Page 3 of The Reckless Love of an Heir
Susan sighed and stood up. She was not to escape Henry’s odious presence then. ‘I am willing, if you wish me to join you.’ She was not cruel. She would not deprive her sister of his company when she had waited so long for his return.Shewas not selfish.
‘He will not thank me for bringing you when you are in this mood, but at least then I shall see him. Fetch your bonnet and cloak, I wish to go as soon as we may.’ Having cast her commands, Alethea turned to leave the room.
That Alethea was very well matched to her anticipated fiancé was not something Susan would say aloud. She did not wish to malign her sister and yet the comparison screamed at her at times.
Alethea stopped at the door. ‘Aunt Jane and Uncle Robert will most likely ask us to dine, Mama, and so I doubt we shall return until late. You do not mind?’
‘Of course not, but then you must take two footmen with you as well as the grooms; I will not have you accosted by highwaymen.’
‘We are only travelling to Uncle Robert’s. It is the neighbouring estate. We will hardly be accosted in the four miles along the highway.’
‘But it will be near dark and we know there are highwaymen in the area.’
‘And no one will know we intend to use that very small stretch of rarely travelled road at that hour.’ Susan picked up the gauntlet and tackled her mother’s fear. ‘I am sure highwaymen do not have psychic powers and they would not lay in wait with the potential hope of never seeing a single carriage pass. We will be safe.’
Alethea smiled at Susan, with a look in her eyes that said,thank you, before she left the room.
Susan’s mother shook her head, but her lips twisted in a wry smile. ‘You always seem to have an answer for everything. Your sister should be more grateful.’
Susan did not mean to argue but if there was sense and reason to be spoken or a fact to be taken into account, she would say it, that was all.
She gave her mother an amused smile. ‘I shall go up to my room and fetch my things.’ She bobbed a very quick curtsy before turning to leave, to prepare for their arduous journey of a few moments.
‘Enjoy your day, dear! Give my regards to Jane and Robert!’ her mother called after her.
She did not mind visiting Farnborough really, she liked her aunt and uncle, and Sarah and Christine. And Uncle Robert’s huge library, which was three times the size of her father’s, was a strong persuader.
When she walked back down the shallow steps to the hall, Alethea awaited her.
‘There you are. Hurry!’
Susan smiled. She was as different to her sister as it was possible to be, both in looks and character, yet they were close. Perhaps because she and Alethea only had each other – they did not have a large family like Henry’s, or his cousins’. A child of a large family had the opportunity to choose their closest match from among their brothers and sisters. Yet, the strength of the bond between Susan and Alethea might not exist in a large family. Alathea was her best friend, her confidant and her very dearest, as well as only, sister.
A footman opened the door. Alethea walked out, at her usual hasty pace.
Alethea was forever in a hurry to experience and enjoy every single moment of life. Susan preferred not to hurry, to dwell on things, to look at them slowly and study them in detail, not rush past. She had often stopped Alethea to point out a beautiful view or a wildflower, a butterfly or a bird in a tree. There were so many things Alethea missed.
Susan smiled at the thought as she stepped off the last stair.
Alethea’s nature was not hers, but it was infectious. She did love her sister, no matter that they were so different. It was difficult to ignore Alethea’s enthusiasm.
Susan quickened her pace and hastened out of the door in pursuit.
Alethea was climbing the step into the carriage, her fingers clasping the hand of a footman.
A second footman stood on the plate at the back of the carriage holding the iron bar, and an additional groom sat beside the coachman on the box. Susan’s mother had instigated a larger escort for her precious daughters regardless.
Susan took the footman’s hand, climbed the step into the carriage and sat beside Alethea.
‘Do you think he will have changed?’ Alethea asked when the door shut.
The carriage jolted forward into motion and rocked as the footman who had helped them jumped onto the second perch at the rear.
‘It has been less than a year.’ Yet it had been nearly a year.
‘I know, but he writes of such larks in town, do you think he will think me dull now?’
‘He will not think you dull. No one we know has ever thought you dull.’ No one could accuse Alethea of that, she was constantly in motion or conversing.
