Byron's Child Read Online Free PDF

Giles’s fair hair was ruffled, his blue eyes alight with excitement. Jodie found his enthusiasm endearing. If she had to be marooned in the past, there was no one she had rather be marooned with.
    “I’m certain that’s it,” he told her. “The rods are built into the walls and they must still be there in our time. It’s a most unusual configuration, with all of them grounding not more than two meters from where the accelerator will be. We were standing directly between the two! A thunderstorm produces enormous currents so a direct hit… I must get my papers.”
    ~ ~ ~
    Giles was ensconced in the library, from which he had to be pried like a winkle from its shell at mealtimes. The servants, told that he was a scientific gentleman, regarded him with a sort of awed indulgence that amused Jodie.
    Charlotte had much the same attitude towards him. He was exempted from the rigorous instruction in etiquette to which she subjected Jodie. Jodie had to admit that his education as an English gentleman, together with the greater license permitted the male sex, probably justified Charlotte’s trust.
    On the other hand, her own knowledge of history helped her to learn quickly. She kept notes on everything, both to refresh her memory next day and for future use. Naturally graceful, she mastered curtsying with ease, much as she disapproved of the practice. Though she fell into bed exhausted and slept like a log, she woke next morning confident of her ability to deceive Roland and Lord Thorncrest.
    In fact, despite Charlotte’s lessons on the submissive behaviour proper to a young lady, Jodie was eager to cross swords with both gentlemen.
    As the morning passed, Emily grew more and more agitated It was almost a relief when at last the footman popped his head round the living room door to announce: “His lordship’s carriage is come, my lady.”
    “Thank you, Frederick.” Charlotte rose, looking anxious. “Pray inform Mr. Faringdale. Jodie, you and Giles wait here as we arranged. Come, Emily.”
    “They cannot bite your head off,” Jodie whispered to Emily, squeezing her hand. “Be brave.”
    Emily gave her a quavering smile and reluctantly trailed out into the hall after her sister-in-law as the footman went through the connecting door to the library to warn Giles.
    Jodie very much wanted to watch the meeting. She contented herself with standing by the hall door so that she could see Charlotte and Emily but not be seen by the gentlemen, she hoped. To her surprise, Roland’s greeting to his wife and sister sounded genuinely solicitous, if fussy. He kissed their cheeks, moving into Jodie’s line of sight. Hastily she stepped back—and landed on Giles’s foot.
    “Ouch!” he whispered, steadying her. “What are we being surreptitious about?”
    “I want to listen without being seen,” she whispered back, moving forward again. “Hush.”
    “Nosy. Come and sit down like a good girl.”
    If his firm hand on her arm was not enough to persuade her, at that moment Lord Thorncrest straightened from bowing to Emily and caught her eye in a mirror she had not noticed. He raised one black eyebrow.
    Jodie instantly yielded to Giles’s tug and retreated, pink-cheeked.
    “Drat,” she said, sitting beside him on a sofa by the fire, “I wanted to hear what Charlotte said about us. I’m afraid the earl saw me.”
    “Serves you right for eavesdropping. Don’t worry, it won’t spoil our story. He’ll just think you an inquisitive young lady. Correctly.”
    She pulled a face at him and he grinned.
    Warned by footsteps, they stood up as Charlotte led her husband into the drawing room, followed by Emily and Lord Thorncrest. Jodie carefully avoided looking at the earl.
    Curtsying to the present Lord Faringdale, she examined him with interest. The resemblance to the future Lord Faringdale was immediately obvious, though Roland was shorter than Giles, stockier, his eyes a paler blue and his hair a darker blond. He wore a worried