The Summer of You Read Online Free PDF

short time he had become quite a good friend to her father. Initially, Sir Wilton had been suspicious of having two doctors in their village, thinking that this was a sign the town would grow out of proportion to its unique quaintness. But upon being assured by Dr. Lawford that he intended to retire and merely wished to introduce his replacement into Reston life as kindly as possible, Sir Wilton took to the new Dr. Berridge like a long-lost brother. The young doctor was twenty years Sir Wilton’s junior, but they had both studied at the same university, and Father enjoyed talking about his years at school so much, Dr. Berridge found himself invited to dinner almost thrice weekly. And since Victoria often found herself seated next to him, they, too, had struck up an enjoyable friendship.
    “Miss Victoria, whatever is the matter?” Dr. Berridge said, concern overflowing his voice. “Is someone injured? Let me fetch my bag—”
    “Oh, no, nothing like that—the boys are off to bring back Mother from the church,” she said breathlessly, her face warmly flushed with exertion. Behind her, Minnie had caught up to her young mistress, breathing even heavier.
    “Minnie, you, too?” Dr. Berridge inquired, his eyebrow reaching new heights of suspicion. “What has the Wilton household running like lunatics?”
    “Minnie, we need to find my pin money—I’m so sorry, Doctor, I expect you’ve come to accompany my father on his daily walk,” Victoria apologized.
    “Never mind that—would someone please tell me what is wrong? Why are the boys to fetch Lady Wilton?”
    Dr. Berridge—Andrew—grasped her hand with his, concern emanating from his frame. Suddenly Victoria realized that her breathless countenance had shocked the always calm and good-natured doctor into intense worry. She laughed then and squeezed his hand reassuringly.
    “The most wonderful news! Jason has come back to Reston, and I desperately need a new gown!” And with that, her eyes alight with pleasure, Victoria half skipped, half ran back to the house, leaving a stunned Dr. Berridge, and a still-breathless Minnie in her wake.
    Dr. Berridge looked down at the small bunch of wildflowers he carried in his hand. “Minnie,” he said, startling the poor housekeeper to attention, “would you please be so good as to tell me who this Jason is?”

    Four
    JANE had always found blackmail to be remarkably useful. It allowed her to attain what she needed with very little effort on her part and generally, no harm to either party.
    Oh, she wasn’t cruel about it—she had no use for other people’s money, took no joy in taking someone low. However, when the ends required it, Jane found the means justified.
    Jason would likely contradict her philosophy, saying that, as Jane’s perennial blackmail victim, she most certainly did take a perverse joy in making him bend to her will.
    It could be true, Jane thought smugly. But she would never admit it. Because if Jane was going to be stuck on this wretched journey all the way out to the Lake District, where not a soul worth knowing lived at the height of the Season, she would be damned if she would lack for company.
    Jane leaned forward in her seat, nudging back the heavy carriage window curtains with her hand. There, trotting along in a jubilant style that belied its rider’s humor, was Jason’s great golden steed Midas. And on his back—a glum Jason.
    That should teach him the dangers of leaving her alone in a place where he stored his belongings, she thought triumphantly.
    Of course, three days ago he had not been nearly so compliant.
    Jane had been at her escritoire at their house in London, writing her regrets to all of the hostesses she was obliged to disappoint. She felt keenly for all of them, but most especially when writing her note to Phillippa. Their friendship was of such an odd construction, it could be easily categorized into phases. Best of friends when they met at school—when Jane was still scrawny.