The Portrait Read Online Free Page B

retainer's words, Perry
turned from the hall and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a
time. Turning midway, he called Caesar to follow in his wake,
and the large dog lumbered playfully after him, his large jowls
emitting copious amounts of drool as he went.

    Croft turned away, shaking his head as he went. For more
than fifty years he'd served this noble family, and he had long
since given up any hope of understanding the vagaries of
youth. Now, Master Ned, he had been a different kettle of fish,
he thought. Even so, there had still been times when the old
earl was obliged to read him a lecture and point out the error
of his ways. Always very understanding, though, was Master
Edward; he never held a grudge against his father. Then
Croft's grizzled countenance was transformed as, much to the
surprise of the young gentleman he was now leading toward
the kitchen, he let out a dry chuckle as he continued to silently
reminisce. There was that time when Master Edward was
caught snatching apples in the orchard, and his sister, Miss
Flora, took away the ladder. Such a noise he set up, shouting
to be let down and threatening all manner of things he would
do to the little miss. Almost two hours he was stuck up that
tree until she relented and let him down. The old earl, not
pleased, had thrashed Master Edward and banished the little
miss to her room.

     

Alone candle set on the bedside table softly illuminated
the earl's bedchamber, leaving the corners of the room deep
in shadow.
    "Rusticated?" expostulated Sinclair, raising himself on his
pillows. He had not been asleep, merely dozing, but at the sound
of his bedchamber door being so rudely opened had come
fully awake to find his young brother standing at the foot of
his bed.
    "Only until next term," Perry hopefully assured him.
    "And may I ask, in my ignorance, why, for no matter what
length of time, you've been rusticated?"
    "Well, you see, it was because of Caesar...
    "And what, precisely, had the great Caesar to do with the
matter?"
    "Oh, not the great Caesar, Ned, just this one" Perry grinned
engagingly as the huge dog raised himself up from the floor
and laid his massive head on the bed, his doleful eyes examining its occupant.
    The earl returned the stare, a slight twitching of his lips threatening to betray his amusement, but he fought to keep the
severity of his tone as he turned his regard to his brother. "You
will no doubt appraise me, in your own good time of course,
why this animal should be the cause of your suspension and
how it came to be in your possession."

    "Don't look so cross, Ned," said a penitent Peregrine.
"They were going to use him for baiting, and I'm sure you can
understand my need to rescue him."
    "Undoubtedly. And how much did this `rescue' cost you?"
    "Ten guineas, sir."
    "I didn't think you would own ten guineas this late into the
term"
    "I had only half that amount, but I borrowed the rest from
Freddie. Freddie's a great pal, a real regular gun"
    "So now I am obliged to bail you out to the tune of five
guineas, am I?"
    "If you would be so kind, I would be enormously grateful,
Ned. I must tell you, though, that everything would've been
fine if it hadn't been for that damned cat...
    "Ah, now a cat comes into the narrative," replied the earl, as
if enlightened.
    "Well, I'm sure you will understand that even though it was
the House Master's cat, Caesar felt obliged to give chase. No
self-respecting dog would've been able to ignore such a challenge."
    "May I ask why this perfectly understandable chase should
have such dire results?"
    "It was through the dining hall while we were at supper."
    "Ah, that certainly does explain it," said the earl with a half
smile, which he immediately attempted to hide. But it was too
late. Peregrine, ever watchful of his brother's face, had seen
its birth.
    "Knew you would appreciate it, Ned." He grinned, his boyish countenance flushed. "Lord, if you could've seen the