Lord Iverbrook's Heir Read Online Free PDF

he looked around. The dusty street came to an abrupt end here on the riverbank. Near a small jetty, a solitary coot bobbed in the water; its bright, cynical eyes seemed to regard him with amusement.
    The opposite side of the river was lined with a tangle of willows upstream; downstream he could see well-tended watermeadows, dotted with black and white cattle. Beyond these, the bank rose higher above the water, and there terraced gardens led up to an attractive brick and stone house.
    The viscount turned and looked back down the street. Thatched, whitewashed cottages, with candytuft and gilliflowers wilting in the gardens; a pleasant enough place, no doubt, were it not for this infernal heat. He wiped his face again.
    Tom emerged from the dim recesses of the inn, bearing an earthenware mug. He watched his master drain the ale at a draught before he spoke.
    “It’s the wrong Milford, m’lord,” he said expressionlessly.
    “What the devil do you mean, the wrong Milford? We're in Berkshire, aren’t we? Near Abingdon?”
    “Yes, m’lord. Seems as how this is Milford Abbot, and what we wants is Kings Milford. In Oxfordshire.”
    “Devil fly away with that lawyer! Berkshire, he told me.”
    “Yes, m’lord. The landlord explained as the local Receiving Office is in Abingdon, which is in Berkshire, so the direction for the mails . . ."
    “To the devil with the mails! Where is this other Milford then?”
    Tom hooked a philosophical thumb over his shoulder. “That’s Milford Manor over there, m’lord. On t’other side of the Thames.”
    Lord Iverbrook held his breath for a long moment, then let it out in a sigh and grinned wryly.
    “He did tell me Kings Milford. I ought to have given you more precise instructions when you enquired in Wallingford. I suppose all these ‘fords’ are merely a manner of speaking?”
    “I wouldn’t advise trying to drive across, m’lord. There’s usually a boat, a skiff the landlord said, but all the men are gone to harvesting over there. There’s a bridge about four miles on, seemingly, in Abingdon.”
    “Abingdon it is then. I trust the place also has a decent posting-house. I’ll leave you there with the horses and hire a pair. We’ll rack up there tonight.”
    * * * *
    “But, Grandmama, Aunt Sena promised I can go harvesting if I be good!”
    “Your aunt is still waiting for Lord Iverbrook, Peter, and besides, she has the headache. Be a love and fetch me the jar marked ‘hyssop’. An infusion with a little honey and oil of almonds will do her a world of good.”
    Peter obediently fetched the herb, but repeated sadly, “She promised.”
    “Of course I did!” Selena entered the odiferous stillroom at that moment, attired in a most becoming morning dress of amber crepe. "Mama, I am quite out of patience with Iverbrook and will not await his pleasure any longer.”
    “How is your head, dearest? I was just preparing a draught of hyssop for you.”
    “I am vastly better, thanks to your mullein tea. I will try the hyssop next time. It smells delicious. Peterkin, do you go and ask Finny to dress you for the fields. You will need stout shoes for walking across the stubble. I will change too, and meet you at the stables.”
    “I want to ride with Jem. Can I ride with Jem, Aunt Sena? ‘Cos Jem says ‘Rion is a lady’s horse and I’m not a lady. So can I?”
    “Jem’s cob is so very large,” said Lady Whitton anxiously. “I think Peter will be safer with you, Selena.”
    “Jem is very trustworthy, and Pippin is a docile beast, not to say phlegmatic. Peter will come to no harm if he behaves himself.”
    “I’ll be good, Grandmama. You can come and see me riding Pippin, will you?”
    “Off you go to Nurse, young man, or you’ll not be riding at all!”
    * * * *
    Not long after Pippin and Orion trotted out of the stable yard, Lord Iverbrook’s curricle drew up at the front door of the Manor. He sat for a moment looking at the house, before tossing the reins to the