Major Lord David Read Online Free PDF Page B

Billie was relieved to find it
presentable this evening, not-as seemed too frequent of
late-redolent of damp or of Morty’s hounds or stale tobacco.
Still, she remained uneasy, for the major’s last comment had
sounded like a threat. She thought he must mean to move forward with an engagement, as mad as such a course might be.
    At least her father had no desire to leap abruptly into discussion of dowries.
    “You’ll excuse me, my lord,” he said gruffly, as Tate came
forward to take their coats. “My wife will be most anxious to
see me.”
    “Certainly, sir.” As Lord David was relieved of his greatcoat, he subjected the hall to such close regard that Billie chose
to feel defensive. Her father made his way upstairs, leaving the
major to Billie and her brothers.
    “How long has Lady Caswell been ill?” he asked.
    “Forever,” Edward mumbled, shrugging out of his own coat.
“Or seems like.”
    “You might recall it, Trent,” Morty said sharply, “as the last
visit she made was to Braughton eight years ago”
    “I regret I do not remember, Mr. Caswell. Do you blame
that visit for her subsequent indisposition?”
    Morty flushed to his ears. “Not at all. Just meant-that was
the last time she went calling, is all.”
    “I am sorry to hear it. She does not improve?”

    “She has her good days-and many more bad,” Edward
said glumly. “If you’ll pardon me, Major, I have some translations… “And he departed, followed precipitously by Morty,
who mumbled about seeing to necessary correspondence before dinner. Morty seemed eager to avoid the overwhelming
responsibility of acting as host in his own home. Or else he
had properly gauged that David Trent too frequently outwitted him.
    The major smiled at Billie just as she felt most acutely her
family’s rude desertion.
    “You must pardon them, my lord. They are not..” she attempted. “They are not usually so thoughtless.”
    “We are all at ease in our own homes, Miss Caswell,” he offered smoothly, making a shallow bow, “and it has been a tiring day. I know ‘tis merely an oversight that we should have
been left alone.”
    “They trust me,” she countered. “Would you imply they
should not trust you?”
    “We shall see”
    His small smile disconcerted her. She turned to Tate and
asked him to have a maid start the fire in the drawing room.
She felt the major’s gaze as she made the request. Her effort
to supplement their company must have been all too obvious.
    “You study my home, Major,” she said, lifting her chin a
fraction as she showed him into the drawing room. “You find
fault with it?”
    “On the contrary, Miss Caswell. All is order and comfort.
The opposite of what I should have expected of a household of
men-men left so long in want of Lady Caswell’s influence. I
credit you, young as you are, with meeting the challenge.”
    She felt the color in her cheeks and turned away. “Dinner
will be at least an hour, Major. Would you care for some refreshment beforehand?”
    “Coffee would be welcome, thank you” As Billie arranged
for a tray, the major wandered to the piano and idly pressed several keys. “Do you play, Miss Caswell, or was this your
mother’s instrument?”

    “Both,” she said. “‘Tis still my mother’s, and I play it. Mama
insisted that I claim at least one of a lady’s accomplishments.”
    “She must be pleased then-that you claim many.”
    To contain another blush, she stared him straight in the
eyes. “No doubt you practiced such flummery in Paris, my
lord.”
    “I had little time in Paris to practice much of anything, Miss
Caswell. Lately I’ve spent too much time traveling, including
three trips between Paris and Vienna in as many months. The
winter has been a harsh one. ‘Twas not the holiday you envisage.” Again he pressed his fingers to the keys. “Will you play
something?”
    “I am not very good”
    “I should imagine you are exceptionally good.”
    The