Rowena (Regency Belles Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

his forehead. ‘Thankee, sir.’
    Edward nodded. He looked about him. There was no sign of his father, or of anyone else come to collect him. The clouds gathering sullenly overhead threatened a shower at the very least, if not a downpour. He shrugged, flicked a finger at the innkeeper and walked into the old, timbered building. ‘I’ll have a draught of ale, if you please, landlord.’ Landlord and ostler exchanged looks.
    Edward sat in the taproom while his fobwatch ticked away twenty-three minutes. In the twenty-fourth minute there were sounds outside of a gig reining in. A few scuffles and a face appeared at the window. Edward’s younger brother Matthew scanned the room. A wide grin spread across his features. He banged on the thick glass. ‘Eddie. Eddie. You’re home.’
    The face disappeared. Matthew erupted through the door seconds later, a younger, sunnier version of his brother.
    Edward jumped up. He put his tankard down and thumped his sibling on the shoulder. ‘You’re late, sir. Very late.’
    ‘Not much. I had to stop. Jessie caught a stone. I had to wriggle it out of her hoof.’
    ‘She’s fine now? Not lame?’
    ‘Not in the least. I kept a good eye out for her.’
    Edward wrapped an arm round Matthew’s shoulders. He picked up his portmanteau. ‘Come on. Let’s away. I expect Mama is waiting.’
    ‘She’s been waiting ever since you went up.’ Matthew’s young eyes sparkled. ‘Tell me what it’s like . . . university. Better than old Wragley’s classes?’
    Edward snorted at the comparison with the tutor who had prepared him for university and was now doing the same for Matthew. ‘Much. I’ll tell you while I drive.’ He swung the portmanteau into his brother’s arms. Matthew gasped, clutching it close as it slipped downwards.
    ‘You?’
    ‘Me.’
    The pair paused beside the yellow-painted gig.
    ‘Oh, very well. You drive and I’ll listen.’
    Edward’s Mama, Mrs Florence Marchment, stood up from her chaise-longue in the drawing room in a flurry of lace and sarsnet that quite misled everyone about her determined nature. A wide smile pleated the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
    ‘Darling boy.’ She wrapped her arms round his neck for a few brief seconds before holding him away. ‘Let me look at you.’ Her eyes travelled across his face from side to side, then from hair to chin and down to his toes. ‘I swear you’ve grown thinner.’
    ‘Not thinner, Mama. Older. It’s been near three months.’
    ‘I know. I watched every day.’ With a final squeeze of his upper arms, she re-seated herself on her chaise and patted the striped linen cover at her side. ‘Now, sit and tell me all you’ve done.’
    Edward shrugged off his travelling coat and tossed it across the end of the chaise. Its many capes fluttered over like the pages of an abandoned book before it slid onto the floor. He settled himself beside his smiling mother.
    The next half hour passed in drinking tea and recounting of some of the less trying incidents of the second Punic War. Mrs Marchment exclaimed at the notion of taking one elephant over the mountains let alone heaven knew how many, with or without Hannibal’s supervision. Her delight at having her first-born home again showed in her eyes and smile.
    Matthew listened as patiently as he could, reluctant to restrict his mother’s pleasure. His fidgeting showed how little he was succeeding.
    ‘Mama,’ he said at last. ‘Where’s father?’
    Mrs Marchment lowered her dish of tea that had turned cold during Edward’s account. ‘I expect he’s still closeted with Mr Jamerson. I haven’t heard them emerge from the book room as yet.’ Jamerson was the Marchment’s solicitor. ‘I’m sure he won’t be much more delayed.’ She wrinkled her nose after a sip of cold tea. The dish was deposited, unfinished, onto the fragile table beside her chaise. ‘But I haven’t told you our news.’ A heavy sigh slid into the air from Matthew’s direction.