Moonspun Magic Read Online Free PDF

now, just perhaps Damien, once he realized that he wouldn’t gain his ends, would provide her with a dowry.
    She left Elaine with a brisk step and went to the nursery. Nanny Black merely gave her her usual dour nod and straightened the pink velvet bow on the little girl’s riding hat.
    â€œYou wish to be my chaperon, Damie?” Victoria dropped to her knees in front of the child, carefully, of course, favoring her left leg.
    â€œDavid?”
    â€œYes, David is riding with us. We will go to Fletcher’s Pond and feed Clarence and his family.”
    â€œYes, yes, yes, Torie!”
    Victoria ruffled Damie’s black curls, thinking that she was the picture of her father. Except there was no cruelty in her clear gray eyes. Only innocence and eagerness and an only child’s occasional petulance.
    Victoria rose gingerly to her feet, feeling the slight strain in her left leg from the kneeling position. Nothing but a twinge, but it made her realize that this was something else she and David had never discussed before.
    â€œCome on, Torie! Come! Come!”
    â€œLittle terror,” said Nanny Black fondly.
    â€œI’ll bring her back after luncheon,” Victoria said. “Come along, Damie, and we’ll fetch Cook’s picnic basket.” She took Damie’s small hand and together they walked downstairs.
    Victoria came to a startled halt at the foot of the wide staircase. There was David, standing very still, looking up at her. He was but four years her senior, ruddy-complexioned, his eyes dark brown, his hair a darker brown. He was slight of build, no masculine compliments coming to mind upon viewing him, but he was kind to her, always had been, and was soft-spoken. She had always liked him.
    He was wearing buckskins. Victoria said immediately, “How very natty you look today, David. Doesn’t he, Damie?”
    â€œNatty,” said Damaris.
    David wasn’t smiling, nor did he smile now. He said only, “Are you ready?”
    She searched his well-known face, feeling a moment of unease. She simply nodded.
    â€œMust the child come today?”
    â€œCome! Come!”
    â€œWell, yes, I promised her, you see. I didn’t know that you would mind. She will be feeding the ducks, David. It will occupy her.”
    â€œEnjoy your outing, you two.”
    Victoria forced herself to stay calm and turn easily at the sound of Damien’s voice. He was standing in the doorway of the drawing room, his arms crossed over his chest, his head cocked to one side, studying them.
    â€œPapa,” said Damaris, but she didn’t release Victoria’s hand.
    â€œYou make certain your cousin doesn’t let you fall, my dear,” Damien said, not moving. “Esterbridge,” he said, nodding to David. With those words he turned and walked down the back hall toward the estate room.
    â€œCome!” said Damaris, tugging at Victoria’s hand.
    â€œYes, Damie.”
    David walked a bit ahead of them toward the stables, and Victoria wondered at him. It occurred to her vaguely that his mustard-yellow riding jacket wasn’t a felicitous color for him. It made him look bilious. A wifely thought, she decided, and kept her mouth shut.
    Toddy, her mare, snorted when she saw Victoria. True to her habit, Victoria withdrew two cubes of sugar and laid them on her palm for the horse to eat.
    â€œCome!”
    â€œI’ll give you a leg up, Victoria,” David said, and followed action to words. Once Victoria was settled on Toddy’s back, he handed her Damaris. The child was squealing with delight and excitement. David didn’t seem at all amused.
    â€œSit still, love,” Victoria said, encircling the wriggling little body firmly with her arms. She watched the stable lad, Jim, give David the food basket.
    They rode down the long drive, eastward towardFletcher’s copse and pond. There was no opportunity for them to speak of private matters with Damaris