Luckpenny Land Read Online Free PDF

most ancient rocks to the north. From these natural resources men had made fortunes, Rosemary Ellis’s grandfather among them.
    And she had largely spent it.
    ‘You’ll be back by tea time, won’t you, darling? You know that Richard is coming over and particularly wishes to see you , not us old fogies.’
    Kath flicked her crop against Bonnie’s flanks, wishing the pony would speedily gallop away so that she could pretend that she hadn’t heard the question. But Bonnie slowed down to nuzzle Mrs Ellis’s hand, just in case she had a treat secreted in the pocket of her soft tweed skirt. Kath restrained a sigh and smiled sunnily.
    ‘I’ll do my best. But don’t wait tea for me. You know how unpunctual I am.’
    Rosemary Ellis watched her daughter until she was quite out of sight, a frown of concern upon her face. How difficult girls could be, particularly Katherine who had always shown a ruthless determination to have her own way. Perhaps it was because she was an only child and, as Rosemary was well aware, thoroughly spoiled by Jeffrey, that she seemed so wild and out of control. But she was young still, at eighteen, and there was plenty of time for her to mature. It was only that with Jeffrey being unwell and the future so uncertain, it would be lovely if she would settle down with some suitable young man. Richard Harper was ideal and from a good local family, his father likely to be Mayor of Kendal next year.
    ‘We’ll wait till five,’ she called out in desperation, just as the pony’s grey tail swished out of sight.
    The whitewashed stone longhouse that was Broombank Farm came into sight as Kath rounded the last hill and Bonnie came to a halt without any prompting.
    ‘Even the horse can read my mind,’ Katherine said crossly, forgetting the countless occasions she’d ridden this way.
    It was early yet for the blaze of gold which would soon surround the farm with an almost magical light, but the first spears of broom were already attempting to thrust through the thick green leaves.
    Built as an Elizabethan manor farm, Broombank occupied three sides of a quadrangle though many of its buildings were now little more than ruins. Only its tall cylindrical chimneys stood proud, the narrow curtainless windows looking blankly out from thick stone walls that seemed to have shrunk in upon themselves with the passing of the years as if ashamed of the air of neglect. Kath knew that the inside was in an even worse state. It was hard to imagine the fine ladies and gentlemen who had installed the oak panelling and doors and whose initials were carved over the stone lintel taking too kindly to its present state. It was certainly not a house she would care to own. But it wasn’t the building she had come to see.
    ‘Let’s see if he’s in, shall we? Walk on, Bonnie.’ The mare ambled forward readily enough knowing there might well be a mint humbug at the farm, if the old man was in. There was little Bonnie would not do for a mint humbug.
    Jack came to meet them himself, just as Kath had hoped, as soon as they entered the farmyard. She stayed on the pony’s back, sitting very straight to display her breasts to full advantage, and slanted a smile down at him.
    ‘You’re looking as devilishly handsome as ever on this glorious afternoon,’ she said.
    Jack Lawson rested one hand on the bridle and smiled back at her. ‘And yourself.’
    Four years older than Meg and she, Jack Lawson, with his black curly hair and sleepy violet-blue eyes, was the nearest thing to a rake that Katherine knew. A bit brash perhaps, just a little too full of himself, but one twist of that sensual lower lip and she could forgive him anything. Well aware that he belonged to Meg, or would if her friend had any say in the matter, still Kath could not resist testing her own standing with him. ‘Show me a man and I’ll wind him in,’ was her favourite catch phrase. And, generally speaking, a true one. Jack Lawson was certainly a man who interested