Betrayed Read Online Free PDF Page A

to the bench.
    In that moment, Quince entered and gave a
short cough.
    “What is it?” Branson snapped. “I’m in no
mood for petty complaints.”
    “This is far from petty, Master Hamilton
and if it proves to gain ground, it could cause you a good deal of grief. I’ve
just had word from a lad who mucks out at Petherham stable that Miss Hamilton
arrived on horseback with Captain Strachan. He asked if we’ve had trouble here
at Windemere on account of Miss Hamilton’s strange state. I hardly knew what to
say to the lad. What has happened to Miss Hamilton?”
    Branson swore under his breath. “So Clara
has found a champion in the good Captain Strachan; it didn’t take her long to
recruit him to her cause.” He clucked his tongue with feigned regret,
concealing his inner turmoil. “She’s left us, gentlemen. Nothing is to be done
about it. If it is Strachan she wants, she’s welcome to him.”
    “What is this?” The old stable master was
appalled. “The lady is your betrothed, Master Hamilton. You must go after her. She
doesn’t want that gentleman! For God’s sake, it is as clear as day who the
young lady wants!”
    Quince waved his hand, snorting with
disgust. “Ah, but you’ll not stoop to love, you prideful thing. So is that to
be it then? Are we to have no women in this accursed house? I daresay the young
lady displeased you in some minor fashion; got on your bad side—God knows that’s
easy enough to do. You’re a sinful, devilish one. Miss Clara was too timid for
the likes of you. And you, Mr. Piers, I know you didn’t like the girl. Well, ‘tis
a scandal and a pity! Windemere is not likely to recover from this, mark you. A
member of the original family turned out!”
    “She was not turned out, damn you. My
cousin left of her own accord.” Branson glowered at both men. He loathed this
loss of control, all of it slipping away piece by piece and he didn’t know
where to begin to repair the damage. Clara had run off with Strachan. Whether
it was by design or accident, it didn’t matter, the effect was the same.
Branson felt sick to his stomach.
    Rejection and jealousy congealed into cold
fury in his brain.
    “What am I to say to the boy, then?”
demanded Quince. “You give me the words, Master Hamilton, and I’ll parrot them
no matter how foul the lie, if that’s the way it’s to be done around here.”
    “Take care not to trespass on my goodwill
any further, Mr. Quince. You have been with the family many years, but I am master here and I will not tolerate
your disrespect.” He turned away. “Tell the boy that Mr. Hamilton sends his
cousin his regards and wishes her good health. I have nothing more to add.”
    “Quite so.” Piers eyed Quince balefully. “Shall
I have the young lady’s trunks sent to Petherham, sir?”
    “I’ll not have my horses put to the task.
If she wants her belongings, she can damn well fetch them herself. Have my
horse saddled, Quince. I’m going for a ride. Do not wait dinner for me.”

 
    §

 
    “CLARA HAMILTON!” Brockville turned at the open door and
shouted to his wife. “Mrs. Brockville, look who is here, look who has come to
call!”
    The stout woman rushed to her husband’s
side. “My dear Mrs. Hamilton! Do not tell me you’ve managed to convince that
husband of yours to give up the tranquillity of Windemere for our sake! I’ll
never believe it. Though I’ve always said that Mr. Hamilton would be more
sociable with the right lady at his side. Haven’t I always said that, Colonel
Brockville?”
    “She has indeed. Come in, come in, my dear.
How did you arrive? Surely, not on foot. My, you are athletic! Where is young
Branson? Stabling the horses, I daresay.”
    Clara touched her forehead with shaking
fingers and felt her legs give way.
    “Oh heavens! Help her to a chair, Colonel!
And fetch a glass of water! The poor thing is quite exhausted. See the dark
blue smudges under her eyes and she is white as a sheet.”
    Clara accepted the