An Affair of the Heart Read Online Free PDF

have a limp.”
    “It was not actually broken, but merely a slight crack the doctor thinks. In any case, I can walk very well now, and even begin to dance again.”
    “That is good news. I hope I may soon have an opportunity to see how well you can dance.”
    “Oh, as to that, I daresay there will be any number of assemblies and balls soon. With all the families coming back from London again, things will pick up here. It has been so very boring to be stuck out in the country these months.” She sighed wearily, and Claymore thought it a little odd that she should find it boring, when it was the only life she had known but for that week or two in London. Besides, spring was the prettiest time of the year to be at one’s country seat, and he personally found the London Season was held at the worst possible time.
    “In any case, I hear your papa has a very interesting hobby, which must have helped you pass the time.”
    “What, his flowers? I do not interest myself in them.”
    “Ah, that is a pity. They might have been a diversion for you when you were not able to get about much.”
    “Yes, well, I am better now, thank heavens.”
    They chatted on for fifteen minutes more, giving Clay ample time to discover that Miss Wanda was very much like other young ladies of her years and class. She liked dancing above anything, she adored Byron, she read gothic novels, she sketched a little, played a little, spoke a little French, and was ready to flirt with and be prodigiously amused by a handsome marquis with twenty thousand a year, though in justice she could hardly know the exact total of his fortune. He thought that he could win her favor in a week’s concentrated assault. From the gracious smiles her mama was bestowing on them, he foresaw no difficulty from that quarter. She was, he thought critically, just as pretty as Miss Golden, and he had no reason to think he could not send a notice in to the papers well ahead of Miss Golden’s nuptials.
    After the prescribed half-hour allotted to a social call, the gentlemen arose to leave. They were invited, not to say pressed, to return for dinner the very next evening. Rex was reminded to drop by and see Abel, who had a new hunter he would like to show his friend, to show Lord Claymore the conservatory, and in general to make the place their own.
    At the door Rex said, “Where’s Ellie today?”
    “She is with her papa, I expect,” the lady of the house replied. “She gives him a hand with his orchids.”
    “No, she’s spraying the roses, Mama,” Wanda contradicted.
    “Such a quaint little creature,” the mother explained deprecatingly. “As though we had not two gardeners to do such things. I am sure I don’t know why she bothers her head, for she might much better be practicing her pianoforte. She is an abominable player, I promise you, in spite of years of lessons.” Turning to her daughter, she added, “I hope she is wearing her bonnet, or she will be all tanned. Was she wearing a bonnet, Wanda?”
    “I didn’t notice, Mama.”
    “Well, never mind that. Tomorrow evening then, my lord. Come early, and my husband will show you his plants before it comes on dark. I am sure you will be greatly interested in them. I’ll tell Abel you’re home .”
    They were shown to the door, and escaped into the sunlight. “What did you think of her?” Rex inquired directly.
    “Charming. I liked her exceedingly.”
    “She was putting her best foot forward to impress you.”
    “I hope she may continue to do so.”
    “She will till you’re caught anyway. Then the tune will change.”
    “I am firmly caught already, dear boy. I have quite decided to offer for Miss Wanda.”
    “Hsst!” a sound came from round the corner of the house.
    “You hear anything, Clay?”
    “Here. Come here, Rex. I want to speak to you.” A large floppy straw hat peeped round the corner, and a beckoning hand urged them to come. On the hand was a very dirty twilled cotton glove, several sizes