming, she headed for the small drawing-room and in spite of her bravado could not help but feel a trifle apprehensive. As she is dithered outside the door she wished she’d had the foresight to ask Mary to accompany her. He might be her guardian, but he was still an eligible bachelor and even from the little she’d glimpsed of him she could not help noticing he was a decidedly handsome man, if a trifle brooding for her taste. She preferred a blonde gentleman, not someone with heavy brows and slate grey eyes that bored into a person in a most uncomfortable way.
    If Aunt Isabelle had sent her down to speak to him unchaperoned she must suppose it was acceptable for Atherton to be alone with her as he was so to speak, in loco