Tuesday's Child (Heroines Born on Each Day of the Week Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

“What’s more, if any of one our sons ever threw a mug of milk at anyone Mister Cooper would have thrashed him.”
    Thoughtful, Dominic gazed at her, grateful because his father never applied the rod while he, his brothers and sisters grew up. Indeed Papa never allowed anyone else to do so, although he had his own means of punishment. The worst were gentle reproaches and expressions of disappointment concerning the culprit’s lack of conduct. On such occasions Dominic’s guilt induced him to wish the floor would open and swallow him up. Anything would have been preferable to being the cause of  his dear father’s displeasure.
    Mrs Cooper broke into his thoughts. “My poor girl’s in a cell with criminals and women, who are…are no better than they should be.”
    “Lord Castleton’s father is dead, is he not?” Dominic asked.
    “Yes, sir.” Her cheeks reddened. “If he weren’t been killed by Boney’s soldier, I hope he would never have allowed his son to become a young limb of Satan.”
    ‘Young limb of Satan’! Too strong a term for a child, who lacked discipline. “What of the child’s mother, Mrs Cooper.”
    She shook her head. “Bessie says she is a sweet lady, but every time she  tells the boy to behave the earl pokes his long nose in where it’s not welcome. So the child thinks he can do whatever he pleases.”
    “I see. Now, please tell me if I am wrong,” Dominic fought his way through the real meaning of his parishioner’s distressed floods of words. “Lord Castleton claimed Bessie would not allow him to drink out of his silver mug.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Where did Bessie put the mug?” he asked, not immune to the plea in her tear-filled hazel eyes.
    “In the cupboard in the nursery along with the child’s silver porringer, his knife, fork and spoon, and I don’t know what else.”
    “So, where is it?  Why does the earl think she stole it and not the other silver items? If Bessie were a thief, surely she would have taken all of them.”
    “I only know, sir, that four days ago, after she ate breakfast in the servants’ hall, the old limb of Satan was waiting for her when she returned to the nursery. She says the earl was in a fair taking. He ranted at her for pinching his grandson’s cheeks. Then he ordered her to fetch the mug. She couldn’t find it, so he accused her of stealing it.”
    Dominic frowned. “Surely she was not the only one who could have taken it.”
    “Yes, that’s true, Mister Markham. Bessie says the earl lost his temper when she tried to explain. Please, sir, speak to his lordship. He’ll listen to you.” Mrs Cooper burst into noisy tears and covered her face with her hands.
    Of course, he must do whatever he could to help the Coopers. Nevertheless, Dominic doubted the eccentric earl would yield to any representation he could make on Bessie’s behalf.
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    Appreciative of warm sunshine and a slight breeze, Dominic considered it a perfect day on which to enjoy riding in the country. Familiar with the area in and around St Albans he approached Clarencieux Abbey from The Gallop through the woods.
    After much thought, he decided to try to reason with Pennington before he visited the unfortunate Bessie in gaol. Although her mother was convinced of the girl’s innocence, he could not be certain of it. Nevertheless, Bessie had not been the only person with an opportunity to steal Arthur’s mug
    At the end of The Gallop edged with oak trees, he rode his horse around the path along the perimeter of silver water lapping lazily on the edge of the lake. The immaculate lawns stretching towards Clarencieux Abbey, came into view. Dominic chuckled. Pennington’s massive country seat no more suited Hertfordshire than domes of  the Prince Regent’s pavilion in Brighton, which once provoked a wit to say ‘it looks as though St Paul’s Cathedral has pupped’.
    His lips tightened. A fraction of the money spent on remodelling the earl’s Gothic