An Affair of the Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

border from Surrey into Sussex, without either of them recalling who was purported to have bought up the county, and before long were cantering up the road to the Wanderley house. It was now early afternoon, and the brick house was revealed as a picturesque home, three stories high, with a slate roof and a general appearance of prosperity, in spite of Adam’s squandering of his money on flowers. They were admitted by the butler, and Mrs. Wanderley came into the drawing room, bringing with her her youngest daughter, Miss Wanda.
    The girl was quickly judged by the Marquis, and decided to be beauty enough to pit against Miss Golden. She had fine raven hair, blue eyes, a suitably modest expression, and a figure that would not show to disadvantage beside the Rose. She conversed agreeably, and before ten minutes were up, Claymore was picturing her in her bridal gown, and also in various ball gowns, trailing on his arm, and turning every head in the room by her stunning appearance.
    Wine and biscuits were served. Rex, divining his duty, drew Mrs. Wanderley aside to discuss local matters, leaving Clay free to further his suit with Miss Wanda. Mrs. Wanderley was only minimally interested to hear Rex’s mother had been to dinner at Ashton Manor, having heard it already from his mother, yet she was not loath to give the other two young people a moment to become acquainted. Quite the contrary, she led Rex on with a million questions he could not answer, and even favored him with a recital of her sister’s daughter’s friend’s latest romance. He had never received such condescension from her before.
    Claymore smiled inwardly as he absorbed the charms of his new beloved. The very one to set the Rose down a peg, and to refute the foolish rumors that were no doubt going the rounds about his being all cut to shreds by her rejection.
    “I understand your first Season was cut short by an unfortunate accident,” Clay said.
    “Yes, so foolish of me. I took a tumble from my horse at a fence. She was frightened by a mole, else it would never have happened.”
    “It was London’s loss,” he told her gallantly, while remembering quite distinctly Rex’s comment that she had fallen from a tree. Beauties were notoriously proud, of course, and naturally she would not own up to such conduct as climbing trees. What puzzled him slightly was where she had been climbing a tree in London. While these thoughts flashed through his mind, he continued with his conversation. “I hope we may have the pleasure of your company for the Little Season.”
    “I am not sure,” she said vaguely. Certainly no comment was issued to the effect that she might be married by then to a squire’s son.
    “Come, Miss Wanderley, you must give us bachelors who failed to make your acquaintance during your short visit a chance to impress you favorably.” He smiled. She blushed, and looked up at him modestly from beneath her long lashes in the approved manner.
    “Such plain girls as myself cannot hope to impress favorably when there are true beauties like Miss Golden around,” she replied coyly. So she knew about that episode. With Ladies Siderow and Tameson to keep her informed, he could not have hoped to keep his affair to himself.
    “Some gentlemen like that pastel sort of beauty, but I must own I have always preferred brunettes,” he said. Now that is not even a lie, he congratulated himself silently. Till he had clapped an eye on the Golden Rose, he had preferred brunettes.
    “Such a whisker, my lord,” she teased gently. “You must know everyone expected you to offer for her.”
    He swallowed his ire. No doubt everyone would also know shortly that he had offered for her, and been refused. That would do him no good in his conquest of this proud beauty.
    “You must not believe everything you hear, Miss Wanda,” he returned grimly. Seeking for a means to turn the conversation from this topic, he said, “How does your broken leg go on? I notice you do not