The Reckless Love of an Heir: An epic historical romance perfect for fans of period drama Victoria. Jane Lark

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      ~

      “Mama! Mama!”

      Susan looked at her sister as Alethea hurried into the drawing room, waving a letter.

      “He’s here! At Farnborough! Henry is home!” Alethea turned to the footman. “Please have them prepare the carriage.” Then she looked back at their mother. “Mama we must go. If he is in pain…”

      “If he is in pain he deserves to be in pain.” Susan said quietly towards the book which lay open in her lap. She was sensitive of all wounded animals and concerned for those in need, but she did not care for young irresponsible men.

      “Susan.” Alethea scowled at her.

      She had not intended Alethea to hear.

      “How can you be so cruel. It was a terrible accident. He has been injured and you are wishing more harm on him.”

      Susan closed the book and set it aside. “He was in an accident because he was driving his curricle foolishly. He only has himself to blame and it was only his arm that was injured, he is hardly in a state that requires extreme sympathy.” And even if he was worse Susan would not feel in the least sympathetic as he’d brought it upon himself. It was his family who ought to receive sympathy for having such a careless, reckless son who constantly treated their concern with no regard.

      “Then do not come to visit him with me. You may stay here if you intend to be irritable and rude to him. I have not seen him for months. I will not have the moment ruined.”

      Susan did not care. She had no desire to see Henry. In her view he had been a spoilt brat who had grown into a spoilt, insensitive, selfish, careless man. She lifted her eyebrows so they must be arched above the rim of her spectacles, making an I-do-not-care expression at her sister.

      “Mama, you will come with me. I cannot go if you do not. Please?”

      “I cannot. I am busy. You two will have to settle this argument. Susan will have to accompany you. Your father will be returning in an hour and expect me to be here to receive Mr. Dennison.”

      Susan sighed and stood up. She was not to escape Henry’s odious company 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 Alethea had waited so long for it. She was not selfish.

      “He shall 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 and yet at the back of her mind it was a thought she kept in constant hiding. She did not wish to malign her sister and yet the comparison screamed at her at times.

      Alethea stopped at the door and turned back. “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 I do not mind, 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 to drive 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 highway men in the area—”

      Susan picked up the gauntlet and tackled her mother’s fear. “And no one will know we intend to use that very small stretch of rarely travelled road at that hour. I am sure that 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. “There is always an answer from you. 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.

      Susan gave her mother an amused smile, mimicking the humour her mother had spoken with. “I shall go up to my room and fetch my bonnet and cloak.” 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, Henry’s sisters. And Uncle Robert’s huge library, which was three times the size of her father’s was a strong persuader.

      When she walked down the shallow steps to the hall after collecting her things, 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, and yet they were close. But it was just the two of them, they did not have a large family like Henry’s, or his cousins’. Henry and his cousins had the opportunity to choose the brother or sister who most suited them as their closest confidant, she and Alethea had each other and that was all. Susan was happy for it to be so, though, there was a bond between them that might not exist in a large family.

      A footman opened the door. Alethea turned and 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 for a length of time and study them in detail, not rush past. She had often stopped Alethea to point out a beautiful view or a wild flower, a butterfly or a bird in a tree. There were so many things that 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. Alethea’s enthusiasm could not be ignored.

      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 may have changed?” Alethea asked when the door shut.

      The carriage jolted forward into motion and rocked to the side as the footman who had helped them jumped on to 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 СКАЧАТЬ