Part 8 (1/2)
”Oh?” she said weakly.
”Indeed. My brothers delighted in calling me all the contractions you might imagine. When my nephews came along, I declared it was Em and nothing else.”
”Very wise.” A companionable silence settled as they savoured their tea.
Lucinda broke it to ask,
”Do you have many nephews?”
From under heavy lids, Em's eyes glinted.
”Quite a few. But it was Harry and his brothers I had to guard against. A rapscallion lot.”
Lucinda s.h.i.+fted.
”He has a lot of brothers?”
”Only two--but that's quite enough. Jack's the eldest,”
Em blithely rattled on.
”He's--let me see--thirty-six now. Then comes Harry, two years younger.
Then there's quite a gap to their sister Lenore--she married Eversleigh some years back--she must be twenty-six now, which makes Gerald twenty-four.
Their mother died years ago but my brother still hangs on.” Em grinned.
”Dare say he'll manage to cling to life long enough to see a grandson to carry on the name, the cantankerous old fool.” The last was said affectionately. ”But it was the boys I had most to do with--and Harry was always my favourite. Blessed by the angels and the devil both, of course, but such a good boy.” Em blinked, then amended,
”Well--a good boy at heart. They all were--are. I see most of Harry and Gerald these days-what with Newmarket so close. Harry runs the Lester stud which, even if 'tis I who say so--and Heaven knows I know next to nothing about horses--such a boring subject--is hailed as one of the premier studs in the land.”
”Really?” There was not the slightest trace of boredom in Lucinda's face.
”Indeed.” Em nodded.
”Harry usually comes to watch his runners perform. Dare say I'll see Gerald this week, too. Doubtless he'll want to show off his new phaeton. Told me when last he was up that he was going to buy one, now the family coffers are full and overflowing.” Lucinda blinked.
Em didn't wait for her to find a subtle way to ask. One hand waving, she airl~, rexplained,
”The Lesters have traditionally been strapped for cash--goodestates, good breeding, but no money. The present generation, however, invested in some s.h.i.+pping venture last year and now the whole family's rolling in an abundance of the ready.”
”Oh.” Lucinda readily recalled Harry Lester's expensive elegance. She couldn't imagine him any other way.
Indeed, his image seemed to have fixed in her mind, oddly vivid, strangely enthralling. Shaking her head to dispel it, she delicately smothered a yawn.
”I'm afraid I'm not very good company, Lady--Em.” She smiled.
”I.
suspect I'd better follow Heather. ”
Em merely nodded.