Valentine Read Online Free Page B

appeal to an out-and-outer. Whatever that might mean.
    She rang the bell and when Foster appeared said, “When Lady Theo comes in, will you ask her to come to me, please?”
    “Certainly, my lady.” Foster bowed. “Cook is waiting.”
    “Send her in … oh, and, Foster, Lord Stoneridge will be calling this afternoon. I will receive him in the drawing room. Bring up a bottle of … of …”
    “I believe Lady Theo would suggest the eighty-nine claret, my lady.”
    Elinor smiled, despite her heavy heart. “She would know, of course. Her grandfather took her round every rack in the cellar until she could lay hands on a particular bottle blindfold.”
    Foster’s eyes grew a little misty, but he said only, “I’ll bring up a bottle, ma’am.” He turned to the door, then paused, coughed. “Forgive me, my lady, but I imagine Lord Stone-ridge’s arrival means that you and the young ladies will be removing to the dower house shortly.”
    “That is so, Foster.”
    He coughed again. “I trust your ladyship will not wish to dispense with my services.”
    Elinor shook her head. “Of course not, but I can’t help feeling that you would do better to remain at the manor. I’m sure Lord Stoneridge will need your knowledge of the house and the staff.”
    “I would prefer to come with you, my lady. As would Cook and Mrs. Graves.” With a bow he left the room.
    Elinor sighed, tapping her fingers on the blotter. Life at the dower house would be so much pleasanter with the butler, the housekeeper, and the cook who’d served her and the old earl for two decades. But was it fair to the new owner to remove the established staff?
    Her jaw tightened. The new owner was a Gilbraith. She owed him nothing, and the staff who’d been loyal to Kit and his father owed a Gilbraith no loyalty.
    The cook tapped at the door, and Lady Belmont turned her attention to the day’s menus, putting aside the thought that she hadn’t spoken to Theo yet about Stoneridge’s call.
    Theo entered the house just before noon. She was ravenous, having been on horseback since seven, but it was clear to her mother and sisters as she entered the paneled dining room that she was in good humor.
    “There’d better be baked eggs,” she said, sniffing hungrily. “Did you have a good morning … Beaumont had a splendid suggestion for Long Meadow … he thinks we should marl it as Mr. Coke did at Holkham and plant—”
    She stopped, running her eyes around the room. There was tension in every face, except Rosie’s. Rosie was dissecting a chicken wing with the tip of her knife with all the care and attention of a surgeon.
    “What’s happened?”
    “Nothing unexpected, Theo,” Elinor said, helping herself to a slice of ham, her voice level. “Lord Stoneridge is calling this afternoon.”
    “I see.” Theo lifted the lid on the dish of baked eggs and replaced it again. She sat down in her accustomed place and crumbled a piece of bread between finger and thumb, her eyes fixed, unseeing, on the rich patina of the cherrywood table. “Is he evicting us this afternoon?”
    “No, of course not. We must discuss arrangements … there’s much to organize.”
    “And a Gilbraith will, of course, be prepared to conduct these matters in a civilized fashion,” Theo said acidly. “That wasn’t Grandpapa’s opinion.”
    Elinor decided this wasn’t a moment for discussion. She said briskly, “I’ll expect you to be here, Theo.”
    Theo pushed back her chair, all appetite vanished. “Would you excuse me, Mama? I promised to visit the Gardners in the village. Joe’s injured hand isn’t improving, and his wife’s close to her time.”
    “I expect you to be here when Lord Stoneridge calls,Theo,” Elinor repeated calmly, her eyes holding her daughter’s.
    “I understand,” Theo said, tossing her napkin onto the table as she rose to her feet. She left the dining room without another word.
    She could not …
would
not … welcome a Gilbraith. He was going to