Cinders & Sapphires Read Online Free PDF

farther down the line. “So hot it blows your head right off, that’s what I’ve heard.”
    “Martha!” Mr. Cooper snapped, and Martha held her tongue, turning pink under her freckles.
    The next moment, the drawing room doors swung open and Sir William and Lady Edith came in. Master Philip, Sir William’s younger brother, followed, looking sulky and miserable in his stiff collar and best suit. Their stately entrance was slightly impeded by the fact that Master Augustus was clinging to Lady Edith’s skirts, and howling at the top of his voice.
    “Oh dear, Gussie!” Lady Edith sighed. “You seem dreadfully distressed today.… Would you like something nice to eat? Just please behave for your great uncle’s return. Please, dear.”
    Philip rolled his eyes, and Rose stifled a smile. She felt sorry for Master Philip—everyone knew that he had a hard time from his older brother.
    The clatter of the carriage’s wheels and the horses’ hooves grew closer and closer until the harness jingled to a halt outside the door. Rose heard the bright, excited voices of young women. Her heart swooped. Lady Ada and Lady Georgiana!
    Mr. Cooper gave Martha a last warning glare and then moved to the door, as stately as an ocean liner. James and Roderick, the two footmen, drew themselves up to their full six feet, chests almost bursting through their striped waistcoats. Rose suddenly felt a horrible desire to giggle bubble up inside her. She bit her cheeks.
    The door swung open, and Rose heard a muffled male voice outside.
    “Good morning, sir,” Mr. Cooper replied. Rose, gazing decorously at the ground, saw Sir William’s shadow move forward, and heard him say, “Welcome home, uncle.”
    “Thank you,” replied a deep, quiet voice. “It’s good to be back.”
    Rose sensed the hall filling, the scent of perfume, the soft voices of young ladies, the rustle of skirts.
    “Philip! How you’ve grown. You’re quite a young man now.” That was one of the girls—Lady Ada, Rose guessed. She had a soft and gentle voice. Philip mumbled something shyly, but he sounded delighted to be noticed. “And this must be young Augustus!” said another girl’s voice. “What a terrible noise to welcome your aunty Georgiana with!”
    Augustus stopped crying with a startled hiccup. “The staff,” murmured Mr. Cooper, “may I say on their behalf how delighted we are to welcome you home.”
    There were polite murmurs. Rose, still gazing demurely at the ground, was aware that Mr. Cooper was leading Lord Westlake and the others toward the drawing room. She sensed them drawing nearer. Mary beside her bobbed a curtsy, and Rose did the same. As she rose, she risked a glance up through her lashes.
    She saw two young ladies, still in their hats and veils. One was dark haired and gray eyed, taller and more graceful than the other. That had to be Lady Ada. The other was Lady Georgiana, of course. She did not have such fine features, but her expression was so full of good humor that it was hardly noticeable. Rose thought she looked pale and tired, and though she rattled on to Augustus, it seemed almost feverish, as if she were forcing herself to be bright and cheerful.
    Rose barely had time to be disappointed that they did not recognize her, because behind them was a tall, handsome gray-haired man with deeply tanned skin. It was Lord Westlake, and he was staring straight at her, with a strange, half-troubled expression in his eyes.
    Rose’s heart thumped and she looked down, her face burning. There was no reason for him to be staring at her. Had she done something wrong? Somehow she did not think so. What shocked her was the emotion in his eyes. She could not find a name for it. Certainly not one that made sense. If she had not known it was impossible, she might have thought it was…tenderness.
    She kept her head bowed until the family had disappeared into the drawing room and the doors had swung shut.
    It was hours before Ada was at last alone in her