Hearts of Gold Read Online Free Page A

had arrived in the colony, and had taken six months to get to him. Now it was February and he was a few weeks off the birthday after, when he’d be twenty-five years of age.
    He crossed to the window and gazed out at the day. The grass was crisp with frost and the early morning air was blue with smoke rising from the chimneys. The sky was clear, and he doubted that it would rain. Today he had business to conduct, a meeting with Ignatious Grimble, family friend and the solicitor who’d always managed John Kern’s affairs. Together they’d inspect his uncle’s house in Bournemouth, note any maintenance needed, and make sure that all was well with the tenants before the lease was renewed for a further year. He had to be careful with tenants, since as far as he knew, the rent was his uncle’s only source of income now.
    After that he would call on Isabelle, surprise her for her birthday, even though she wasn’t expecting him. He took a small box from his desk and slipped it into his pocket.
    Smiling, he strode into the hall, shrugged into the long coat and overcape that his manservant held out, then pulled on his gloves and went out to the waiting gig.
    His horse was impatient for exercise. Steam snorted from his nostrils and he stamped his forelegs when Magnus approached. Stepping into the gig, Magnus settled himself and took the reins from the stable hand. ‘Thanks, Robert.’
    ‘He’s frisky this morning, sir, ’tis the cold.’ Robert looked as though he was about to say something else as he fussed with the bridle.
    ‘What is it Robert? I have to get going.’
    ‘Branston noticed that the post arrived yesterday and—’
    ‘You want to know if I heard from John Kern?’ He smiled at the loyalty still shown to John by his former staff. ‘Yes, I did receive a letter from him. You can tell the staff that at the time of writing he was in an area called Coolgardie, which is situated to the west of the Australian continent. He was quite well and is looking for gold. He’s built himself a . . . dwelling of sorts.’
    Robert grinned happily at that. ‘The master was allus good with his hands, and pitched in when any maintenance was needed on the house.’
    ‘Quite.’ Magnus allowed the mistake to go by, though by now they should be thinking of himself as their master. ‘My uncle also wished us all a happy Christmas for the one before last. Rather belated, I’m afraid.’
    ‘The sentiment’s the same. Thank you, sir. The staff will be relieved to hear that he’s all right.’
    ‘He’s given me instructions to crack open a bottle of brandy and drink his health, so if you would all present yourself to the library this evening after dinner, we shall do that and I’ll read you his letter.’
    ‘That’s right nice of him, sir. And of you, of course.’ Robert tipped his cap and moved off, hugging his arms against his body to ward off the cold.
    The horse nearly jerked the reins from his hands.
    ‘Have some patience, and kindly remember you’re between the shafts today.’
    When they were safely past the stone eagles and on the open road, Magnus had to fight to keep the beast under his control. After a while the gelding settled into a comfortable trot and he breathed a sigh of relief. With thirty miles to cover he didn’t want the animal winded when they’d hardly started out.
    Later in the morning, he stopped outside Ignatious Grimble’s mansion and handed his rig over to the groom. His horse could rest before the return journey. From here they would walk up the hill and along the west cliff to his uncle’s house, which overlooked the sea.
    Ignatious Grimble was beginning to resemble a turtle, Magnus thought as they shook hands and started walking through the town centre. He wondered how old Ignatious was, since he’d also been his grandfather’s solicitor. Magnus vaguely remembered him from his childhood, but couldn’t remember him looking any younger than he did now. He was sprightly enough though,