The Return of Lord Conistone Read Online Free PDF Page B

wider-shouldered, leaner, yet more powerful. His face, always handsome, was more angular, his features more defined. And there was something—some shadow—in his dark grey eyes that she was sure had not been there before.
A soldier now
. He would have lost friends in battles, she thought. He would have killed men.
    Lucas said lightly, ‘Even my grandfather didn’t know I was returning till I turned up on his doorstep yesterday. I was intending to call on you all at Wycherley, but I’m glad to find you on your own’.
    It means nothing, he means nothing, don’t be foolish….
. She suddenly remembered, and her heart sank. She said, ‘You must have heard from your grandfather about—the matter with my father. I wouldn’t have been surprised if you’d decided
not
to call on us, my lord’.
    His eyes were still gentle. ‘They had an argument, I’m afraid, as old friends will’.
    ‘It was more than an argument, I fear!’ she answered.
    ‘And your father’s away again? On his travels?’
    ‘Indeed, yes’.
    ‘And you—’ his eyes were scanning her, assessing her in a way that made her blush ‘—you, Verena, should be in London, surely, enjoying yourself, surrounded by flocks of admirers!’
    At that moment, with Lucas smiling down at her, shewould not have been anywhere else for the world. ‘Oh, there’s time enough for all that,’ she said airily.
    ‘Time enough, indeed. Though this…’. he picked up the book that lay where she had dropped it ‘.….is hardly everyday reading for a young lady’. He flicked through it, eyebrows tilting. ‘The cultivation of—turnips? ‘
    She blushed hotly. He must think her a country clod, for no London lady of fashion would ever glance at such a thing!
    ‘It belongs to—someone else, and, yes, of course you are right, I wouldn’t dream of reading about—farming!
Turnips!
’ She laughed. ‘Ridiculous!’
    He put his head on one side, not smiling back, and said seriously, ‘I have heard that since your father last went away, you’ve had to take on responsibility for the estate yourself, Verena’.
    She bit her lip, then, ‘What nonsense people do talk!’ she declared. ‘Why, soon Mama and Deb and I will be going to London, and we will have such fun—going to the theatre, attending parties…’. She casually picked up her copy of the
Miss Bonamy’s
book and fanned her warm cheeks with it, so he should see it and consider her a lady.
    He cut in, ‘I heard there was a bad harvest. And that you’re short of labourers to plant the winter crops’.
    She was mortified. ‘It’s true that the summer rains did great damage. But by next spring all will be right again at Wycherley!’
I wish, I wish he hadn’t seen me like this, in my old print dress that must be flecked with dust and straw. He will be used to the company of such beautiful women, and I must look like a farm girl…..
    He said suddenly, ‘I’m interested in the new ways of farming too. Everyone should be’.
    ‘Sh-should they?’
    ‘Indeed. Unfortunately, this war will go on and on, and it’svital that every acre of English land should be made as productive as possible. But Turnip Townshend’s ideas are a little outdated now, you know! Have you come across Blake’s new harrow yet, I wonder? My grandfather’s agent has ordered one, for drilling seed in rows, rather than scattering. You could borrow it for Wycherley, I’m sure. Would you show me round your estate’s farms some time, Verena, and I’ll see how I can help?’
    She was stunned. So he
didn’t
despise her after all, even though she was reduced to learning about turnips. He was actually offering to help her!
    She realised the sun was beating down on her unruly hair, her cheeks; oh, Lord, her freckles would be coming back! She exclaimed, ‘The Earl, your grandfather, does not approve of my family at all, you know!’
    He shrugged. ‘Then I shall tell him it’s a matter of neighbourliness and of mutual benefit. The