Part 5 (1/2)
CHAPTER TWO.
”FORCIBLE repatriation?”
Harry shot her a narrow-eyed glare2 ”You don't belong in a race-town.”
Lucinda glared back.
”I belong wherever I choose to stay, Mr Lester.”
His face set in uncompromising lines, Harry looked back at his team. Lucinda looked ahead, frowning direfully.
”Where are you taking us?” she eventually demanded. ”To stay with my aunt, Lady Hallows.” Harry glanced at her.
”She lives a little way otsi of town.” It had been many years since she'd allowed anyone to order her life. Nose in the air, Lucinda held to dignified disapproval.
”How do you know she won't already have visitors?”
”She's a widow of long standing and lives quietly.” Harry checked his team and turned onto a side road.
”She has a whole Hall to spare--and she'll be delighted to make your acquaintance.”
Lucinda sniffed.
”You can't know that.” The smile he bent on her was infinitely superior.
Resisting the urge to gnash her teeth, Lucinda pointedly looked away.
Heather had perked up the instant they'd quit town; she smiled when Lucinda glanced her way, clearly restored to her usual sunny humour and unperturbed by the unexpected alteration to their plans.
Feeling distinctly hurry, Lucinda looked ahead. It was, she suspected, pointless to protest--at least, not until she'd met Lady Hallows. Until then, there was nothing she could do to regain the ascendancy. The infuriating gentleman beside her had the upper hand--and the reins. Her gaze. flicked sideways, to where his hands, covered by soft doeskin gloves, dexterously managed the ribbons. Long slim fingers and slender palms. She'd noted that earlier. To her horror, the memory evoked a s.h.i.+ver--she had to fight to quell it. With him so close, he would very likely feel it--and, she suspected, would unhesitatingly guess its cause.
Which would leave her feeling embarra.s.sed--and even more deeply disturbed.
He evoked a most peculiar response in her--it had yet to fade, despite her irritation at his autocratic interference. It was a distinctly novel feeling--one she wasn't at all sure she appreciated. ”Hallows Hall.”
She looked up to discover a pair of imposing gate posts which gave onto a shadlr avenue lined with elms. The gravel led drive wound gently along a slight ridge, then dipped to reveal a pleasant vista of rolling lawns surrounding a reed-fringed lake, the whole enclosed by large trees.
”How pretty? Heather looked about in delight. The Hall, a relatively recent structure in honey coloured stone, sat on a rise above the drive, which wound past the front steps before curving around the corner of the house. A vine stretched green fingers over the stone.
There were roses in abundance; ducks cracked from the lake.
An ancient retainer came ambling up as Harry drew his team to a halt.
”Thought as we'd see you this week, young master.” Harry grinned.
”Good evening, Grimms. Is my aunt at home?”
”Aye--that she is--and right pleased she'll be to see you. Evening, miss.
Miss.” Grimms doffed his cap to Lucinda and Heather.