Evelyn Richardson Lady Alex's Gamble (pdf)(1)

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gloomy prospect from occurring, but it was his elder
sister, not he, who always came up with the intelligent
ideas.
Having taxed his brain with more philosophical
musings than it was used to. Tony did at last fall
asleep. However, he was up betimes the next morning
and off at the earliest hour he felt he could count on
his sister s being up.
Despite the rigors of the previous evening, Alex had
arisen and was finishing a hearty breakfast which she
had ordered in her bedchamber when Tony arrived.
One look at her brother s beatific countenance and she
was satisfied as to the success of his evening. No need
to ask whether you enjoyed yourself at the Carstairs
ball, she teased.
Tony flushed scarlet. Alex relented and laid a
reassuring hand on his arm. I am delighted that the
young lady is all that you had hoped for. Come, sit
down and tell me all about it while I ring for more
coffee.
Alex could not remember when she had seen her
brother so excited except on his first furlough after
joining his regiment. She was happy for him, but at
the same time could not help feeling the tiniest bit
109
sad or was it lonely she could not be certain. For
Tony, despite his prolonged absences, had been the
closest to her in the family. Oh, Ally was all that was
sweet and loving, but Alex s drive and thirst for
adventure made the more traditional Ally highly
uncomfortable. Tony, on the other hand, had not only
understood, but also had done his level best to give
her what he could, providing her with that sort of com-
panionship when he was at home and sharing it with
her in his letters when he was away.
Now he had found someone that any idiot could
clearly see he wished to make his life s companion,
and it made Alex realize for the first time just exactly
how much he meant to her. Enough of such churlish
thoughts, she chided herself as she settled down in
her chair to listen to the catalog of Lucinda
Addington s many charms.
At last, having praised his lady love sufficiently
enough even for a besotted suitor. Tony paused. But
what of your evening, Alex? How did you fare with
Knightley?
Ah, well you may ask. Alex grinned and proceeded
to regale her brother with her own adventures.
Oh, Alex, I should have been there! Tony
exclaimed, overcome with remorse. I knew you would
come a cropper if I left you to your own devices.
Unable to decide which was worse, allaying her
brother s guilt by reassuring him that his protection
had been unnecessary, or acknowledging that he had
been correct in thinking she needed his escort, thus
making him feel even more remorseful, Alex did her
best to minimize the incidents of the evening. Pooh,
Tony. All s well that ends well. I was never in any real
danger. All the training you have lavished on me in-
sured that. And now Wrotham knows all, for which,
given his very reasonable reaction, I am glad. I did not
like deceiving him.
Alex could not have said exactly why, when she was
so thoroughly enjoying pulling the wool over the rest of
the world s eyes, that she did not relish doing so where
the major was concerned, but Tony, too wrapped up in
an agony of self-reproach at not being there when his
sister needed him, was too preoccupied even to notice
this odd remark.
Chapter 18
110
The appearance of a boy with another pot of coffee
broke the reflective moment that both brother and
sister had fallen into and recalled Tony to the original
purpose of his visit. I say, Alex, it is a lovely morning
and I thought we might go for a ride in the park before
it becomes crowded. It will clear the cobwebs from our
brains.
And we can see who else might be there, his sister
amended slyly.
Now, Alex Tony laughed, his tanned cheeks
flushing I was merely thinking of the exercise.
Besides, after being out so late last night. Miss
Addington will undoubtedly need to recover.
This pronouncement did not, of course, keep him
from looking hopefully around the minute they entered
the park, but his assessment was correct. There were
just a few military men, one of whom looked vaguely
familiar, exercising their mounts.
Alex was surprised at how easily she spied him, but
somehow, even at a distance and surrounded by fellow
officers, the broad shoulders and erect posture of Lord
Wrotham were distinctive. Oh look, there is Chri ... er.
Lord Wrotham.
Squinting against the morning sun. Tony surveyed
the group of riders. Eh? Where? I don t see him, he
remarked, making Alex realize that this sensitivity to
the major s presence was only confined to certain
interested parties. It was Alex s turn to blush, which
was most odd, because she hardly ever blushed.
Perhaps the warmth she felt spreading over her face
was merely from the sun that was just appearing over
the tree-tops.
By Jove, so it is Wrotham, Tony remarked as the
group of riders approached.
By now they were close enough for the major to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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