Reckless Griselda Read Online Free PDF Page B

about the cheek bones and the set of the nose that recalled her to him and he found himself almost too startled to answer her for a moment.
     
    “Sir Thomas?” she prompted.
     
    “No, it is not unreasonable,” said Tom, blinking. “I am willing to do anything that might restore your good opinion of me.”
     
    She nodded and Tom saw the resemblance vanish as soon as it had come. He felt relieved, although somewhat concerned.
     
    “I will let you two alone until dinner then,” she said, and left the room.
     
    When she had gone Caroline rose and walked into the bay window. She stood with her back to him, standing near her harp.
     
    “I heard you playing as I came in,” he said. “I stood in the street and listened.”
     
    She turned and smiled at him – but again he saw that melancholy that was new to him. Did she expect him to make love to her, to reassure her?
     
    Part of him longed to blurt out a confession to her. She was the sort of woman to whom he had felt he could talk sensibly. It was one of the reasons he had been drawn to her in the first place and had made him decide he wanted to marry her. But now as she stood there, twisting her fingers together in unconscious anxiety, he could no longer enjoy that comfortable companionship.
     
    Earlier that summer, staying at her brother’s house, a disinterested friendship had easily and pleasantly sprung up between them. After a while he had been persuaded that what he felt for her was love. But could it have been love when he had run so quickly into the arms of another woman so shortly after he had asked her to be his wife? Had he mistaken the playful conversations of a country house visit for love?
     
    “I am a free man, Caroline,” he managed to say, hoping that he would not be tempted again, swearing to himself he would keep the bargain. He had promised her marriage. He could not disappoint her. “Please believe me.“
     
    I know,” she said and held out her hand to him. “I knew it in my heart. You are incapable of insincerity.”
     
    As she spoke, he knew himself all too capable of it. For from the corner of his eye he could see a dark figure on the beach, clambering along in the narrow margin left by the high tide. Irresistably he turned to see better.
     
    It was the tall figure of a boy, the face hidden in a broad-brimmed hat and wearing an old fashioned redingote that was left open to flap in the breeze, a pack thrown over his shoulder. Am I really a free man, he wondered.
     
    “What are you looking at?” she said glancing behind her.
     
    “No-one,” said Tom, for now he looked properly the figure had vanished. “I mean, nothing. Nothing at all.”
     

Chapter 4
     
    Griselda found Hugh’s lodgings without much difficulty, but she did not go there at once. She spent the dinner hour walking the beach, trying to calm her nerves. She felt too wild with excitement, too ragged with regret, too entirely confused to do anything but crunch along the shingle and hope that she would find some measure of tranquillity.
     
    But the light faded and there was no ducking it any longer. She had to make her way to his lodgings before darkness surrounded her.
     
    A plump but pinch-mouthed woman opened the door to her.
     
    “Yes?”
     
    “I wish to speak to Colonel Farquarson,” said Griselda.
     
    “And who might you be?” said the landlady, sharply.
     
    “Miss Farquarson,” she said. The landlady did not look convinced. Griselda went on: “I am the Colonel’s sister. Please tell him I am here.”
     
    “Very good, miss,” said the woman. “Whatever you say.”
     
    After a short delay the landlady told Griselda to come in. She showed her to the half-open door of a parlour that opened off the hall.
     
    “Miss Farquarson, sir,” said the landlady pushing open the door.
     
    “Griselda?” Hugh said, staring at her as Griselda went in. “But I don’t understand. What on earth…?” He was struggling to get up from his chair and