The Riddle of the Shipwrecked Spinster Read Online Free PDF Page A

with slow deliberation, “My twin has been through several kinds of hell since PrestonpansHell have his happiness now, by heaven, but he will! I mean to deed him three hundred acres where he can build Zoe the house he’s always dreamt of.”
    “That is so like you, my dear one,” said Miss Guild. “Have you decided which area to give him?”
    “The north-east acreage. He’s always longed to build a house on Quail Hill.”
    Startled, his aunt pushed the spectacles higher on her small nose. “But—that’s on the river parcel! You had to sell that property years ago.”
    “Yes. I mean to buy it back.”
    “But—but I thought you were planning to sell the estate.”
    “Sell Muse Manor? Now why in the name of—Why ever would you think such a thing?”
    “Perhaps because I heard you tell Florian only yesterday that you’ve had many offers and that one was very tempting.”
    “Aye.” Frowning, he said slowly, “And I’d give something to know who made it. The solicitor is blasted secretive about his mystery would-be buyer. Not that it matters. I’ve had lots of offers for Tassels as well, but I’d no more sell her than sell this estate. Even if Perry and Mitten would hear of it—which they would not!”
    Miss Guild blinked over the spectacles, which had slipped down to the end of her nose again and asked if they could afford to buy the river parcel, even if it were put up for sale.
    “Oh, it’s for sale,” Piers said airily. “Old Finchley is hot after it.”
    “Then I do indeed hope we are able to buy it back! I do not like to speak ill of anyone, you know that, but Gresford Finchley is a nasty bully and makes our Florian’s life miserable only because he takes him for a gypsy—which he is not and if he were ’twould make no odds. How shall you go about it, dear? Do you mean to ask Sir Anthony for a loan? I expect he would be only too glad to help.”
    “Perish the thought! Tony is a grand fellow and I couldn’twish a finer husband for Mitten, but to beg money from a relatively new family member—ugh!”
    Amused by his revulsion, she shook her head and chided him for “foolish pride.”
    He laughed and kissed her, and refrained from divulging that he’d already applied to their banker for a loan. Old Seequist had been agreeable and beyond saying that he’d have to obtain the approval of the directors, had promised to have the papers ready on Friday. It would mean delaying the repairs to the Home Farm this year, but it was much to be preferred over breaking his brother-in-law’s shins. Why, poor Farrar would wonder what kind of family he’d married into!
    “…all of a twitter, and you’ve heard not a word I said!” Miss Guild clicked her tongue and observed that Peregrine had been right. “He was sure you were fretting over something. Am I allowed to know what it is?”
    “It is that my twin borrows trouble where there is none. If my attention wandered just now, ’tis because I am wondering who is ‘all of a twitter,’ as you claim.”
    “Had you been attending me, child, you would have heard me say that this morning I received a letter from your Aunt Clara.”
    “Aha. Cousin Adam up to his tricks again, is he?”
    “If he is, she did not mention it, though that wretched boy has led them a merry dance these past few years. No, my sister-in-law was big with
ton
news.”
    With a lift of the eyebrows, Piers said, “Never say my Uncle Harvey ventured out of Leicestershire at last? I’d not have thought anything could lure him from his precious farm.”
    “A surgeon lured him, poor soul. He will trust no one but the man he’s always gone to in London, so they went but only for two days, and Clara had not time to come down and see us. She was able to take tea with some old friends who gave her all the latest news of the
ton.
Society is evidently agog because a young lady of Quality, who was lost at sea a year or so ago,has been rescued from some island or other and is back in Town