Rivals of Fortune / The Impetuous Heiress Read Online Free Page A

more modish than the other she had seen. Everything about him bespoke his provincial travels.
    Selina inched forward, and Joanna presented her. Her friend’s sandy brows went up when she heard who the stranger was. “You are going to live at the Abbey?” she cried. “Oh, how can you? I am sure it is haunted. All those crumbling ruins behind.”
    Jonathan laughed. “Well, the ruins may be haunted, to be sure. The old monks, or nuns—I’m not precisely certain which it was—may still be angry about being evicted. But I doubt they come into the house. It’s such a dashed uncomfortable place, no sensible ghost would set foot in it.” He grinned engagingly at the girls, but they returned his gaze blankly.
    Then Selina shivered. “Well, I do not understand how anyone could live with acres of crumbling ruins practically in one’s back garden. Why hasn’t someone cleared them all out, I wonder?”
    â€œWhat? And spoil the atmosphere of mystery that surrounds the place?” asked Erland, still smiling.
    Selina seemed much struck by this. “Would it? Yes, I suppose so. But still, all those old walls and pits; does it not make you shudder to see it every day?”
    â€œI fear my sensibilities are too hardened,” he replied. “But Mr. Rowntree may grant your wish. He plans to get up a group to clear it out, I understand.” Erland turned to Joanna. “Or at least so thoroughly categorize it that no ghost will be left an inch of space. Isn’t that so, Miss Joanna?”
    â€œOh, I—I don’t know,” stammered Joanna.
    â€œHe does. Will you join the digging party?”
    The corners of Joanna’s mouth turned down. “I shall not be asked. Father thinks me quite heedless and silly.” There was a trace of bitterness in her tone.
    Erland blinked. “Ah. Well, I daresay it will be a dull, dirty job.” Sensing constraint, he changed the subject. “I believe your mother mentioned that you are fond of riding, Miss Rowntree?”
    Joanna nodded.
    â€œI, too,” he continued. “Perhaps one day soon you will join me and show me the best rides hereabouts. I should be grateful; I am quite bored with the ones I know.”
    Joanna shrugged. “All right,” she said rather ungraciously, “if Mama approves.” Privately, she thought that she would not. Joanna had never been allowed to join such expeditions.
    â€œOf course. And you must come also, Miss, ah, Grant.”
    â€œI hate riding,” said Selina positively.
    â€œAh.”
    â€œSelina,” called Georgiana from behind them, “we’re going.”
    Her sister turned with an angry sigh, then shrugged and said good-bye. “I shall walk over to see you later this afternoon, Joanna,” she said as she left.
    â€œI see that your parents are also ready to leave,” said Erland when she was gone. “May I escort you to them?” He offered his arm, and Joanna took it, but her mind was far away, wondering when the Finleys were coming home and how she could greet them with even the appearance of calm.
    When they reached the gig, Erland bowed. “Good day. You won’t forget, I hope, Miss Joanna?”
    â€œForget?”
    â€œAbout our ride.”
    â€œOh…oh, no.”
    As the gig drove off, Jonathan Erland watched it with a combination of amusement and irony showing in his face.
    * * *
    Selina Grant arrived at the Rowntrees’ about three o’clock. The two girls went directly to one of their favorite haunts, an arbor at the back of the garden overgrown with white roses. Here, they had played with their dolls and sat through long summer afternoons talking, reading, or writing letters. And here this spring, they had excitedly begun to plan Joanna’s wedding. On this sunny June day, the place was fragrant and filled with the humming of bees.
    â€œOh, Joanna,” said Selina when they were alone,