Lord Satan Read Online Free Page B

Lord Neil has never taken any action
to justify such belief, beyond letting his nephew go fight in the Peninsula.
By that same measure, there must be countless parents, uncles and grandparents
who wish their young men dead.”
    Miss Bassett and her sister were the daughters of a retired
iron manufacturer. Sybille, the older of the two, was about twenty-five and
would have been attractive save for severe smallpox scars which marred her
face.
    “Would any young man wish to go back to war when he has
fought, seen its horrors, is wounded and ill?” Libbetty asked.
    “Many young men are eager to go fight a war.” Miss
Bassett’s eyes flashed emerald and the matching green feathers in her bonnet
bobbed.
    “But also, many believe Lord Neil intended his nephew to
fall from the castle walls,” Libbetty protested.
    “Did I tell you Papa gave me a puppy?” Miss Irene Bassett’s
piping voice put in, her eyes wide.
    Miss Irene was a few years older than Libbetty, but the
younger Bassett sister gave the impression of a pretty child with blonde hair
and blue eyes. She talked in a childish lisp about subjects of more interest
to a girl of ten or twelve years of age than a young lady.
    “It has the softest fur. Papa says I may take it with me
when it gets bigger, with a rope around its neck so it doesn’t run away.” Miss
Irene hugged an imaginary creature to herself and rocked. “Right now it is so
little, and I hold it like this.”
    *
    As the first step in their rescue of Lord Cauldreigh,
Libbetty had suggested that go for walks upon Cauldreigh land in an effort to
see the young marquess.
    Edwina vetoed that plan and suggested that they ride
instead. “Several pleasant paths within the borders provide an excuse if
needed. Perhaps we may discover the state of Lord Cauldreigh’s health, and
gain an acquaintance with him should his health permit him to go outdoors,”
Edwina had said. “I do not think any penalties would be imposed upon young
ladies caught trespassing.
    Libbetty had not even given a thought to trespassing. She,
her brothers, and Alonso had often traipsed through the Cauldreigh woods in
their younger days. The old gamekeeper that had watched over the woods had
died not long after the old marquess and no one had replaced him. The woods
had become overgrown and a perfect site for their games of Robin Hood or King
Arthur.
    When Edwina offered the loan of a horse from the Hogwood
stable, Libbetty would not turn down an opportunity to ride. She too seldom
had access to Tom’s horse Concobhar.
    The day of their first excursion Edwina arrived with a groom
who led a horse for Libbetty to ride in case Tom took Concobhar. Once arriving
at the manse, Edwina dismissed the company of Zack, the groom. “Stay here and
await our return.”
    Once she and Libbetty had started out, she explained, “Servants
are such gossips, you know. I don’t want him talking to others about where we
ride.”
    The young ladies set out straightaway for Cauldreigh land,
meeting Sybille Bassett by chance shortly after starting from the vicarage.
The iron manufacturer’s daughter rode a handsome gray hunter, with her groom
some distance back. Libbetty thought Miss Bassett made an attractive picture
in a stylish forest green habit.
    “Where are you riding?” Miss Bassett asked.
    “No place in particular,” Edwina said discouragingly. “In
fact, I developed a headache and we were about to go back home.” She turned
her horse about, away from the older woman.
    Hurt flashed across Sybille’s scarred face. For a moment
Libbetty halted, undecided whether to follow Edwina or offer comfort to Miss
Bassett. Miss Bassett herself decided the matter. “Good day, Miss Bishop,”
she said crisply, riding away.
    Libbetty hurried to catch up to Edwina, an easy matter given
her slow pace. “Edwina! You should not have slighted Miss Bassett. I am sure
you hurt her feelings.”
    The other girl shrugged. “What else could I have done? Her
groom was