The American Bride - By Karla Darcy Page 0,24

he drew himself up in his saddle.

Julian had not missed the hiss of appreciation from the man beside him as the governess’ slender curves were revealed by the water-soaked material of her dress. He scowled at the man, then shrugged his shoulders as if bowing to the inevitable. His voice which had been teasingly sarcastic was now formal, tinged with ice.

"Your pardon, Miss Farraday. I seem to be forgetting my manners. May I present Richard and Belin's other uncle. This is Sir Edward Tallworth. His sister was the children's mother."

Painfully aware of her drenched state Cara barely managed a graceful curtsy. The children echoed her greeting but she herself refused to look up at either horseman.

"Miss Farraday is the children's governess," Wilton explained. "She was hired to keep the children out of trouble." Then noticing the gleam of appreciation in Edward's eye, he snarled, "Let's be off. We've wasted enough time with these aquatic exercises."

Belin wilted at the sudden desertion of the two men. But it was Richard's stricken expression that dismayed Cara as the boy blinked to keep back the tears. Neither gentleman had addressed the boy and now his face held the shuttered sullen look that Cara had begun to dread.

"Well, my dears, I certainly did land us all in the soup," Cara said. "I don't suppose I look so much like a governess as a drowned rat."

"Did you see Uncle Julian's face when he saw you with water running all down your dress?" Belin chirped.

"I'm very glad I didn't, Belin. I doubt if I made a very good impression on your other uncle either."

"Uncle Edward did look surprised. You do look a proper mess." The irrepressible child laughed; as she looked up at her governess.

"What a monstrous little girl you are." Cara grinned, hugging Belin's wet body.

"I bet he won't bother you like he did our last governess," Belin continued, innocently answering one of the questions Cara had been wanting to ask. "I heard Cook say it was Uncle Edward's fault that Mademoiselle Corday went away so sudden. But I don't know why it was because of Uncle Edward. She was going to get married and get a baby. At least that's what Janey and Agnes said."

"That's enough, Belin," Cara interrupted the busy stream of backstairs gossip. "I don't think it's very ladylike to listen to the servants' chatter."

"If I don't listen then I would never know what is going on," the child answered reasonably, eyes twinkling with mischief.

Richard finished drying himself and stood waiting until Cara finished dressing Belin. Then shoulders stiff, he trudged off in the direction of the Hall. Clutching Belin's hand Cara hurried to catch up with him.

"Well, Richard, I guess there's nothing for it," Cara said. "We'll have to put in an appearance after dinner. We'll get all dressed up and show everyone that we really are three very well behaved people."

"It won't do any good," Richard snapped. "Uncle Julian still won't like me and everyone will stare at Belin's hands," he finished brutally.

"As for Belin, everyone will be so astonished at how clean and pretty she looks they'll forget all about her hands," Cara promised. Then noticing the look of fear on the face of the child she squeezed her hand and smiled to dispel the little girl's trepidation. "They'll all say she's a changed changeling."

Belin giggled and clung a little tighter to Cara's hand.

"Besides, Richard," Cara continued, "I'm sure your Uncle Julian thinks you're a fine young man."

"No! He hates me! He hates me!" shouted Richard, breaking into a run.

Amazed at his outburst, Cara stood still, watching as the sobbing boy disappeared into the Hall. Feeling a tug on her hand she looked down into Belin's serious brown eyes.

"He's right, you know. Uncle Julian does hate him."

"But why, sweetheart?"

"It's because of the horses. Richard was in the carriage when the accident happened to our mother and father. He was asleep and then he bumped his head when the horses bolted and then he woke up and now he won't ride horses anymore and that's why Uncle Julian hates him," Belin finished breathless but triumphant.

"Poor little boy," Cara said under her breath. Anger at Lord Wilton's insensitivity coursed through her body. How could the man be so lacking in compassion? What a despicable creature her husband was.

Handing Belin over to the capable hands of Agnes, Cara continued to her own room. After soaking in a hot bath and changing into a dry set of clothes she felt better although still angry.