The Poor Relation Read Online Free
Author: Margaret Bennett
hair back from her face. “You’re far too pretty to be roaming about the night on your own.” For a moment, she thought he might kiss her. Instead, he pulled back and touched the brim of his beaver top hat to bid her a silent good evening and entered the taproom.
Once upstairs, she carried the little dog to Lady Milbanke’s chamber and tapped softly on the door. Immediately it was opened, and Hannah poked her head out. Wit her night cap askew over one long braid hanging down her left shoulder, the middle-aged matron wore a worried frown. “Lord, Missy, where’ve you been?” she asked in a hoarse whisper. “I was getting ready to rouse the landlord to go out after you.”
“I am sorry, Hannah. The time just slipped by,” Chloe apologized. “How is Lady Milbanke?”
“Went right to sleep, as usual. Don’t think it’s likely we’ll be getting too early a start in the morning.” After taking the Yorky from her, Hannah said good night and waited patiently until Chloe safely crossed the hall and entered her own room before closing the door.
Lying between the sheets on a lumpy mattress, waiting for Morpheus to overtake her, Chloe reviewed the encounter with the Viscount. There had b een no mistaking who he was even though they had not exchanged introductions. Obviously, he didn’t know her. And why should he when she had been one of sundry faces in the Marquis of Clairmont’s crowded ballroom. Still her pride was rankled.
R emembering the condition of the curricle and his lathered cattle, she wondered where he’d come from, pushing his team so fast and furious. Since he’d arrived late, he’d most likely stay the night at the inn. She considered how odd it was that after such a hard drive he’d roam the woods, especially considering the lateness of the hour. Stranger still was the way he’d acted, hustling her back inside the inn. She was sure someone else had been in those woods. And then there was the way he had tenderly brushed her hair from her face. What an unusual man.
She thought of Clair mont Court. By the time she and Lady Milbanke arrived tomorrow, the house party would be in full swing. She wondered if the Viscount was also headed that way, then shook herself mentally. It was most unlikely that their paths would ever cross again. Still, it was some time before she drifted off to sleep.
*** Chapter 3 ***
The next morning with Hannah’s help, Chloe convinced her aunt to leave the inn after a late breakfast . So, by late afternoon, the coach lumbered up the long sweeping drive that wound through rolling parkland and Chloe got her first glimpse of Clairmont Court, a sixteenth century palatial, three story, limestone structure. Behind the Court, she glimpsed portions of the famous gardens laid out by Capability Brown that backed up to woods. As the carriage rounded a small pond, then stopped at the front terrace, a footman ran down the steps to help the ladies alight.
They were warmly greeted by the Marchioness, who took Lady Milbanke’s arm and led them up the stairs to their rooms. Aft er making sure Lady Milbanke and Chloe were satisfied with their bedchambers, Lady Clairmont added, “You’ll have plenty of time to refresh yourselves before tea.”
Chloe took a moment to glance about the room with its soft blue damasked walls. The large four-poster bed was topped with a dark blue canopy which matched the coverlet and window drapes. A light blue Aubusson carpet covered most of the floor. Chloe quickly stripped off her gloves and pelisse and gratefully washed off the travel dirt. After changing into an afternoon gown of rose satin, she pulled her hair back into a loose knot, pulling several curls forward to frame her face. With one last look in the cheval mirror to check her appearance, she crossed the hall to her aunt’s room. Upon her knock, Hannah, frowning, admitted Chloe.
“Her ladyship’s
Once upstairs, she carried the little dog to Lady Milbanke’s chamber and tapped softly on the door. Immediately it was opened, and Hannah poked her head out. Wit her night cap askew over one long braid hanging down her left shoulder, the middle-aged matron wore a worried frown. “Lord, Missy, where’ve you been?” she asked in a hoarse whisper. “I was getting ready to rouse the landlord to go out after you.”
“I am sorry, Hannah. The time just slipped by,” Chloe apologized. “How is Lady Milbanke?”
“Went right to sleep, as usual. Don’t think it’s likely we’ll be getting too early a start in the morning.” After taking the Yorky from her, Hannah said good night and waited patiently until Chloe safely crossed the hall and entered her own room before closing the door.
Lying between the sheets on a lumpy mattress, waiting for Morpheus to overtake her, Chloe reviewed the encounter with the Viscount. There had b een no mistaking who he was even though they had not exchanged introductions. Obviously, he didn’t know her. And why should he when she had been one of sundry faces in the Marquis of Clairmont’s crowded ballroom. Still her pride was rankled.
R emembering the condition of the curricle and his lathered cattle, she wondered where he’d come from, pushing his team so fast and furious. Since he’d arrived late, he’d most likely stay the night at the inn. She considered how odd it was that after such a hard drive he’d roam the woods, especially considering the lateness of the hour. Stranger still was the way he’d acted, hustling her back inside the inn. She was sure someone else had been in those woods. And then there was the way he had tenderly brushed her hair from her face. What an unusual man.
She thought of Clair mont Court. By the time she and Lady Milbanke arrived tomorrow, the house party would be in full swing. She wondered if the Viscount was also headed that way, then shook herself mentally. It was most unlikely that their paths would ever cross again. Still, it was some time before she drifted off to sleep.
*** Chapter 3 ***
The next morning with Hannah’s help, Chloe convinced her aunt to leave the inn after a late breakfast . So, by late afternoon, the coach lumbered up the long sweeping drive that wound through rolling parkland and Chloe got her first glimpse of Clairmont Court, a sixteenth century palatial, three story, limestone structure. Behind the Court, she glimpsed portions of the famous gardens laid out by Capability Brown that backed up to woods. As the carriage rounded a small pond, then stopped at the front terrace, a footman ran down the steps to help the ladies alight.
They were warmly greeted by the Marchioness, who took Lady Milbanke’s arm and led them up the stairs to their rooms. Aft er making sure Lady Milbanke and Chloe were satisfied with their bedchambers, Lady Clairmont added, “You’ll have plenty of time to refresh yourselves before tea.”
Chloe took a moment to glance about the room with its soft blue damasked walls. The large four-poster bed was topped with a dark blue canopy which matched the coverlet and window drapes. A light blue Aubusson carpet covered most of the floor. Chloe quickly stripped off her gloves and pelisse and gratefully washed off the travel dirt. After changing into an afternoon gown of rose satin, she pulled her hair back into a loose knot, pulling several curls forward to frame her face. With one last look in the cheval mirror to check her appearance, she crossed the hall to her aunt’s room. Upon her knock, Hannah, frowning, admitted Chloe.
“Her ladyship’s
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