The Earl's Daughter Read Online Free PDF Page A

uncommon, is it not?” Clarissa began, “to dine with one's carriage driver?”
    Sylvie nodded. “Indeed. You both must think I am very peculiar; however, Hughes was an invaluable companion when we were traveling. If not for his willingness to accompany me, my whereabouts would have surely been discovered by my father and I would have been forced into an unhappy marriage.”
    “Robert has told me something of your circumstances,” Clarissa confessed. “You were nearly married to a much older man?”
    “I was.” In the corner of her eye, Sylvie saw Peter enter the dining room, so she cast a brief smile in his direction. “Mr. Tonbridge is a friend of my father, and he is more than thirty years older than I am.”
    “Heavens!” Clarissa gasped. “That would be a very... undesirable fate.”
    As Sylvie nodded, the first course arrived. As the food was delivered, Sylvie reached for Robert's hand beneath the table, and gave it a gentle squeeze.
    “Needless to say, I am very glad that fate did not befall my Sylvie.” When Robert turned toward his beloved, his lips unexpectedly dropped into a frown.
    “What is the matter, Robert? You look a bit blue-deviled,” Sylvie observed.
    “I should have been there for you...” Robert sorrowfully reflected. “I should have been the one to rescue you from your unwanted fate.”
    “Do not berate yourself, Robert. All is well.” Sylvie sipped her soup and smiled at her beau. “Besides, I cannot blame you for being fearful of my father. If you had acted against his wishes, I am quite certain he would have called you out! If anyone was going to defy him, it had to be me.”
    “I'm so happy you're here, Sylvie,” Robert said. “Unbelievably so.”
    “And I am very happy to be at your side again.” When Sylvie looked across the table at her other companions, she caught Clarissa staring at Peter. And Sylvie, to her surprise, was relieved to see that Peter was only interested in his food. “You have such beautiful hair, Miss Overton,” she attempted to converse with the other woman in the room.
    “Do you think so?” As Clarissa's fingers toiled in her copper locks, her eyes never strayed from Peter. “But I look so disheveled!”
    “You look lovely.” Sylvie could feel herself getting strangely frustrated by Clarissa's interest in Peter, so she asked, “What color are your eyes?”
    The question was effective, as Clarissa turned in Sylvie's direction to let her see them. “A rather boring brown, I am afraid.”
    Sylvie shook her head. “There is nothing boring about brown eyes. Hughes has brown eyes, and they are lovely.”
    Peter looked up from his bowl and muttered, “Huh?”
    “But I see a bit of green in them as well,” Clarissa countered. “His eyes are much prettier than mine. And your blue eyes, Miss Stafford, are beyond beautiful.”
    Robert was smiling as he gave his opinion. “You both have exceptionally lovely eyes, and I am sure Mr. Hughes would agree with me.”
    Peter briefly made eye contact with Sylvie, and after a brief pause, he gave her a slight affirmative nod.
    The rest of their food arrived, but Sylvie found she had little appetite. She felt as if she was competing with Clarissa for the attention of the men in the room, and it was a nauseating thought. Her excessive jealousy toward the girl was unconscionable.
    Her lack of desire for her food did not evade Robert's notice. “My dear, are you not hungry?”
    “I'm feeling a bit unwell, truth be told. Perhaps I am a bit exhausted from the journey?”
    “You do look somewhat pale. Do you need to lie down? I should show you to a bed.”
    “I hope you don't mean your bed, Robert, you cad!” Clarissa boldly exclaimed, which earned her matching sneers from Robert and Sylvie. “Was that inappropriate? Oh, I do apologize!”
    “I... would like to lie down. For a bit,” Sylvie said. As she rose from her chair, she said, “Hughes, please do not leave until you've said farewell. If you left