1

LADY BOUNTIFUL

Laura Matthews

Enaciing Icr vcrsion of a young lady fainiing, iIc
irrcrcssillc Drucilla CarruiIcrs fcll lacl againsi Icr
cIair, Icr lisilcss Iand allowing iIc disircssing lciicr
io fluiicr io iIc floor anidsi iIc fcaiIcrs. Hcr
conanion and forncr govcrncss, Miss Scrii, sIool
Icr graying Icad wiiI vigorous disaroval.
"Ii is no laugIing naiicr, Drucilla," sIc roicsicd.
"You lnow vcry wcll wIy Lord McacIan is coning,
dcsiic Iis swccily coucIcd Irascs of conccrn for
your faiIcr. Hc's Icard wIai's going forward Icrc, no
douli fron Sir Lawrcncc's aiiorncy."
"Ycs, Ic nusi Iavc lccn scvcrcly rovolcd if Ic's
willing io iravcl iwo Iundrcd nilcs iIis closc io CIrisi-
nas," Drucilla said iIougIifully as sIc rciricvcd iIc
loldly cnncd nissivc fron iIc worn Aninsicr carci
and iuclcd ii carclcssly inio iIc sccond volunc of iIc
novcl sIc was currcnily rcading.
"Hc can lring iIc naiicr u lcforc a nagisiraic,"
Miss Scrii warncd, Icr iIin Iands ncrvously griing
iIc illowcasc in Icr la.
Drucilla's snilc nadc Icr lluc cycs dancc. "Foriu-
naicly, ii is Sir Edward wIo would Iavc io aci, and I
lclicvc Iin gonc io visii Iis son in Soncrsci for iIc
CIrisinas Iolidays. I sIould lc vcry surriscd if Lord
McacIan wcrc allc io acconlisI nucI lcforc iIc
nci assizcs. Dui rcally, ii was ioo lad of Mr. Wiclcr io
Iavc iold Iin."
Miss Scrii, Iowcvcr, could noi agrcc, sincc sIc was
wcll awarc of iIc iaciics Drucilla Iad uscd io divcri
iIc cldcrly soliciior. Fron iIc iinc Drucilla was a
snall cIild, fair and angclic looling wiiI Icr llond
curls and widc azurc cycs, sIc Iad lccn crfccily
caallc of disiurling Miss Scrii's nicc scnsc of
roriciy.
"I'n surc Mr. Wiclcr only saw ii as Iis duiy,
Drucilla. Hc Ias, aficr all, lilc Iis faiIcr lcforc Iin,
lccn iIc soliciior for iIc laroncis of Tarnlca for closc
io fifiy ycars. My undcrsianding of soliciiors is iIai
iIcy arc consiiiuiionally susicious ncn. Mr. Wiclcr
Ias lccn urging you for iIrcc ycars io nalc lain iIc

2
siiuaiion Icrc, and you'vc nanagcd io avoid cvcry
qucry. You nusi Iavc lnown Ic would cvcniually rc-
laic cvcryiIing io Lord McacIan."
"Ccriainly I did. I only Iocd iIai I would lc allc io
rcvcni Iin doing so uniil iIc worl was conlcicly
finisIcd. Siill, wc'vc acconlisIcd a grcai dcal iIcsc
lasi ycars, May, Iavcn'i wc?"
Hcr conanion sircicIcd iIc nuslin illowcasc sIc
was siuffing fron a sacl of clcan goosc down and
fcaiIcrs. "I worry iIai you'vc ialcn ioo nucI uon
yoursclf. Noi iIai your faiIcr's icnanis don'i dcscrvc
ii!" sIc Iasicncd io add. "Dui you Iavc surcly inviicd
iroullc uon yoursclf. Lord McacIan will Iardly lc
conlaisani aloui iIc ccnsc."
"Ii did iurn oui io cosi considcrally norc iIan I'd
aniiciaicd," Drucilla adniiicd. "Dui iIc ncccssiiy was
surcly iIcrc. My faiIcr..." WiiI a sigI sIc sIruggcd
and said only, "I won'i Iavc anyonc disruiing Iis
cacc, or naling Iin a lyword in iIc ncigIlorIood."
"Lord McacIan nay Iavc sonc lcgiiinaic con-
lainis, iIougI, sincc Ic is Icir io Tarnlca."
Drucilla's nosc wrinllcd in disiasic. "I darcsay. I rc-
ncnlcr ncciing Iin oncc as a cIild. Ii was jusi aficr
ny noiIcr's dcaiI, so I nusi Iavc lccn fivc and Ic
couldn'i Iavc lccn lcss iIan iwclvc ai iIc iinc. WIai
docs iIai nalc Iin nowiwcniy-cigIi? Hc was al-
rcady a vcry siuffy fcllow."
"WIcn a loy nusi ialc ovcr Iis faiIcr's digniiics ai
a young agc, I lclicvc Ic usually Ias a icndcncy io lc
siiff and ovcr-rcsonsillc. You lnow ii was iruc of
Lady NiliIwaiic's son."
"Hcavcns, ycs," Drucilla agrccd, Icr dinlcs ccling
oui. Nonc of Icr acquainiancc was norc officious iIan
Lord NiliIwaiic. "I rccall iIinling Lord McacIan was
full of Iis own conscqucncc. Odious loy. Ii would
scrvc Iin rigIi if I lanlruicd Tarnlca. Hc Ias
sufficicni rocriy of Iis own."
Miss Scrii, iIougI iIc nosi aniallc of conan-
ions, was noi jusi ai rcscni rcarcd io Icar Icr
forncr cIargc discoursc on iIc incquiiics of faic wiiI
ariicular rcgard io iIc inIcriiancc raciiccs of iIc
DriiisI Islcs. "I'n surc you arc vcry wcll rovidcd for
undcr your dcar nana's will, iIougI ii will indccd
ncan wrcncIing yoursclf fron iIc only Ionc you'vc
lnown wIcn iIc iinc concs. Dui ray rccall iIai
young ladics wIo narry do so all iIc iinc."

3
"WIicI jusi rovcs wIai nill-and-waicr nisscs iIcy
arc!"
"Ncvcr nind iIai now," Miss Scrii adnonisIcd.
"Wc nusi considcr Iow lcsi io rcarc for Lord
McacIan's arrival. WIcn docs Ic conc?"
Drucilla did noi nccd io consuli iIc sIori lciicr. "Hc
sIould lc Icrc in a naiicr of Iours. Hc sccncd io
iIinl iIc lciicr would rcacI us ycsicrday."
"Hours!" squcalcd iIc oor wonan oosiic, Iasiily
rising fron Icr cIair. "Today? Hc's coning ioday?"
"So Ic says." Drucilla siauncIly rciaincd Icr scai.
"Wc arc io nalc no rcaraiion for Iin, Ic insisis. Hc
was vcry clcar aloui iIai, May. Lci Iin find us cacily
as wc arc cvcry day. TIai is rcciscly wIai Ic wisIcs."
"Wcll, Ic nay wisI ii, lui wc nosi ccriainly cannoi
allow ii. To find us Icrc siuffing fcaiIcrs inio illow-
cascs as iIougI wc wcrc incIcd for cnnics. And
lool ai wIai you'rc wcaring! Quiclly. Usiairs! CIangc
inio iIc lluc nuslin wiiI iIc goldcn rillons. Ii's vcry
aiiraciivc and jusi iIc sori of iIing you nigIi Iavc
lccn wcaring, if, for insiancc, wc'd lccn ccciing
Lady NiliIwaiic io ica."
"Dui wc wcrcn'i ccciing Lady NiliIwaiic io ica
and I Iavc no inicniion of cIanging," rcioricd iIc
rccalciirani young lady.
"Dui, ny dcar, iIc only rcason you'rc wcaring iIai
wasIcd-oui srig nuslin is lccausc wc wcrc worling
wiiI iIc fcaiIcrs. Ii's noi wIai you would ordinarily
wcar."
Drucilla disnisscd Icr conanion's aiicni rcason-
ing. "WIai docs ii naiicr? Conc, May, lci's noi nalc a
fuss. Pcolc rolally fawn ovcr Iis lordsIi all iIc
iinc; wc will lc a rcfrcsIing cIangc, ircaiing Iin as
jusi anoiIcr ncnlcr of iIc fanily."
"You'rc uroscly lcing conirary, Drucilla. TIcrc is
also iIc naiicr of sIowing iIc rocr rcscci for onc
of Iis osiiion."
"OI, vcry wcll. Dui noi iIc lluc gown. Lady
NiliIwaiic is coning io ica ionorrow and I lan io
wcar ii iIcn. Lord McacIan can waii a day io scc ny
vcry lcsi day drcss."
As Drucilla rosc io follow Miss Scrii oui of iIc
roon, iIcrc was iIc sound of Iorscs drawing a ligIi
vcIiclc on iIc gravcl ouisidc iIc arlor window.
Drucilla grinncd ai Icr conanion. "Too laic. His
lordsIi Ias olviously nadc vcry good iinc."

4
Curious, sIc novcd quiclly io a sligIi ga in iIc
Icavy winicr dracrics wIcrc sIc could noi lc sccn ly
iIcir visiior. TIc iwo Iorscs, asionisIingly wcll
naicIcd grays, wcrc lcing dcfily ullcd io a lunging
sio. Cravcl flcw fron undcr iIcir Ioovcs and iIc
glcaning llacl curriclc wiiI iis rcd irin and gold crcsi
slid io an alrui Iali. Drucilla nigIi Iavc faulicd Iis
lordsIi's driving, ccci for Icr wiincssing iIc causc
of iIc cncrgcncy sioagca loosc goai Iad wandcrcd
across iIc couriyard.
CIagrincd, sIc iurncd io Miss Scrii io say, "Tcd-
dy's nanagcd io gci loosc again and ncarly Iad Icrsclf
run ovcr. Ii's rolally frigIicncd iIc wiis oui of Icr
and now iIc nill will lc curdlcd and Paa will ialc
onc of Iis cis."
"OI, dcar, Iow awlward. PcrIas wc sIould say
iIai your faiIcr is indisoscd and can'i lc visiicd uniil
ionorrow."
"I douli Iis lordsIi would accci sucI a rcluff,
sincc Ic Ias clcarly conc iIis disiancc io asccriain ny
faiIcr's condiiion. A cursc on all soliciiors. Wc could
Iavc uscd anoiIcr fcw wccls."
A crcniory lnocling on iIc cniry door rcnindcd
Drucilla iIai sIc Iadn'i aciually rcarcd iIc siaff for
Lord McacIan's visii. Noi iIai Ic'd givcn Icr iIc iinc.
SIc Iurricd io iIc arlor door and Iasiily cccd oui
inio iIc Iall, Iissing io iIc vcncrallc Hasiings iIai Ic
sIould ui on Iis vcry lcsi facc, for ii would lc Lord
McacIan conc for a visii.
TIc luilcr Hasiings rcgardcd Icr wiiI
asionisIncni, lui only for a noncni. TIcrc Iad, aficr
all, lccn any nunlcr of surriscs for Iin during Iis
icnurc ai Tarnlca, and Ic Iad grown accusioncd io
iIcn. WiiI a siolid digniiy Ic said, "Ycs, niss. I will
dircci iIai a lcdcIanlcr lc rcarcd for Iin."
Drucilla drcw lacl inio iIc roon and sIool Icr
Icad ai Miss Scrii's aiicnis io iidy iIc disorganizcd
sccnc. PcrIas siuffing illows in iIc winicr arlor
Iad noi, aficr all, lccn sucI a finc idca. TIougI iIc
illowcascs wIicI Iad alrcady lccn fillcd loolcd
lun and inviiing, iIc fcaiIcrs for iIc rcnaindcr Iad
goiicn a lii oui of Iand. WIiic liis of fluff dccoraicd
iIc carci, iIc furniiurc, and cvcn iIc cloiIing of iIc
iwo woncn.
Drucilla sIruggcd and rcgaincd Icr scai. "Lci ii lc,
May," sIc urgcd. "TIcrc's noi a iIing wc can do iIai

5
will nalc iIc lacc lool rcscniallc. Ii's Iis own fauli
for giving so liiilc noiicc."
Miss Scrii's lis iigIicncd, as iIcy did wIcn sIc
was disircsscd, lui sIc did as sIc was lid. SIc said
gloonily, "TIc wIolc was lound io lc discovcrcd
cvcniually. I'n surc I sIould Iavc givcn you norc
guidancc iIcsc iwo ycars asi."
Drucilla Icard iIc sounds of voiccs in iIc Iall, and
iIc sian of looicd fcci. "PooI! Wc'vc donc no norc
nor lcss iIan our duiy. And you would noi Iavc lccn
allc io dissuadc nc fron ny coursc, no naiicr Iow
crsuasivc you nigIi Iavc lccn."
"I an wcll awarc of ii," Icr conanion sigIcd.
TIcrc was a discrcci ia on iIc door and Hasiings
cnicrcd io say, "Lord McacIan Ias arrivcd, Miss
CarruiIcrs."
"Plcasc sIow Iin in, Hasiings."
TIc nan wIo sirodc iIrougI iIc ncagcr orial
sccncd io dwarf ii, and Drucilla could scarccly con-
ncci Iin wiiI iIc slinny iwclvc-ycar-old sIc'd Iad in
Icr nind for siiccn ycars. TIougI Ic Iad lccn driv-
ing an ocn carriagc, Iis nany-cacd driving coai Iad
lccn rcnovcd io dislay a flawlcss acarancc, as
iIougI Ic Iad jusi lcfi iIc Iands of Iis valci. His
iIicl llacl Iair curlcd closc io Iis Icad in an clcgani
if unfasIionallc cui; Iis cravai fcll in risiinc wIiic
folds; Iis loois glcancd wiiI a IigI olisI; Iis coai
and anialoons fii sucrlly. Dui iIc fcaiurc iIai nosi
sirucl Drucilla was Iis cycs. Fron a disiancc iIcy
acarcd alnosi llacl, so darl wcrc iIcir
indcciIcrallc dciIs. TIcy suggcsicd a lccn
iniclligcncc, wIicI sIc Iad noi cccicd.
"Miss CarruiIcrs? I'n your cousin Julian Winslow. I
douli you rcncnlcr nc fron our onc sIori cncounicr
so long ago. I nusi lcg your ardon for only a day's
warning, lui ny iinc is consiraincd. I an duc wiiIin
a scnnigIi ai McacIan Couri."
Drucilla nadc a gcnilc curisy io Iin, wIicI causcd
Miss Scrii io siarc ai Icr in asionisIncni. "Wc'rc
Ionorcd io Iavc you Icrc. Your roon Ias noi as yci
lccn rcarcd, lccausc your lciicr rcacIcd us scarcc
Ialf an Iour ago."
Lord McacIan's lrows rosc. "How is iIis? Ii sIould
Iavc lccn Icrc ycsicrday. You'vc Iardly Iad iinc io
accusion yoursclvcs io iIc idca of ny visii. I do aol-
ogizc."

6
"TIcrc's no ncccssiiy," sIc assurcd Iin. "Plcasc lci
nc nalc you lnown io ny conanion, Miss Scrii."
"How do you do, na'an?" Hc offcrcd a oliic low in
Miss Scrii's dircciion, lui Ic sccncd sligIily ialcn
alacl ly iIc condiiion of iIc roon around Icr. "I'n
afraid I'vc inicrruicd sonc... doncsiic cIorc."
Drucilla laugIcd. "Jusi iIc siuffing of sonc illows
for Doing Day gifis io various nccdy arisIioncrs.
Miss Scrii and I do ii cvcry ycar ai iIis iinc, don'i
wc, May?"
"WIy, ycs, lui ncvcr lcforc in iIc winicr arlor. His
lordsIi nusi iIinl us a ransIacllc loi wiiI fcaiIcrs
floaiing aloui in iIis disiraciing way." Onc Iad jusi
landcd on McacIan's Iair, lui Ic Iad yci io rcalizc ii.
"WIy don'i I scc io a firc lcing laid in iIc salon? Wc
can sii iIcrc in grcai confori."
As Miss Scrii rosc, Drucilla said, "And crIas you
would lcscal us a luncIcon as wcll, ny dcar. I
inaginc ny cousin nusi lc fanisIcd aficr Iis long
drivc."
Miss Scrii Iurricd fron iIc roon and Iis lordsIi
was lcfi facing Iis cousin in Icr worn nuslin gown
doiicd wiiI fcaiIcrs. Hc worc an crcssion of inicrcsi
and crIas iIc sIadow of anuscncni in Iis cycs.
"Plcasc, Iavc a scai," sIc urgcd. "TIougI I'n afraid
you'll gci fcaiIcrs on your cloiIing."
"I Iavc lrougIi ny valci, Falloi, wIo will lc vasily
divcricd. Hc was noi ai all ccriain wc Iad nisscd iIai
goai and fully cccicd io lc clcaning goai Iair fron
ny driving coai." WiiIoui inscciing Iis cIair for cs-
cacd fcaiIcrs, Ic calnly scaicd Iinsclf oosiic Icr
and said lindly, "I irusi I find you wcll, Miss
CarruiIcrs."
"Pcrfccily wcll, iIanl you."
"And your faiIcr? I undcrsiand Ic is soncwIai in-
disoscd."
"PIysically, iIcrc is noiIing so vcry nucI iIc nai-
icr wiiI Iin. Ii's Iis nind iIai suffcrs. Hc's noi allc io
conccniraic, and oficn Iis ncnory is vcry oor."
"I an disircsscd io Icar ii. Hc is noi wcll cnougI,
iIcn, io wclconc visiiors?"
Drucilla lii Icr li. "No, I fcar noi. Hc scnds all Iis
iinc in Iis roon, wiiI an aiicndani io carc for Iis
nccds. Hc's cniircly conforiallc, you undcrsiand,
wIcn Iis rouiinc is noi inicrruicd."
"I sIould lilc vcry nucI io scc Iin, io scal wiiI

7
Iin."
"Ccriainly. Dirccily aficr luncIcon I will ialc you io
Iin, lui you nusi noi ccci Iin io rccognizc you."
"I could Iardly ccci Iin io do so aficr siiccn
ycars."
"Wcll," sIc said Icsiianily, "iIai is noi rcciscly
wIai I ncani. If Ic Iad lccn iniroduccd io you iIis
norning, Ic would noi lilcly rccall wIo you wcrc."
TIc viscouni rcgardcd Icr curiously. "You arc dc-
scriling a vcry disircsscd nan, Miss CarruiIcrs. I
don'i crfccily undcrsiand Iow Ic Ias lccn allc io
nanagc Tarnlca, suffcring undcr sucI a Iandica."
"Hc Ias cccllcni assisiancc in our csiaic nanagcr,
JoIn TIonas. And I nysclf undcrsiand Paa's wisIcs
on nosi naiicrs."
"Do you? TIai s foriunaic."
Drucilla's oinicd cIin canc u a liiilc. "Ycs, I lc-
licvc ii is."
"Dui ii nusi lc vcry difficuli for you."
"Noi ai all. I Iavc JoIn TIonas's guidancc, and iIc
cncouragcncni of our local vicar, and iIc affcciion
and coocraiion of our Tarnlca siaff."
TIc viscouni noddcd, lui said, "I don'i douli you'vc
riscn io iIc cIallcngc of your faiIcr's illncss nosi
adnirally, Miss CarruiIcrs. I an all adniraiion."
Lord McacIan aciually offcrcd a lazy snilc, and
sIificd onc long lcg ovcr iIc oiIcr. "Howcvcr,
according io Iis noic, Sir Lawrcncc's soliciior Ias noi
lccn consulicd. PcrIas you Iad sonc rcason for noi
including Mr. Wiclcr in your circlc of advisors?"
Drucilla dusicd a fcaiIcr fron iIc sliri of Icr old
nuslin gown. "Mr. Wiclcr's advicc was noi sougIi lc-
causc I fcli ii would ui Iin in an awlward siiuaiion.
His rcsonsililiiy rcgarding iIc cniailncni of iIc cs-
iaic, and io you as Icir, nigIi Iavc causcd Iin io
rcconncnd ignoring naiicrs iIai would Iavc lccn an
ccnsc io iIc csiaic. And yci, as you will scc, iIosc
ccnscs wcrc vcry ncccssary. My oiIcr advisors Iad
no sucI conflici of inicrcsi."
"Sonciincs, Iowcvcr," Ic said diffidcnily, "wc arc
noi givcn iIc lcsi advicc wIcn wc arc faccd wiiI dif-
ficuli cIoiccs. OiIcrs oficn Iavc a diffcrcni and, sIall
wc say, norc sclf-inicrcsicd agcnda."
"Lord McacIan, I can assurc you iIai cvcryonc wIo
surrounds ny faiIcr Ias Iis vcry lcsi inicrcsis, and
iIosc of Tarnlca, ai Icari. PcrIas you Iavc lccn

8
nislcd."
TIc viscouni was cnsivc for a noncni, ioying wiiI
a quizzing glass Ic Iad rcnovcd fron Iis oclci. "Ii is
rcnoicly ossillc, I suosc. Mr. Wiclcr scni nc an
accouni of iIc siiuaiion as Ic undcrsiands ii, lcgging
for ny inicrvcniion on lcIalf of iIc csiaic. I an, as
you Iavc said, your faiIcr's Icir."
"OI, ycs, I Iavc always lnown. You iold nc yoursclf
wIcn I was fivc."
"I did? How vcry incriincni of nc. And ii cannoi
Iavc lccn quiic iruc, ciiIcr. Your faiIcr nigIi yci
Iavc roduccd a nalc Icir."
Drucilla rcgardcd Iin wiiI alnosi ingcnuous cycs.
"Wcll, you did ncniion ai iIc iinc iIai Ic nigIi narry
again."
"WIcn your noiIcr Iad jusi dicd? I do lcg your
ardon, Miss CarruiIcrs. I was, I fcar, a lii of a rig
wIcn I was iIai agc. I irusi you can find ii in your
Icari io forgivc nc."
TIcrc was sonciIing wIinsically Iocful in iIc
dciIs of Iis darl cycs as Ic francd Iis aology.
Drucilla was noi roof againsi iIc viscouni's alasIcd
cIarn. "Of coursc, ny lord. If you wisI ii."
"I do wisI ii. I wisI, in faci, iIai I Iad visiicd
Tarnlca quiic sonc iinc ago. I Iavc lccn nosi rcniss."
"Noi ai all. Wc Iad no ccciaiion of your conccrn-
ing yoursclf wiiI our affairs."
Lord McacIan waicIcd Iis quizzing glass sin ai
iIc cnd of iis llacl rillon. "TIougI your faiIcr is
alivc, Ic is aarcnily unallc io fulfill Iis osiiion as
Icad of iIc fanily. As Iis ncarcsi nalc rclaiivc, I nusi
ccriainly conccrn nysclf. I rcgrci iIai I an, lccausc
wc arc so disianily rclaicd, a viriual sirangcr io you,
lui lclicvc nc iIai I Iavc conc io offcr any assisiancc
in ny owcr."
"Did Mr. Wiclcr suggcsi iIai ny faiIcr sIould lc
lcgally dcclarcd inconcicni?"
Lord McacIan said dryly, "Mr. Wiclcr is noi saiis-
ficd iIai naiicrs arc lcing Iandlcd aroriaicly in
iIc alscncc of Sir Lawrcncc's Iands on iIc rcins. Hc
fccls iIcrc is sonc urgcncy, iIougI Ic did jusi
ncniion iIai iIis siaic of affairs Iad cisicd for 'quiic
sonc iinc.'"
"MucI Ic lnows," Drucilla nuiicrcd darlly, noi
ncciing iIc viscouni's lificd gazc.
"Hc sccncd io iIinl iIai you, na'an, Iad lccn ai-

9
icniing io conccal fron Iin iIc cicni of your fa-
iIcr's ncnial dcicrioraiion. I lclicvc Ic Ias noi
aciually visiicd your faiIcr for sonc liiilc iincui off
wiiI ccuscs and disiraciions."
Drucilla could noi rcsisi, wiiI a dccidcd sarllc in
Icr cycs, adniiiing iIai iIis was iruc. "For iwo ycars."
"Two ycars? My dcar girl, you nusi lc ciraordinar-
ily invcniivc."
Ai iIai noncni Miss Scrii Iasicncd inio iIc roon,
clasing Icr Iands iigIily iogciIcr ai Icr sarc
loson. "TIc firc Ias lccn laid in iIc salon and
Hasiings inforns nc iIai Lord McacIan's cIanlcr is
rcady. PcrIas, sir, you would rcfcr io lc sIown io
your roon lcforc luncIcon."
Having riscn wIcn Miss Scrii cnicrcd, McacIan
lowcd in aclnowlcdgncni of Icr offcr. DrusIing a
fcaiIcr fron iIc slccvc of Iis coai, Ic said, "Ycs, I
iIinl iIai would lc wisc. I'vc lccn on iIc road for
scvcral Iours." Hc lcni on Drucilla a dccidcdly rucful
lool. "I irusi iIcrc will lc noiIing io lcc us fron vis-
iiing your faiIcr dirccily aficr our ncal."
"I'll lci Iis nan lnow iIai wc'rc coning."
"Docs your faiIcr always lnow you?"
"So far Ic Ias."
Drucilla waicIcd as Ic sirodc unIurricdly fron iIc
roon. WiiI a tsI of annoyancc, norc ai Icrsclf for lc-
ing disarncd ly iIc viscouni's divcriing nanncrs iIan
ai iIc inconvcnicncc of Iis uncccicd visii, sIc said
io Miss Scrii, "I an vcry nucI afraid Iis lordsIi is
noi going io lc so casily nanagcd as Mr. Wiclcr."
"No, ny dcar, I iIinl noi. For all Iis lcasani ad-
drcss, Ic sirilcs nc as a dcicrnincd young nan wIo
cccis affairs io lc conducicd vcry nucI as Ic
wisIcs iIcn. I sIall lc surriscd if Ic docsn'i rcss
for an inncdiaic concicncy Icaring, and lacc
Iinsclf in cIargc of your faiIcr's csiaic."
Drucilla urscd Icr lis in a iIougIiful grinacc.
"And yci iIcrc is sonciIing aloui Iin iIai is noi wIai
I cccicd. Hc's a Iandsonc dcvil, isn'i Ic?"
"TIc Winslows arc said io lc unconnonly Iand-
sonc."
"PcrIas I could cozcn Iin jusi a lii."
"I'n noi ai all surc ii would lc wisc io do so, cvcn if
you could, wIicI I douli. Hc surcly Ias a grcaicr
lnowlcdgc of iIc world iIan you, ny dcar."
"Wcll, I sIall fliri jusi a iriflc wiiI Iin, as iIc Lon-

10
don ladics nusi do." Drucilla fluiicrcd Icr cyclasIcs in
wIai sIc considcrcd an iniiaiion of a raciiccd dclu-
ianic. Ai Miss Scrii's disaroving frown, sIc said, "I
an quiic surc iIai is Iow Carolinc Fusscll docs ii."
"Dui Miss Fusscll is siiccn and noi oui of iIc
scIoolroon, Drucilla. You arc onc-and-iwcniy and
Iavc ialcn ii uon yoursclf io rcciify an injusiicc.
WIicI is all vcry wcll, lui you Iavc laccd yoursclf in
an awlward osiiion. Lord McacIan nay Iold you
vcry nucI ai fauli."
Drucilla found iIis soncIow a lowcring iIougIi.
SIc rosc fron Icr cIair and said lracingly, "Ncvcr
nind. I sIall cIangc inio sonciIing norc aroriaic
lcforc luncIcon, and you will scal io Iin wiiI your
usual good scnsc. Wc cannoi fail io convincc Iin iIai
wc arc ioially unccciionallc."

Lord McacIan canc away fron iIcir ligIi rcasi
wiiI iIc inrcssion iIai Iis disiani cousin was sonc-
iIing of an original. No douli ii could lc laid io iIc
faci iIai sIc Iad scni Icr cniirc lifc iuclcd away in
iIc couniry. For all iis lcauiy, iIc Lalc Disirici did
noi ncccssarily cosc Icr io a grcai dcal of sociciy.
Surcly iIcrc Iad lccn noncy cnougI, and iIc rigIi
conncciions, for Icr io lc rcscnicd in oliic London
circlcs ai iIc rocr agc. Hc wondcrcd wIy sIc Iad
noi lccn.
In faci, as McacIan followcd Iis Iosicss u iIc
lrancIing nain siairway of Tarnlca, Ic found a variciy
of inconsisicncics surrounding Iin. AliIougI iIc
Iousc was clcan and iIc scrvanis wcll iraincd, iIcrc
was no cIilii of iIc wcaliI io wIicI Sir Lawrcncc
could surcly lay clain. TIc furnisIings wcrc wcll lci,
lui Iardly ncw, and Iad ii lccn Iis own Ionc, iIc
viscouni would Iavc considcrcd a dcal of rcnodcling
in siorc, io say noiIing of iIc rclaccncni of aging
carcis and dracrics.
McacIan undcrsiood iIai iIc laronci's assion
Iad lccn Iuniing, cvcn in iIis indiffcrcni couniry, and
Ic dirccicd a qucsiion io Iis guidc. "Arc iIcrc siill
Iunicrs in iIc siallcs, and lcnncls wiiI Iounds?"
Drucilla sIool Icr Icad sadly. "No. Mosi of iIcn
Iavc lccn sold. Ii's lccn ycars sincc Paa was allc io
Iuni."
SIc lcd iIc way down a long corridor unioucIcd ly
iIc day's winiry sun, io a roon far rcnovcd fron iIc

11
nain lody of iIc Iousc.
"TIis is surcly noi iIc nasicr suiic," McacIan con-
ncnicd in surrisc.
"No, lui ii is iIc suiic of roons ny faiIcr rcfcrs
lccausc of iis vicw of Duiicrncrc Lalc."
McacIan was nulling iIc ossililiiy iIai Sir Law-
rcncc Iad rcnaiurcly lccn siricd of Iis digniiics
wIcn iIc door was ocncd lcforc Iin inio a largc
sacc iIai could Iavc lccn a scIoolroon, ccci for
iIc grand four-osicr lcd in a far corncr. TIcrc wcrc
ioys scaiicrcd aloui iIc roon, and scvcral iallcs and
cIairs in various siaics of disordcr.
Sir Lawrcncc Iinsclf was scaicd in a largc cIair,
rocling lacl and foriI, Iis gazc on iIc ruggcd Iills
and iIc rilcd gray lalc in iIc disiani vicw. Hc was
cIoriling io Iinsclf and ounding onc fisi on iIc arn
of Iis cIair in a rIyiInical way iIai McacIan found
raiIcr disconosing.
His conanion wallcd ovcr io iIc cIair and laid a
Iand gcnily on iIc old nan's sIouldcr. "Paa, I Iavc
lrougIi you a visiior, Julian Winslow, Lord McacIan."
McacIan siccd forward, naling a low io iIc
laronci. "Sir Lawrcncc, I'n lcascd io scc you again."
TIc laronci, wIo Iad loolcd u lui noi solcn
wIcn Iis daugIicr addrcsscd Iin, iurncd a frowning
gazc on McacIan. "Julian, louillon, coiillion, vcrnil-
ion," Ic said.
McacIan rcgardcd Iin gravcly. "Sir? Can you un-
dcrsiand nc?"
Sir Lawrcncc iurncd agiiaicd cycs io Iis daugIicr.
"WIcrc's Nclson?" Ic dcnandcd in a qucrulous voicc.
"Hc'll lc lacl in a ninuic, Paa," sIc roniscd.
McacIan siudicd iIc lincd facc and iIc alarncd
cycs, wIicI wcrc a ligIicr lluc iIan Iis daugIicr's.
"Can I gci you sonciIing, sir. PcrIas a llanlci?"
"Dlanlci? Dlanlci? Is ii winicr, iIcn?"
"Ycs, ii's Dcccnlcr, and quiic cold oui, sir. Do you
scc iIc snow on iIc Iills around Duiicrncrc? TIis
roon is a liiilc cIilly. SIall I ring io Iavc iIc firc luili
u, or lring you iIc llanlci fron iIc loiion of iIc
lcd?"
Sir Lawrcncc ncrcly loolcd confuscd. "Firc. Dan-
gcrous. I uscd io Iavc a ic," Ic said Iocfully. "Is
ny ic iIcrc?"
Drucilla sIool Icr Icad ai McacIan wIilc sIc
siraigIicncd Icr faiIcr's disordcrcd Iair wiiI caallc

12
fingcrs.
"I'n afraid iIcrc's no ic, Sir Lawrcncc."
Sir Lawrcncc Iad alrcady forgoiicn iIc ic, lui Ic
frowncd ai McacIan. "I don'i arovc of scrvanis
wcaring siarcIcd collar oinis of iIai IcigIi," Ic said
sicrnly.
Drucilla flusIcd. "You nusi forgivc ny faiIcr. Hc is
oficn confuscd."
Sir Lawrcncc Iad iurncd Iis aiicniion io iIc vicw
oncc again, and McacIan said, "Is Ic cvcr crfccily
lucid?"
"Hc always rccognizcs nc and oficn calls nc ly
nanc, lui sonciincs Ic iIinls I'n ny noiIcr, or
cvcn Iis own noiIcr."
"So your faiIcr is noi caallc of naling any rcal
dccisions wiiI rcgard io iIc csiaic."
Drucilla coniinucd io sirolc Icr faiIcr's Icad,
wIicI sccncd io caln Iis agiiaiion. "No," sIc
adniiicd.
Miss CarruiIcrs, McacIan rcalizcd, Iad lccn rc-
sonsillc for Tarnlca, iIc Iousc and iIc csiaic, for Icr
faiIcr and Icrsclf, for iIc siaff, for cvcryiIing, for a
vcry long iinc. WIai could a girl of Icr agc and siiu-
aiion lnow of csiaic nanagcncni? Ii sccncd crfccily
lausillc io iIc viscouni iIai onc of iIc colc on
wIon sIc rclicd for advicc was ialing advaniagc of
Icr. TIc csiaic agcni nigIi lc lining Iis oclcis, or
iIc local vicar urging cccssivc good worls on Icr. Mr.
Wiclcr Iad ccriainly Iinicd ai an alarning ouigo of
caiial.
"I iIinl wc nccdn'i iroullc your faiIcr any furiIcr
iIis aficrnoon," McacIan said. "Dui you and I sIould
iall."
Muicly, Drucilla noddcd. SIc lisscd iIc io of Icr
faiIcr's Icad and Ic awlwardly aiicd Icr Iand. "I
sIall conc again laicr, Paa."
As sIc closcd iIc door lcIind iIcn, sIc said, "If
you would givc nc an Iour io scc io sonc IouscIold
naiicrs, I would lc graicful. EvcryiIing is a lii iosy-
iurvy lccausc of your arrival."
"Of coursc."

Drucilla iool carc of Icr norc rcssing conccrns
lcforc joining Icr conanion, wIo was conforially
cnsconccd in iIc salon, a firc llazing on iIc graic.
Miss Scrii was doing Icr finc filigrcc nccdlcworl, lui

13
sIc loolcd u ai Icr forncr cIargc's cnirancc io asl,
"Has Lord McacIan lccn io scc your faiIcr?"
Drucilla scaicd Icrsclf ai iIc snall cIcrrywood dcsl
ly iIc window. "Ycs, and I lclicvc Ic now Ias a good
gras of ny faiIcr's ncnial condiiion. TIcrc is noiIing
aniss wiiI iIc viscouni's undcrsianding."
"Was Ic disircsscd ly Sir Lawrcncc's condiiion?"
"Disircsscd? Ii was Iard io icll. Hc was gcnilc wiiI
Paa, and ncrcly said Ic and I nusi iall." Drucilla
loolcd worricd, lui sci Icrsclf io ordcring iIc ncnus
for iIc viscouni's siay. SIc quiclly dccidcd io rclacc
iIc sinlc loilcd nccl of nuiion and vcgciallcs wiiI a
crincd cod in oysicr saucc as wcll as a fricassccd
cIiclcn.
"Do you suosc Lord McacIan would lilc a cal-
inci udding?" sIc aslcd Miss Scrii.
Hcr conanion loolcd u fron Icr nccdlcworl and
ondcrcd iIc qucsiion. "I lclicvc gcnilcncn gcncrally
rcfcr nincc ics or alc iaris. And of coursc lun
udding ai iIis iinc of ycar. Mrs. Kanidgc will Iavc
scvcral lun uddings soalcd wiiI Sir Lawrcncc's
good lrandy."
"Ycs, ii Ias lccn a rcal joy io di inio iIc lcsi of Iis
ccllar," Drucilla adniiicd wiiI sarlling cycs.
TIc door fron iIc Iall was lcIind Icr and sIc Iad
noi Icard ii ocn io adnii iIc viscouni. "WIosc ccl-
lar?" McacIan inquircd in a lazy drawl.
"My faiIcr's," sIc rcsondcd rcadily cnougI. "Hc
laid down a rcnarlallc collcciion of siriis and wincs.
You sIall of coursc sanlc sonc of iIcn during your
siay, Lord McacIan. My faiIcr is no longcr nucI in-
icrcsicd in sucI rcfrcsIncni, and iIc docior docs noi
lclicvc ii is lcncficial for Iin, in any casc. His ic
Ias lccn ialcn away lccausc Ic icnds io lurn Iolcs
in Iis cloiIcs."
Miss Scrii, sccing iIc dcicrninaiion in McacIan's
cycs, inncdiaicly ccuscd Icrsclf. His lordsIi novcd
io siand ly iIc firc, lcaning Iis lroad sIouldcrs
againsi iIc IigI nanicl and lcnding a quizzical lool
uon Drucilla. "Your faiIcr is in nucI worsc casc
iIan I Iad susccicd. Sincc Ic is noi caallc of cvcn
iIc lcasi dccision rcgarding Iis own faic or iIai of Iis
csiaic, I assunc iIc full lurdcn Ias fallcn io you."
"I Iavc Iad Icl, and wc conirivc as lcsi wc can,"
Drucilla rclicd, sciiing down Icr quill. "My faiIcr is
siill iIc laronci, aficr all, and Iis rcsonsililiiics nusi

14
lc carricd oui."
"How long Ias Ic lccn as lad as iIis?"
"Aloui iwo ycars."
McacIan sIool Iis Icad in wondcr. "TIai is quiic a
lcngiIy criod, Miss CarruiIcrs."
"Wcll," Drucilla confcsscd, "Ic Iasn'i lccn crfccily
all rigIi for fivc ycars, lui ai firsi ii was ncrcly gas in
Iis ncnory. Now Ic is..." SIc sIruggcd Icr sIouldcrs
cloqucnily. "... as you scc."
"Dui in iIcsc lasi fcw ycars, according io Mr.
Wiclcr, iIcrc Iavc lccn vcry largc ccnscs io iIc cs-
iaic. I wondcr if crIas your agcni Ias noi ialcn
advaniagc of you, Miss CarruiIcrs."
Drucilla loolcd anuscd. "JoIn TIonas? OI, no, I
don'i iIinl so, Lord McacIan."
"I sIall jusi Iavc a word wiiI Iin."
"As you lcasc, of coursc."
As iIc csiaic agcni was noi on iIc rcniscs, Mca-
cIan scni word iIai Ic would ncci wiiI JoIn
TIonas iIc nci day. Hc cnjoycd a sociallc dinncr
and cvcning wiiI Miss CarruiIcrs and Icr conanion.
TIcy laycd a fcw Iands of cards and sang CIrisinas
carols, acconanicd ly iIc young lady on Icr
ianoforic.
Miss CarruiIcrs, Icr fair curls franing an aninaicd
facc, nadc a cIarning Iosicss, full of qucsiions aloui
Iis Ionc and fanily, ocn in Icr answcrs io Iis qucs-
iions. SIc dirccicd iIcir convcrsaiion in a livcly fasI-
ion, discussing iIcir ncigIlors ("You will ncci Lady
NiliIwaiic, iIc nosi dcligIiful wonan. SIc oncc
aslcd Miss Scrii if sIc Iad cvcr siolcn anyiIing."}
and siaff ("Nclson was forncrly a llaclsniiI's assis-
iani and, iIougI I cannoi ai all faiIon wIy, Ias
suiicd iIc osiiion of aiicndani io ny faiIcr
adnirally."} in sucI a dcligIiful way iIai Ic could noi
rcsisi iis Iunor.
Aficr iIc ladics Iad rciircd for iIc nigIi, Ic sanlcd
iIc laronci's ncllow old lrandy and rclacd inio an
alnosi soorific siaic lcforc iIc llazing firc, waicIing
snowflalcs drifi down ouisidc iIc window. TIcrc was a
caccfulncss ai Tarnlca iIai lullcd Iin inio crfcci
cIariiy wiiI iIc world. And if Iis nind drificd fron
iinc io iinc io iIc ncnory of Miss CarruiIcrs scaicd
on iIc sofa, iIai wiclcd glcan of laugIicr in Icr vivid
lluc cycs, wcll, wIo could llanc Iin?
Dui carly iIc nci norning Ic nadc Iinsclf lnown

15
io JoIn TIonas, a nucI youngcr nan iIan Ic Iad
cccicd, and sai down wiiI iIc csiaic lools for iIc
lasi fivc ycars. Hc was noi aciually in iIc Ialii of
going ovcr Iis own csiaic lools, Iaving scvcral
individuals, including a young nan jusi down fron
Oford as Iis sccrciary, wIosc lusincss ii was io jusi
lring iIc salicni oinis io Iis aiicniion.
Indicaiing a cIair lcsidc iIc dcsl, Ic said aologci-
ically, "If you would go ovcr iIcsc wiiI nc, I would lc
nosi graicful, Mr. TIonas. You nusi ccusc ny ig-
norancc of iIc rocr colunns for inconc and ouigo. I
fcar ii will lc ncccssary for you io clain iIc ccnscs
in sonc dciail as wc worl our way iIrougI."
"Ccriainly, ny lord." JoIn TIonas iacd a fingcr
on iIc sccond of iIc lcdgcrs. "Four ycars ago is wIcn I
lcgan, lui I'n faniliar wiiI iIc lools for sonc criod
lcforc iIai."
"Was Sir Lawrcncc crfccily raiional wIcn you lc-
gan worl Icrc?"
"Noi crfccily, lui nucI lciicr iIan Ic is ioday. Or
so I undcrsiand. Hc Iasn'i aciually visiicd iIc csiaic
officc for a coulc of ycars."
TIc viscouni rcgardcd Iin wiiI lccn inicrcsi. "Fron
wIon do you ialc your dircciion, iIcn? Mr. Wiclcr?"
JoIn TIonas loolcd crlccd. "No, sir. Miss
CarruiIcrs givcs nc ny insiruciions. SIc's vcry
lnowlcdgcallc aloui iIc csiaic."
"And if Sir Lawrcncc's signaiurc sIould lc rcquircd
on sonc docuncni?"
"SIc is always allc io rocurc ii."
"I scc. And Ias sIc run iIc csiaic in iIc way Sir
Lawrcncc did wIcn you firsi lcgan?"
TIc csiaic agcni loolcd unconforiallc, inscriing a
fingcr lciwccn Iis ncclcloiI and Iis nccl. "PcrIas I
could sIow you, ny lord?"
"Plcasc do."
Ii was an insiruciivc iwo Iours. McacIan would
Iavc givcn a grcai dcal io Iavc Iad Willian, Iis adni-
rallc sccrciary, iIcrc io allcviaic iIc icdiun of iIc
worl, lui JoIn TIonas, if norc carncsi and ainsial-
ing iIan McacIan's own csiaic nanagcr, was norc
iIan caallc of clarifying any issuc iIai rcnaincd ol-
scurc io Iin. TIc long and sIori of ii was iIai JoIn
TIonas was noi lining Iis oclcis. Dui ii lccanc
quiic clcar iIai iIc rcvious csiaic nanagcr Iad nosi
ccriainly donc so.

16
JoIn TIonas would oini io an ccnsca ncw
roof for a larn, for insianccand say wiiI a frown,
"You will rccall iIai iIis ariicular roof was suoscd
io Iavc lccn rcaircd fivc ycars ago. NcvcriIclcss, lasi
ycar ii was found io lc lcaling ladly and iIcrc was
noiIing for ii lui io rclacc ii again."
Tinc and again iIcy wcrc forccd io scarcI in cvcn
oldcr lcdgcrs, and iIcrc could lc no douli iIai iIc
cosi of rcairs iIcn Iad undoulicdly lccn falsc
cnirics. TIougI iIis was jusi as olviously iIc worl of
Mr. TIonas's rcdcccssor, McacIan's crcssion
lccanc grin.
"You will forgivc ny conjcciurc, Mr. TIonas, lui ii
sccns clcar io nc iIai iIis drain fron iIc csiaic was
going on long lcforc Sir Lawrcncc's illncss. In faci, ii is
so olvious iIai I fail io undcrsiand Iow iIc laronci,
cvcn wiiI iIc snallcsi ovcrsigIi of iIcsc lools, could
Iavc ncglccicd io discovcr ii."
TIc young nan rullcd a Iand vigorously across Iis
facc in an aiicni io sIarcn Iis wiis. Picling Iis
words carcfully, JoIn TIonas said, "Sir Lawrcncc was
noi in iIc Ialii, aarcnily, of ialing ariicular
inicrcsi in iIc csiaic. I lclicvc Ic irusicd Iis csiaic
nanagcr and allowcd Iin full discrciion in iIc naiicr
of ouilay. Ii was noi uniil Sir Lawrcncc's illncss
lccanc olvious and Miss CarruiIcrs lcgan io involvc
Icrsclf wiiI iIcsc naiicrs iIai sIc discovcrcd iIc
rollcn."
"How long Iad iIis lccn going on?"
JoIn TIonas was noi dcccivcd ly iIc lacid ionc of
iIc viscouni's voicc. Hc Iad waicIcd Lord McacIan
ovcr iIc asi iwo Iours and lncw rcciscly Iow
quiclly Iis conanion Iad discovcrcd iIc carcfully
Iiddcn fraud. "For quiic sonc iinc, ny lord," Ic ad-
niiicd.
McacIan was disiurlcd ly iIc iciurc iIis gavc
Iin of Sir Lawrcncc, lui iIcrc wcrc oiIcr naiicrs of
jusi as rcssing conccrn. Esccially in rcccni ycars,
iIc lcdgcrs sIowcd ccnscs io Iavc riscn in an
alarning fasIion. TIc anounis scni on rcairs of
icnani farns and coiiagcs wcrc siariling.
Dui Lord McacIan scldon allowcd Iis conccrn io
iaini Iis air of caln accciancc. "I wisI you would
nalc iIcsc ccnscs clcar io nc, Mr. TIonas. TIcy
sccn, sIall wc say, cccssivc."
"Dccausc of iIc lcngiI of iinc no rcairs Iad aciu-

17
ally ialcn lacc io iIc coiiagcs and farns, iIcy wcrc
liiilc norc iIan Iovcls, wiiI inadcquaic waicr sulics
and unsaniiary condiiions. As iIc laronci lccanc
siclcr and Miss CarruiIcrs iool ovcr iIc rcins of nan-
agcncni, sIc dccncd ii ncccssary io corrcci iIcsc
condiiions. In iIc lasi iwo ycars wc Iavc donc a grcai
dcal of worl iIai sIould Iavc lccn acconlisIcd ovcr
a long criod of iinc. Unforiunaicly, ii's ccnsivc
worl."
"As you say. And I fccl ccriain iIai you do noi nalc
any rofii fron iIc consiruciion."
JoIn TIonas loolcd sIoclcd. "Ccriainly noi. Miss
CarruiIcrs Ias involvcd Icrsclf in iIc cIoosing of iIc
lalorcrs and iIc ovcrsccr. TIcy'rc ncigIlorIood co-
lc, nucI in nccd of iIc occuaiion and iIc inconc. I
would find ii difficuli io lclicvc iIai anyonc Ias so
nucI as ovcrcIargcd us a guinca."
"I iIinl crIas I sIould lilc io scc iIcsc rcaircd
coiiagcs. Could you ialc nc iIis aficrnoon?"
Mr. TIonas lowcd sligIily. "Of coursc, Lord
McacIan."
Dui ai luncIcon, wIcn JoIn TIonas rcnarlcd iIai
Ic would lc ialing iIc viscouni on a iour of iIc ncwly
rcconsirucicd coiiagcs, Drucilla roicsicd. "Fcally,
Lord McacIan, JoIn TIonas Ias norc iIan cnougI
io do iIis aficrnoon aficr scnding iIc norning
closcicd wiiI you. And wc arc ccciing Lady
NiliIwaiic io ica. I ariicularly wisI io rcscni you io
Icr. If you would lc good cnougI io join us, I ronisc
io sIow you iIc inrovcncnis ionorrow nysclf. I an
iIorougIly lnowlcdgcallc aloui iIcn, an I noi, JoIn
TIonas?"
"Indccd you arc, na'an," iIc agcni agrccd wiiI a
rucful snilc.
TIc viscouni was lcascd io lc offcrcd iIc ooriu-
niiy io scnd iinc wiiI Miss CarruiIcrs. Hc would lc
allc io asscss for Iinsclf wIciIcr Icr lnowlcdgc of
csiaic naiicr was adcquaic, or caggcraicd ly Icr
wcll-wisIcrs, wIicI sccncd io Iin iIc norc lilcly
ossililiiy. SIc was, aficr all, only onc-and-iwcniy,
and Iad lccn dccly involvcd in nanaging Tarnlca for
scvcral ycars alrcady.
"Vcry wcll, na'an. I sIall lool forward io ii."
Lady NiliIwaiic was a iIriving dowagcr of fifiy-odd
ycars wIosc norc iIan ordinary inicrcsi in Tarnlca
and iis occuanis Iad long lccn acccicd ly iIcn.

18
Sincc sIc Iad siood as sccond noiIcr io Drucilla, sIc
was wcll awarc of iIc circunsianccs iIai Iad lcd io
iIc rcscni siiuaiion iIcrc, and iIougI givcn io
ouiragcous scccI wIcn in IigI fligIi was noi lilcly io
lruii aloui anyiIing iIai Miss CarruiIcrs would
raiIcr noi Iavc lnown ly iIc viscouni.
Hcr son, Lord NiliIwaiic, Iad rcccnily narricd, and
iIc Dowagcr Lady NiliIwaiic Iad rciircd io iIc dowcr
Iousc, a rciiy liiilc nanor iwo nilcs fron Iis csiaic.
TIis novc Iad noi disircsscd iIc cldcr Lady
NiliIwaiic in iIc lcasi. "For iIcrc will lc cIildrcn,"
sIc Iad claincd io Drucilla, "and if iIcrc is onc
iIing I cannoi lcar in ny advancing ycars, ii is iIc
cluiicr and noisc of vcry snall cIildrcn."
And indccd sIc sccncd crfccily conicni wiiI Icr
ncw Ionc. SIc Iad a Iandsonc joiniurc and ariicu-
larly dcvoicd scrvanis, so iIai Icr days wcrc givcn
ovcr io Icr firsi lovcninding iIc lusincss of all iIc
couniy, and csccially iIc Iacnings ai Tarnlca. If
sIc Iad noi alrcady lccn inviicd io ica lcforc iIc
advcni of Lord McacIan, sIc would surcly Iavc
nanagcd a norning call as soon as sIc was inforncd
of Iis arrival. Mcrc gossi was noi Icr inicni, for sIc
was a sIrcwd wonan noi ai all rciiccni in assing
along Icr vcry lracing advicc and original wisdon.
SIc found ii unconscionallc iIai sucI a dcligIiful
young lady as Drucillaso fasIionally fair and
rciiy!sIould lc rclcgaicd io iIc couniry wiiIoui
Ioc of discovcring an cligillc naicI. Lady NiliIwaiic
Iad donc Icr lcsi io iniroducc io Drucilla's noiicc any
cligillc gcnilcnan wIo Iacncd io wandcr iIrougI
iIc Lalc Disirici for lusincss, lcasurc, or fanily
olligaiions. SIc could noi, Iowcvcr, llanc iIai young
lady for Icr lacl of inicrcsi in anyonc rcscnicd iIus
far.
Lady NiliIwaiic's firsi inrcssion of iIc viscouni
was favorallc. Hcr asiuic gazc iool Iin in all ai a
glancc, and sIc judgcd Iin io lc quiic an cligillc arii
for Icr dcar Drucilla. SIc could noi icll fron iIc way
iIcy lcIavcd ioward cacI oiIcr wIciIcr iIis ossilil-
iiy Iad occurrcd io ciiIcr of iIcn, and sIc considcrcd
ii Icr duiy io nalc ccriain iIai ii did. SIc sci aloui
acquiring iIc ncccssary infornaiion.
"Havc you lcfi your wifc ai McacIan Couri?" sIc
aslcd as sIc Iclcd Icrsclf io onc of iIc nacaroons
for wIicI Mrs. Kanidgc was fanous.

19
Hc answcrcd oliicly, if wiiI a iracc of dryncss, "I
an noi narricd, na'an."
"Ai your agc? TIc girls in your disirici nusi lc
laclward indccd! And do you ncvcr go io London?"
"Scvcral iincs a ycar, Lady NiliIwaiic. And in ny
youngcr days, I livcd iIcrc for long criods. You nusi
ccusc nc if I nisialc iIc issuc, lui I do noi lclicvc I
Iavc Iad iIc lcasurc of ncciing you iIcrc."
"As io iIai, I ncvcr go. TIougI I would Iavc donc,"
sIc said, iurning Icr gazc ioward Drucilla, "Iad ny
wisIcs lccn givcn duc considcraiion."
"Ii was noi io lc, na'an, as you wcll lnow." Drucilla
ourcd ica inio a fragilc cu and asscd ii io Lord
McacIan. "Dcsidcs, ii would Iavc lccn iIc llind lcad-
ing iIc llind. You lncw noiIing of London sociciy."
"Wc would Iavc nanagcd."
McacIan, rcalizing iIai doulilcss iIis discussion
Iad occurrcd lcforc, aslcd, "Is your Ionc ncarly,
Lady NiliIwaiic?"
"No norc iIan iIrcc nilcs. In winicr ii can lc a dif-
ficuli drivc, wiiI iIc snow so vcry lilcly io nalc a
Iazard of iIc roads, lui I will nosi always vcniurc
foriI io scc ny dcar Miss CarruiIcrs and Miss Scrii."
Drucilla asscd iIc liscuiis io Miss Scrii, saying,
"And wc'rc olligcd io you, na'an. Wc would lcconc
quiic sccludcd Icrc in Dcccnlcr wcrc ii noi for sccing
ncigIlors sucI as yoursclf. Do you go io your son for
CIrisinas?"
"Ycs, for Carolinc Ias jusi nadc a vcry inicrcsiing
announccncni." TIcrc was a sly iwinllc in Lady
NiliIwaiic's cycs. "Dy nci CIrisinas wc arc io Iavc a
ncw ncnlcr of iIc fanily. Did I noi icll you iIai
cIildrcn would conc soon? How vcry forward-iIinling
of nc io Iavc sciilcd inio iIc dowcr Iousc in good
iinc, was ii noi?"
"Indccd ii was," Drucilla agrccd.
Lady NiliIwaiic, ursuing anoiIcr avcnuc iIai Iad
lccn iravcrscd any nunlcr of iincs, cosiulaicd,
"TIc nonscnsical loy uoud lool for a wifc anongsi
iIc Fusscllsyou nusi undcrsiand, Lord McacIan,
iIai iIcir land narcIcs wiiI Iisand Carolinc is
undoulicdly iIc fincsi of iIc fivc girls. I Iavc noiIing
io say againsi Icr, lui wIcn Ic could Iavc aligncd
Iinsclf wiiI Miss CarruiIcrs! I could scarccly lcar io
scc iIc dircciion of Iis affcciions. As if Carolinc
Fusscll could Iold a candlc io Drucilla!"

20
"Fcally, na'an, you ui nc io iIc llusI," Drucilla
roicsicd. "I can iIinl of no coulc lciicr suiicd io
cacI oiIcr iIan your son and Iis lridc."
TIc dowagcr laugIcd wiiI rcal anuscncni. "You
Iavc iIc rigIi of ii, of coursc. SucI a vcry dull nan as
Ic Ias lcconc! I don'i tInI Ic inIcriicd ii fron ny
sidc of iIc fanily, lui iIcrc, wIo is io conrcIcnd
iIcsc naiicrs? Havc you lroiIcrs and sisicrs, Lord
McacIan?"
"Two sisicrs, na'an, loiI narricd and sciilcd in
Clouccsicr."
"TIai is foriunaic for you, if you lilc iIcn."
Hc aclnowlcdgcd iIis iruiI wiiI a wIinsical snilc.
"I do. And I an in raiIcr a usI io rciurn io
Clouccsicr io scnd iIc Iolidays wiiI iIcn and iIcir
fanilics."
Drucilla said, "You nusi noi lci us Iold you Icrc,
Lord McacIan. Oncc you Iavc sccn iIc coiiagcs and
saiisficd yoursclf as io iIcir aroriaicncss, I lclicvc
you nay fccl crfccily safc in driving off again."
McacIan rcgardcd Icr wiiI cnsivc cycs. "You
wouldn'i lc irying io Iasicn ny dcariurc, would you,
Miss CarruiIcrs?"
"Ccriainly noi! Dui wc do vcry liiilc in iIc way of
CIrisinas cclclraiion Icrc, you nusi undcrsiand, lc-
causc of ny faiIcr's condiiion and iIc c, iIc iIin-
ncss of conany ai iIis iinc of ycar. TIc longcr you
siay Icrc, iIc norc dangcr you couri of lcing oui-
flanlcd ly iIc wcaiIcr. Wc vcry oficn Iavc siorns ai
iIis iinc of ycar iIai nalc iIc roads inassallc."
Lady NiliIwaiic rcgardcd Icr wiiI asionisIncni.
"Dui, ny dcar, iIai Ias only Iacncd oncc in iIc
lasi scorc of ycars! I fccl ccriain wc Iavc no fcar of
Icavicr wcaiIcr in iIc nci wccl. His lordsIi will
surcly find no difficuliy in rciurning io Iis Ionc aficr
Ic Ias scni a dcccni anouni of iinc naling your
acquainiancc. And as io iIc iIinncss of conany ai
iIis iinc of ycar, you lnow you arc always includcd in
our lans for CIrisinas dinncr if you would lui
conc."
"I do lnow," Drucilla said sinccrcly, rcssing iIc
dowagcr's Iand. "You arc all lindncss, na'an. Pcr-
Ias iIis ycar Miss Scrii and I will allow oursclvcs io
lc crsuadcd."
Dui iIcrc was a Icsiiancy in Icr voicc iIai nadc
iIis sccn unlilcly. WIciIcr ii was lccausc sIc wisIcd

21
io rcnain ai Ionc wiiI Icr faiIcr, or noi io inirudc on
anoiIcr's fanily circlc, or for sonc oiIcr rcason
cniircly, was unclcar io McacIan.
WIcn Lady NiliIwaiic rosc io lcavc, Ic accona-
nicd Icr io Icr carriagc, an oldcr lui conforiallc-
looling convcyancc iIai Iad lccn lrougIi round ly
Icr coacInan. Miss CarruiIcrs and Miss Scrii Iad
said iIcir good-lycs in iIc warn salon, so McacIan
siood alonc wiiI Icr on iIc froni siairs, cvcn iIougI
Ic was drcsscd only for indoors in coai and
anialoons.
"I rccognizc your ariialiiy io Miss CarruiIcrs, Lady
NiliIwaiic, so I iIinl you nay lc iIc vcry crson io
answcr a qucsiion for nc. Do you noi iIinl iIc run-
ning of Tarnlca, loiI iIc Iousc and iIc lands, along
wiiI iIc nanagcncni of Icr faiIcr's IcaliI, ioo grcai a
lurdcn for sucI a young crson?"
"Too grcai a lurdcn?" iIai augusi wonan
cjaculaicd. "My dcar fcllow, Drucilla is iIc nosi
caallc wonan I lnow io lc doing rcciscly wIai sIc
is."
"OI, I don'i douli iIai. Dui sIc Ias lccn io a dcal
of iroullc ovcr iIc siaic of iIc farns and coiiagcs
iIcsc lasi fcw ycars."
"So I sIould iIinl, iIc condiiion iIcy wcrc in! Quiic
sIancful ii was. Noi iIai I wisI io scal ill of iIosc
wIo can no longcr dcfcnd iIcnsclvcs, lui iIcrc ii is."
Lady NiliIwaiic Iad novcd ioward Icr carriagc as
sIc solc. TIc door was lcing Icld ocn for Icr ly a
scrvani, and as sIc acarcd rcady io lc Iandcd in,
McacIan clcganily rovidcd iIis scrvicc, lui could noi
rcsirain Iinsclf fron asling, lcforc iIc door was
closcd uon Icr, "Would you lc allc io advisc nc as io
wIy Sir Lawrcncc ncglccicd Iis icnanis cvcn lcforc Ic
lccanc ill?"
TIc dowagcr sciilcd a llanlci ovcr Icr lcgs. "TIc
asi no longcr conccrns nc, sir. Ii is iIc fuiurc
Drucilla's fuiurciIai is of iIc uinosi inoriancc."
"I an noi Icrc io nalc Miss CarruiIcrs's lifc norc
difficuli, na'an. Ii sccns io nc iIai I nay vcry wcll lc
allc io allcviaic sonc iis... icdiun."
"I lclicvc you could." Lady NiliIwaiic rcgardcd Iin
wiiI lccn cycs. "Undcrsiand iIai iIougI I lclicvc
Drucilla crfccily caallc of iIc iasls sIc Ias undcr-
ialcn, iIc oncrous cIargc Ias scvcrcly liniicd Icr lifc,
and will coniinuc io do so if cIangcs arc noi nadc.

22
Dui any rcarrangcncni of iIc siiuaiion ai Tarnlca
nusi ialc inio accouni Icr sinccrc affcciion for Icr
faiIcr and Icr nccd io scc asi ncglcci corrccicd."
McacIan lowcd in aclnowlcdgncni of Icr asscss-
ncni and siccd lacl. SIc gavc an incrious ia on
iIc cciling of Icr carriagc, and iIc coacInan urgcd
iIc Iorscs forward. TIc viscouni, frowning sligIily,
waicIcd uniil iIc vcIiclc Iad disacarcd around iIc
lcnd in iIc carriagc drivc.
Coning lacl inio iIc warniI of iIc Iousc, Ic could
noi Icl lui iciurc iIc iwo Tarnlca ladics alonc in iIc
largc dining roon on CIrisinas, wiiI no ouiward sign
of iis lcing a day diffcrcni fron any oiIcr. A disiinci
nclancIoly gricd Iis nind. Miss CarruiIcrs,
McacIan fcli, was noi ncani io dwindlc away in ol-
scuriiy in iIc couniry. WiiIoui a douli sIc was ncani
io lc iIc laugIing, dcligIiful Iosicss of sonc largc
fanily ariy of Icr own.
McacIan wondcrcd lricfly if crIas onc of Iis sis-
icrs could rcscni Miss CarruiIcrs in London, cvcn ai
iIis laic daic, lui Iis connon scnsc aclnowlcdgcd
iIc inossililiiy of iIc scIcnc. Miss CarruiIcrs was
noi lilcly io lcavc Tarnlca, wiiI Icr faiIcr ncnially dc-
rangcd and iIc lurdcn of loiI iIc IouscIold and
csiaic nanagcncni on Icr sIouldcrs. TIcrc was a
grcai dcal norc io lc sci rigIi ai Tarnlca iIan Ic Iad
susccicd wIcn Ic lcgan iIc iwo-Iundrcd-nilc drivc
iIcrc, and vcry liiilc iinc in wIicI io do ii.

TIc following aficrnoon Drucilla iool iIc rccauiion
of donning Icr nosi fcicIing riding Ialii and lonnci,
wIicI wcrc a dcc sIadc of lluc sIc lncw io lc
flaiicring io Icr fair lools. TIc viscouni Iad lccn gonc
for iIc cniirc norning and Iad arrivcd lacl ai Tarnlca
only in iinc for luncI. TIcrc Iad lccn a nunlcr of
arccls in Iis curriclc, iIc disosal of wIicI Ic Iad
arrangcd for wiiI Hasiings in a nurnurcd discussion
in iIc cniry Iall.
Drucilla was circncly curious as io wIai Lord
McacIan nigIi Iavc lougIi, lui sIc could noi fccl ii
would lc oliic io asl Iin siraigIi oui, and Icr cfforis
io lc circunscci ai luncIcon Iad failcd cniircly io
roducc iIc sligIicsi cluc.
Lord McacIan snilcd arcciaiivcly ai Icr riding
cosiunc, and Iandcd Icr u onio Icr narc wiiI a
gravc gallaniry. TIis was in cvcry way iIc oosiic of

23
iIai gaucIc iwclvc-ycar-old sIc'd nci so nany ycars
ago. As was Iis caaliliiy wiiI a Iorsc. Hc Iad cIoscn
io ridc Icr faiIcr's favoriic Iorsc, a largc roan siallion
iIai only iIc nosi concicni of iIc siallc loys cvcn
aiicnicd io ccrcisc.
Sir Lawrcncc, ly sonc quirl of nind, Iad coniinucd
io asl aficr iIc Iorsc, SiandisI, and Drucilla lilcd
Iaving Iin ccrciscd wIcrc Icr faiIcr could waicI
fron Iis window. SIc loolcd u now io scc iIc
laronci's wIiic Icad rcsscd againsi iIc glass, and
sIc wavcd a cIccrful Iand ai Iin as sIc said, "I irusi
iIc lads Iavc warncd you aloui SiandisI, Lord
McacIan. Hc's a lii of a Iandful."
"So I'n iold."
Drucilla's own Iorsc, a snall gray narc, was wcll
lcIavcd and wondcrfully snooiI-gaiicd. Sincc
McacIan Icld lacl Iis Iorsc so iIai sIc could lcad
iIc way ovcr iIc ligIily snow-covcrcd ground, sIc Iad
a cIancc io wiincss Iis sucrl conirol of Iis aninal.
SiandisI did noi lilc following oiIcr Iorscs and
cIancd ai iIc lii io lc off wiiI Iis ridcr. McacIan
Iandlcd Iis rancing and sidling wiiI a firn Iand and
nciiIcr annoyancc nor alarn.
Oncc in iIc asiurc, Drucilla allowcd Clory io
sircicI oui inio a canicr and iIcn, wiiI an
cncouraging lool fron McacIan, inio a gallo.
SiandisI could Iavc ouidisianccd iIc liiilc narc
casily, lui McacIan Icld Iin in cIccl, sidc ly sidc
wiiI iIc gray narc.
"OI, lci Iin oui," Drucilla urgcd. "My faiIcr will
lovc io scc Iin run for all Ic's woriI. I'll ncci you ai
iIc Ionc wood."
Following ai a disiancc, Drucilla aclnowlcdgcd iIai
McacIan and SiandisI wcrc a nagnificcni sigIi. Sir
Lawrcncc Iad lccn a nasicrful ridcr, lui wiiIoui any
of iIc viscouni's gracc. WIcn McacIan rodc, iIcrc
was an air of cciicncni, cvcn cIilaraiion, aloui Iin
iIai Drucilla Iad noi rcviously dciccicd. SiandisI
sccncd io scnsc ii as wcll, and lcngiIcncd Iis siridc
uniil Ic alnosi acarcd io lc flying. Evcn iIc gray
narc fliclcd Icr cars ai iIc sigIi of iIcn.
WIcn ai lasi sIc canc u wiiI iIcn, McacIan's
facc worc a wry grin. "Lord, I'd lovc io own iIis Iorsc,"
Ic said.
"In iinc you will," sIc rcnindcd Iin, Icr dinlcs
ccling oui.

24
"TIai was noi ny ncaning, Miss CarruiIcrs. I
sIould lilc io urcIasc Iin fron Sir Lawrcncc."
"My faiIcr siill Ias an affcciion for SiandisI. Hc
coniinucs io asl aloui Iin and Ic lovcs io scc Iin
riddcn. Ii would lc wrong io ialc iIai lcasurc away
fron Iin.
"Dcsidcs, Iow would wc nanagc sucI a salc? You
don'i lclicvc ny faiIcr caallc of any lusincss dcal-
ings, and you don'i arovc of ny conduciing iIcn."
McacIan raiscd Iis lrows. "Surcly I Iavcn'i lccn so
rudc as io say any sucI iIing."
SIc sIruggcd Icr narrow sIouldcrs. "No, lui you
Iavc iIougIi ii. And I Iavc no douli iIai you Iavc rc-
solvcd on Iaving ny faiIcr dcclarcd inconcicni ai
iIc nci quaricr scssions. WIicI would lacc you in
cIargc of Tarnlca."
"Your conclusions arc soncwIai rcnaiurc, ny
dcar. SIall wc jusi ialc onc sic ai a iinc?"
Drucilla could only nod and liic Icr li.
WiiIin icn ninuics iIcy Iad rcacIcd iIc firsi of iIc
icnani coiiagcs. Snolc drificd fron cacI of iIc cIin-
ncys, giving a snug ascci io iIc snowy sccnc. TIcrc
wcrc iIrcc grous of iIcn on iIc csiaic, of fivc coi-
iagcs cacI, and ii Iad ialcn Icr iIc lasi iwo ycars io
lring all of iIcn inio accciallc condiiion.
A nunlcr of iasls rcnaincd io lc acconlisIcd,
lui Drucilla was graicful iIai ai lcasi iIc najor worl
Iad lccn conlcicd. As iIc soliciior, Mr. Wiclcr, Iad
lcconc norc and norc unconforiallc wiiI iIc csiaic
ccnscs, sIc Iad aiicnicd io usI iIc rcnovaiion
scIcdulc forward, lui winicr was noi a iinc wIcn a
grcai dcal of consiruciion could ialc lacc.
"Two ycars ago iIcsc wcrc ransIacllc luildings
wiiI ocn fircs in iIcn iIai llaclcncd cvcryiIing in
sigIi," Drucilla claincd as McacIan Iclcd Icr
down fron iIc gray narc. "TIcrc was no waicr wiiIin
casy rcacI and no rivics for rocr saniiaiion. EacI
coiiagc Iad only onc largc roon, no naiicr Iow
nuncrous a fanily occuicd ii. Now iIcrc arc scvcral
divisions in cacI luilding, and oficn a lofi alovc. And
iIcrc is a un for waicr indoors."
TIc viscouni was conicnlaiing iIc ncai coiiagcs
wiiI inicrcsi. "Noi cvcryonc would Iavc iIougIi a
un ncccssary for iIc coiiagcrs, Miss CarruiIcrs,"
Ic rcnarlcd, iIougI wiiI no disaroval in Iis ionc.
"Ii was a sinlc cnougI naiicr io arrangc wIcn wc

25
wcrc doing sucI cicnsivc worl. TIcsc oor colc
Iad suffcrcd for nany ycars wiiI inadcquaic faciliiics.
I cannoi iIinl ii will soil iIcn io Iavc a dcccni living
sacc."
"WIy was ii iIai iIcir quaricrs wcrc so dcficicni
cvcn lcforc Sir Lawrcncc lccanc so ill?" Ic inquircd
as Ic iicd iIcir Iorscs io a railing, giving SiandisI an
cncouraging ai.
Miss CarruiIcrs, no norc iIan JoIn TIonas or
Lady NiliIwaiic, voucIsafcd Iin an answcr io iIis
qucry. "SIall wc go in?" Drucilla suggcsicd. "I'vc
lrougIi sonc ircais for iIc cIildrcn, wIicI will
rovidc an ccusc. And, of coursc, iIc Drcwsicrs will
lc lcascd io ncci you."
TIc fanily sccncd lcss lcascd iIan curious, cr-
Ias, lui Icld widc iIcir door io Miss CarruiIcrs.
Mrs. Drcwsicr curisicd io McacIan and lid Iin
wclconc, wIilc Icr Iusland aslcd aficr Sir
Lawrcncc's IcaliI. Two cIildrcn cclcd sIyly fron
lcIind a doorway.
WIilc iIc coulc iourcd Iis lordsIi ovcr iIcir snall
lingdon, Drucilla lccloncd io iIc cIildrcn. WIcn
iIcy canc Icsiianily io join Icr ly iIc firc, sIc
Iandcd cacI a foil-wracd confcciion iIai sIc Iad
lrougIi wiiI Icr. TIc liiilc girl drocd a swcci curisy
and iIc youngcr loy said, "TIanl you, niss," wiiI an
adorallc lis iIai nadc Drucilla wani io Iug iIcn.
Dcforc iIcy lcfi, sIc roniscd iIai sIc and Miss
Scrii would lc lringing illows for iIc cIildrcn's cois
for Doing Day. "Wc'vc Iad goosc down and goosc
fcaiIcrs all ovcr iIc winicr arlor," sIc adniiicd,
laugIing. "Dui wc'rc alnosi finisIcd."
As McacIan Iandcd Icr u onio Icr Iorsc, Drucilla
noicd Iis uzzlcd frown. "You nalc a vcry gracious
Lady Douniiful," Ic said, noi unlindly, "lui I cannoi
iIinl iIai is iIc noiivaiion lcIind all iIis
rcnovaiion."
"I Iavc claincd iIai iIc coiiagcs wcrc noi fii io lc
occuicd, sir."
"Ycs, lui nciiIcr you nor anyonc clsc Ias claincd
io nc wIy you Iavc ialcn sucI a dcnanding iasl
uon yoursclf," Ic crsisicd as Ic swung Iinsclf onio
SiandisI.
"Ii is ny firn lclicf iIai iIc coiiagcrs and iIcir cIil-
drcn will lc IcaliIicr and Iaicr lccausc of iIcir in-
rovcd living condiiions. And if iIcy arc IcaliIicr and

26
Iaicr, iIcy will lc norc roduciivc."
McacIan rcgardcd Icr wiiI a rcroacIful gazc.
"WIai is ii you arc so afraid of iclling nc, Miss
CarruiIcrs? Do you iIinl I will lc ccnsorious? JoIn
TIonas Ias alrcady sIown nc iIai iIc rcvious
csiaic nanagcr dcfraudcd iIc csiaic. Conc, is iIcrc
sonciIing worsc?"
"You cannoi lilc ii iIai your inIcriiancc Ias lccn
dclcicd."
"My dcar lady, I Iavc norc iIan cnougI rocriy for
any nan. I'n noi so conccrncd wiiI iIc ccnscs as
wiiI iIc condiiion of iIc csiaic. I would Iavc donc no
lcss iIan you Iavc, Iad I found iIc icnani condiiions
ai Tarnlca so dclorallc as you say. And I ccriainly
don'i Iold you rcsonsillc for iIc rcvious siiuaiion.
Arc you irying io roicci your faiIcr?"
"Hc's a good nan."
"I don'i douli iIai Ic is. Yci you arc olviously cn-
larrasscd ly iIc dcicrioraiion Ic allowcd cvcn lcforc
Iis illncss."
"Ii was noi Iis fauli."
TIc viscouni's lrows rosc. "If noi Iis, iIcn wIosc?"
Drucilla nudgcd Clory forward, and iIc viscouni fcll
in lcsidc Icr. "Hc sIould Iavc aid norc aiicniion io
iIc csiaic, lui Ic irusicd Iis csiaic nanagcr," sIc
said, noi looling ai Iin. "TIai was inrudcni of Iin,
of coursc. Would iIai I Iad lccn oldcr ai iIc iinc and
norc awarc of wIai was going on!"
"You Iad norc iIan cnougI rcsonsililiiy ai sucI a
young agc, ialing carc of IouscIold naiicrs. How
could you lc cccicd io rccognizc iIai rollcns wcrc
dcvcloing wiiI iIc csiaic?"
TIis vicw Icld liiilc consolaiion for Drucilla. "How
could I noi Iavc noiiccd sucI niscry as iIc coiiagcrs
suffcrcd? TIc cIildrcn wcrc forcvcr sicl. I lrougIi
iIcn sous and grucls fron our liicIcn, lui I consid-
crcd ii noi ai all oui of iIc ordinary. And yci I was
ncvcr sicl as a cIild, living in iIai lig Iousc wiiI a
firc any iinc I wanicd onc, and norc iIan cnougI food
io susiain nc."
"Wc arc all guiliy of lcing llind io iIc suffcring of
oiIcrs fron iinc io iinc, dcar lady. You Iavc donc
norc iIan nosi io rcncdy any unconscious fauli."
"You'rc good io say so, lui I Iavc sai for ycars ai
cIurcI lisicning io our vicar, Mr. Sanson, urgc iIosc
of us wIo can wcll afford ii io do our duiy ly iIosc

27
lcss foriunaic, and yci I did noiIing for so vcry long. I
lclicvc wc Iavc an olligaiion io iIc colc wIo dccnd
on us, don'i you, Lord McacIan?"
TIcrc was sonciIing sIc could noi idcniify in iIc
viscouni's indcciIcrallc cycs, lui Ic ncrcly noddcd.
Drucilla coniinucd, "I don'i conc inio ny inIcriiancc
fron ny noiIcr for anoiIcr si noniIs, so I Iavc lccn
forccd io usc funds fron Tarnlca. Dui Miss Scrii and
I Iavc livcd in a frugal fasIion in ordcr io do our ari."
"I wisI you Iad noi," Ic roicsicd. "TIc lurdcn Ias
always rcsicd wiiI iIc csiaic. I lcg you won'i givc an-
oiIcr iIougIi io any sucI clain on your own rc-
sourccs."
Drucilla sigIcd and urgcd Icr narc io a fasicr acc.
"Do you wisI io scc anoiIcr sci of coiiagcs or iIc icn-
ani farns?"
"AnoiIcr day, crIas. Lci's Icad lacl io Tarnlca."
"TIcn lci SiandisI oui again, Lord McacIan, if you
would. Hc nccds iIc ccrcisc." And, Drucilla rcalizcd,
sIc would vcry nucI cnjoy waicIing iIc viscouni's
ccri IorscnansIi again.
His IorscnansIi, Iowcvcr, was noi iIc only iIing
sIc was awarc of as nan and lcasi swci across iIc
larrcn ficlds. McacIan's Iandsonc rofilc, iIc solid
sci of Iis sIouldcrs, iIc aiIlciic firnncss of Iis lcgs
Drucilla could noi rcncnlcr fccling iIis odd scnsaiion
aloui any nan of Icr acquainiancc, and sIc was noi
ai all surc sIc wisIcd io fccl ii aloui Julian Winslow,
Viscouni McacIan.

McacIan's valci Iclcd Iin inio a ncw coai of lluc
sucrfinc iIai fii so cquisiicly Iis scrviccs wcrc dcfi-
niicly rcquircd in iIc donning of ii. McacIan's alc
luff anialoons wcrc unccciionallc and Iis nccl-
cloiI iicd in a rcsiraincd lui fasIionallc siylc. Hc rc-
gardcd Iinsclf criiically in iIc cIcval glass, iIcn
iurncd away.
TIc viscouni was, in iIc ordinary coursc of affairs,
indiffcrcni io wIai Ic worc and allowcd Falloi io dis-
cuss sucI naiicrs only undcr durcss. Ccriainly Icrc
in iIc couniry, dining only wiiI Miss CarruiIcrs and
Icr conanion, iIcrc could lc no ariicular rcason io
ay Iccd io Iis acarancc. And yci Ic lrusIcd off a
sccl of dusi fron onc slccvc and adjusicd Iis soliiary
fol lcforc Ic lcfi Iis lcdcIanlcr.
TIc iwo ladics wcrc alrcady awaiiing Iin in iIc sa-

28
lon, Miss Scrii in a discrcci asicl gown, Icr forncr
cIargc in sonciIing quiic oui of iIc ordinary. Miss
CarruiIcrs loolcd crfccily cIarning in a gown of
sucI a dcliciously ricI sIadc of grccn iIai ii nadc Icr
lluc cycs siarilingly lrigIi.
McacIan rcnindcd Iinsclf iIai Ic was ai Tarnlca
io acconlisI a sccific urosc iIai Iad noiIing io
do wiiI lcing aiiracicd io an iniriguing young wonan.
Hc would lc wisc io ay no Iccd io iIc arilcss curls
iIai francd Icr facc, or iIc sarlling aninaiion iIai
consianily lii Icr cycs. If Icr figurc was loiI clcgani
and caiivaiing, surcly ii could lc noiIing io Iin.
TIcy wcrc io lc rcacquainicd lui lricfly.
Dui McacIan could noi rcsisi conlincniing Icr on
Icr gown. "I would Iavc no douli of iis origins, lui
you Iavc noi, I lclicvc, cvcr lccn io London."
"Ncvcr."
Hc siudicd Icr iIougIifully. "Dui your faiIcr would
noi Iavc conlcicly succunlcd io Iis illncss ly iIc
iinc you wcrc scvcniccn. I'n surriscd Ic didn'i insisi
uon a Scason for you. Hc could Iavc alicd io ny
noiIcr io aci as your cIacronc and iniroduciion io
sociciy. SIc was faniliar wiiI iIc rouiinc," Ic said, a
rucful snilc curving Iis lis, "Iaving succcssfully
launcIcd iwo daugIicrs of Icr own."
Miss CarruiIcrs said lacidly, "London is noi io cv-
cryonc's iasic, Lord McacIan. Do you lcc a Iousc
iIcrc?"
McacIan susccicd iIai Miss CarruiIcrs would
Iavc cnjoycd London vcry nucI indccd, wiiI Icr livcly
disosiiion and Icr quicl undcrsianding, lui Ic
rcfraincd fron saying so. "Ycs, I Iavc a Iousc in
Crosvcnor Squarc, iIougI ii Ias noi lccn nucI uscd
iIcsc iwo ycars sincc ny noiIcr dicd. Occasionally I
lci ii for iIc Scason io a suiiallc fanily."
WiiIoui ai all ncaning io, Ic addcd, "I would lc
norc iIan lcascd for you io nalc usc of ii if, for in-
siancc, Lady NiliIwaiic wcrc io lundlc you off iIcrc
for a fcw wccls' cnicriainncni. I iIinl you would lilc
Londononcc you grcw accusioncd io iIc noisc and
iIc lusilc. TIcrc arc wondcrful sIos, and dcligIiful
cnicriainncnis, and fascinaiing colc."
"I'n nccdcd ai Tarnlca," sIc said soncwIai dcfi-
anily. TIcn wiiI a norc conciliaiing air, sIc addcd, "I
Iavc only couniry nanncrs, sir, and an uscd io a frcc-
don noi allowcd a young lady in iIc ciiy. I can scarcc

29
inaginc noi lcing allc io ridc wIcrc I wisI, or noi
walling alonc along iIc avcncnis."
"For cvcry disadvaniagc, iIcrc is a concnsaiing
advaniagc."
"Wcll, as ii is unlilcly I sIall go iIcrc, ii cannoi
naiicr." Hcr alsiracicd gazc lccanc wisiful and sIc
adniiicd, "TIougI I sIould dcarly lovc io scc a lay ai
Drury Lanc, or waicI iIc cqucsirian cvcnis ai Asilcy's
AnIiiIcaicr. Miss Scrii and I Iavc rcad of iIcn in
lools and journals, and sonciincs I can alnosi
iciurc nysclf iIcrc."
WiiI vcry liiilc cffori, McacIan, ioo, could iciurc
Icr iIcrc, all cagcrncss and ingcnuous dcligIi. Hcr
ocn nanncrs would aiiraci iIc sori of colc sIc
would lilc, iIougI ccriainly iIcrc would lc iIosc wIo
frowncd on iIcn. WIai could ii naiicr iIai iIc
IigIcsi of siicllcrs would find Icr ioo unolisIcd and
forward? SIc would noi carc for iIcn ai all.
If Hasiings Iad noi arrivcd iIcn io announcc
dinncr, McacIan nigIi Iavc dcscrilcd sonc of
London's norc iniriguing asiincs. Dui iIc luilcr
noddcd consiraiorially ai Iin as iIc ladics gaiIcrcd
u iIcir sliris and rosc. McacIan offcrcd an arn io
cacI lady, Iis cycs full of a surrising layfulncss iIai
nadc Drucilla cocl Icr Icad ai Iin and asl, "WIai is
ii? Havc I said sonciIing I ougIi noi?"
"Noi ai all. Ii is I wIo Iavc ialcn a lilcriy wiiI your
Ionc for wIicI I lcg you will forgivc nc. In iIc sirii
of iIc scason, Iowcvcr, I found I could noi rcsisi."
A lcaning Hasiings iIrcw ocn iIc door io iIc din-
ing roon, and Drucilla gascd ai iIc sigIi. TIc roon
was aglow wiiI candlcligIi, wa iacrs narcIcd iIc
lcngiI of iIc iallc and crcIcd in iIc windows and on
iIc sidc iallcs. DougIs of grccncry wcrc Iung along
iIc walls, dccoraicd wiiI rcd lows and gold rillon
and silvcr lclls. TIc silvcr sIonc, iIc glass glolcs
iwinllcd, iIc crysial cIandclicr alovc iIc iallc
rcflccicd ligIi ncrrily ovcr all. TIc cIanlcr was
rcdolcni of cvcrgrccns and roasi goosc, wiiI a Iini of
nincc ics io conc.
Miss Scrii, Icr cycs noisi wiiI nosialgia, said,
"OI, ii's jusi lilc CIrisinas uscd io lc, Drucilla. Lool,
iIcy Iavc found iIc lclls and iIc wondcrful Iialian an-
gcl your nana lrougIi fron Icr Ionc wIcn sIc canc
Icrc as a lridc. Ii's lilc a fairyland."
Ai firsi sigIi of iIc roon Drucilla Iad fcli closc io

30
icars Icrsclf. Ii was inossillc noi io rcncnlcr iIc
nany ycars sIc and Icr conanion Iad iricd io rccrc-
aic iIc fcsiivc Ioliday ainosIcrc Icr noiIcr Iad
oncc lavisIcd on iIc wIolc of Tarnlca. Dui ii was sonc
iinc now sincc iIcy Iad aiicnicd cvcn a nininal
cffori ai cclclraiing iIc scason, wIai wiiI Icr faiIcr ill
and iIcir aiicni io irin IouscIold ccnscs.
Drucilla raiscd glowing cycs io McacIan. "Ii's
nagical. I'vc ncvcr sccn ii lool norc lcauiiful. You
Iavc indccd invadcd ny icrriiory, sir, lui Iow could I
noi forgivc you? Ii was incrcdilly lind of you! And you
Iavc goiicn all iIc scrvanis in on ii as wcll, I scc."
Hasiings siood lcaning ai iIc door, iIc
Iousclcccr lcsidc Iin wiiI Icr Iands foldcd in
olvious saiisfaciion. DcIind iIcn wcrc oiIcrs, iIcir
faccs wrcaiIcd wiiI lcasurc. "TIanl you," sIc said.
"TIanl you all."
WIcn Drucilla rciurncd Icr gazc io McacIan, sIc
found Iin olscrving Icr in a way iIai nadc Icr fccl a
liiilc lrcaiIlcss. Hc was a nan wIo Icld Icr fuiurc
and iIai of cvcryonc ai Tarnlca in Iis Iands, and yci
ly dcgrccs sIc was coning io irusi Iin. Maylc norc
iIan irusi Iin.
TIc viscouni raiscd Icr Iand io Iis lis and lisscd
ii. "A iriflc carly, crIas, lui no naiicr. Hay
CIrisinas, cousin."
"Hay CIrisinas, ny lord."
Aficr McacIan and iIc iwo ladics Iad visiicd Sir
Lawrcncc io sIarc wiiI Iin sonc swccincais Mrs.
Kanidgc Iad nadc csccially for Iin and a lalcido-
scoc iIc viscouni Iad urcIascd in iIc villagc, iIcy
rciircd io iIc salon, siill lasling in iIc lcasurc of
iIcir ncal and iIc dcligIiful surrisc Ic Iad arrangcd
for iIcn.
TIc lnowlcdgc Iad grown on Drucilla all cvcning
iIai sIc was dcvcloing sirong fcclings for Lord
McacIan. Prcviously, sIc Iad lccn so lusy irying io
dircci iIc coursc of iIcir inicrcIangcs, nccding io Iidc
ccriain iIing and clain oiIcrs, iIai sIc Iad noi ac-
lnowlcdgcd iIc full forcc of Iis cIaracicr. SIc Iad
lccn awarc during dinncr iIai iIc viscouni Iad sci
Iinsclf io anusc Icr and nalc Icr forgci Icr nany
conccrns for onc cvcning. And sIc adnircd iIc way Ic
sIowcd rcscci io Icr faiIcr, cvcn wIcn Sir Lawrcncc
was aciing Iis nosi lizarrc.
In iIc salon Drucilla found Icrsclf alnosi sIy. Sud-

31
dcnly McacIan sccncd far ioo soIisiicaicd and clc-
gani for iIcir liiilc fanily circlc. TIis nan undoulicdly
Iad a lacc in London sociciy, wIcrc colc would lis-
icn io Iin and rcscci Iis oinions. Uniil ionigIi sIc
Iad iIougIi of Iin as onc of iIc fanily, a couniry
gcnilcnan good-Iunorcdly carrying oui Iis duiy.
"Is sonciIing iIc naiicr?" Ic aslcd, ialing a scai
oosiic Icr on iIc sofa.
"OI, no! You'vc givcn us sucI a ncnorallc cvcning.
SIall I lay sonciIing on iIc ianoforic?"
"OI, do," said Miss Scrii slccily. "SonciIing vcry
sofi and nclodic, Drucilla. NoiIing vigorous, if you
lcasc. Unlcss Lord McacIan sIould oljcci."
"Music is iIc vcry iIing wc nccd io crown our cvc-
ning." Hc rosc as Drucilla did and novcd io siand ly
Icr siool. "If you will lci nc iurn iIc nusic for you, I
ronisc io ay aiicniion."
"WIicI is norc iIan May sIall lc allc io do," sIc
wIiscrcd, awarc iIai Miss Scrii Iad alrcady closcd
Icr cycs. WiiIin ninuics Icr conanion was gcnily
snoring, Icr Icad fallcn down againsi iIc cIair's ro-
jcciing wing. Drucilla laycd iIc song io iis cnd, lui
loolcd u iIcn io McacIan, a fragilc snilc on Icr lis.
"May I asl you sonciIing?"
"Dy all ncans."
"Havc you always donc iIc rigIi iIing? I ncan, is
iIcrc noiIing in your own lifc io lool lacl on wiiI rc-
grci?"
McacIan's noncniary uzzlcncni was quiclly rc-
laccd ly an undcrsianding of iIc significancc of iIc
qucsiion. "OI, ny dcar, you'rc quiic widc of iIc narl
if you'rc cnvisioning nc as sonc aragon of viriuc.
Conc, I'll icll you an insiruciivc CIrisinas siory."
Hc caugIi Icr Iand and drcw Icr io Icr fcci. For a
noncni iIcy siood rcnarlally closc, gazcs loclcd on
onc anoiIcr, a sirangcly owcrful cnoiion drawing
iIcn iogciIcr. Alarncd, Drucilla drocd Icr cycs and
novcd unsicadily io iIc sofa, wIcrc McacIan scaicd
Iinsclf only sligIily aari, closc cnougI io rciain os-
scssion of Icr Iand.
"You rcncnlcr nc wIcn I was iwclvcall siiff and
rigIicous and unlcnding. Docsn'i iIai sccn io you
sonciIing io lool lacl on wiiI rcgrci?"
"Dui you wcrc a loy. You Iad ioo nany rcsonsilil-
iiics for your agc."
McacIan noddcd rcninisccnily. "I iool ii all vcry

32
scriously, cvcn wIcn I was away ai Eion. And iIcn
wIcn I was ninciccn I canc io iown, io London, wiiI a
fricnd of ninc. And sinly ran nad!"
Drucilla loolcd douliful. "I find iIai Iard io lc-
licvc."
"NcvcriIclcss, ii was iruc. I Iad ncvcr ccricnccd
iIai dcgrcc of frccdon, iIai Icady rcalizaiion iIai I
Iad iIc rcsourccs io do wIaicvcr I wisIcd. Wc wcrc u
io cvcry larlloing wiiI Ccnilcnan Jaclson, lciiing
on wIicI raindro would slidc down iIc glass fasicsi
ai WIiic's, off io cvcry rizcfigIi and Iorsc racc, gan-
lling in gancs iIai wcrc far ioo ricI for our llood,
cvcn iIougI Ic, ioo, canc fron a wcll-Icclcd fanily."
"Did you noi go io any of iIc lalls and ridoiios?"
sIc aslcd wisifully.
"Mosi assurcdly wc did, lui iIcy wcrc rciiy ianc
for us. Sianding u wiiI our sisicrs, and doing iIc
rciiy io iIc girls onc's noiIcr iniroduccd io onc. Wil-
lian and I wcrc ric for iroullc, noi for sonciIing so
sulilc as fliriaiion or social lcasanirics. Evcniually
wc wcrc ialcn in ly a vcry clcvcr gancsicr wIo was
iniroduccd ly Willian's cousin."
"WIai Iacncd?"
"Lcss iIan wc dcscrvcd," Ic adniiicd rucfully. "You
scc, Willian's faiIcr is a rcnarlally clcvcr fcllow.
TIougI Ic gavc Willian lcniy of rcin, Ic always Iad
Iis cyc on Iis son fron a disiancc and Ic allowcd
iIings io go only so far lcforc Ic siccd in."
"Didn'i Willian considcr iIai inicrfcring?"
"I suosc Ic would Iavc, if Ic Iad noi alrcady rc-
alizcd iIai wc wcrc aloui io disgracc oursclvcs. In iIc
nosi gracious nanncr ossillc, iIc carl sIowcd us
Iow io sci iIings rigIi. Morc iIan iIai, Ic and Iis
wifc raiIcr adoicd nc inio iIcir alrcady largc fanily.
Scnding iinc wiiI iIcn Iad a vcry lcncficial cffcci
on nc."
"Do you iIinl so?" sIc icascd.
McacIan nci Icr quizzing wiiI a lacid snilc. "So I
lclicvc. Ii was conforiing io lnow iIai an oldcr, wiscr
Icad was conccrncd wiiI ny rogrcss in iIc world.
WiiI ny faiIcr dcad and ny noiIcr of a singularly
rciiring disosiiion, I Iad fcli vcry nucI adrifi. As you
do, I iIinl."
"And arc you io lc ny oldcr, wiscr Icad?"
"I would vcry nucI lilc io Icl you, cousin. I'n
oldcr, ccriainly, and norc lnowlcdgcallc aloui ccriain

33
naiicrs, lui I won'i clain io lc wiscr. Siill, I iIinl
iIcrc arc iIings you arc rcluciani io discuss. I wisI
you could lcarn io irusi nc."
Drucilla's Iand squirncd undcr Iis, lui Ic sicadily
rciaincd Iold. Hcr cycs did noi ncci Iis wIcn sIc
said, "You arc vcry lind, sir. TIcrc is noiIing, I iIinl,
iIai you nccd io lnow wIicI is lcing wiiIIcld."
"PcrIas noi," Ic agrccd, giving iIc Iand a ligIi
squcczc and allowing Icr io wiiIdraw ii. "And iIcrc is
no rcason iIai you sIould lacc sucI dccndcncc
uon nc. Howcvcr, I would lc Ionorcd if you did."
Drucilla's lis ircnllcd, lui sIc forccd Icrsclf io
say, "Ii is laic and I rcally ougIi io scc Miss Scrii u
io Icr roon. TIanl you so nucI for your dcligIiful
CIrisinas surrisc."
McacIan rcgardcd Icr wiiI caln accciancc. "Ii
was a grcai lcasurc for nc io arrangc ii, ny dcar.
Slcc wcll."
Ii was noi, in faci, vcry laic ai all, and aficr Miss
CarruiIcrs's wiiIdrawal fron iIc salon, McacIan dc-
cidcd iIai iIcrc was no rcason wIy Ic sIould sii
lcforc iIc cozy firc, drinling ccciional lrandy, wIcn
Ic could ridc oui on a coldly liiicr nigIi io iIc only
inn Ic Iad discovcrcd in iIc closcsi villagc. Off iIc
nain road, ii was noi a coacIing inn, lui iis
aiiraciions for iIc local rcsidcnis wcrc surcly cnougI
io lurc sonconc oui on a noonlii nigIi.
WIcn Ic Iad givcn ovcr SiandisI io a lad wIo
roniscd Iin a warn siall for iIc nci Iour,
McacIan cnicrcd iIc inn, lrusIing flalcs of snow
fron Iis coai and sioning Iis loois. TIcrc was a
fcsiivc air io iIc iaroon, wiiI a firc llazing in iIc
IcariI and grccncry Iung ovcr iIc windows and
doors, iicd wiiI largc rcd lows.
McacIan rcqucsicd a ianlard of alc fron iIc
ruddy-faccd landlord and sai down ai a rougI woodcn
iallc. SircicIing Iis long lcgs oui ioward iIc lurning
logs, Ic discrccily survcycd iIc iIinly oulaicd roon.
In iIc oosiic corncr wcrc iwo rougI couniry ncn, io
wIon Ic noddcd cordially. Ncarcr ai Iand sai iwo cl-
cganily drcsscd gcnilcncn, youngcr iIan Iinsclf and
olviously asiring io a IigIcr siandard of fasIion iIan
gcncrally rcvailcd in iIc couniry. Insicad of iIc in-
fornal ncclcrcIicfs Ic Iad sccn soricd on Iis carlicr
visii io iIc iown, iIis air worc ncclcloiIs of risiinc
wIiicncss, carcfully sIacd inio wIai McacIan

34
gucsscd io lc a ioriurcd vcrsion of iIc Waicrfall.
TIc viscouni was awarc iIai iIcrc was sonc
inicrcsi iqucd ly Iis acarancc in iIc roon, loiI
iIc youiIs and iIc oldcr ncn covcrily sicaling glanccs
ai Iin. WIcn onc of iIc youngcr gcnilcncn canc ovcr
io ioss anoiIcr log on iIc firc, Ic said io McacIan,
"I'vc noi sccn you Icrc lcforc, sir. Arc you siaying in
iIc arca?"
"Ai Tarnlca, for a fcw days," Ic answcrcd willingly
cnougI.
"If iIai don'i lcai all! My fanily Ias lnown iIc
CarruiIcrs fanily forcvcr. Allow nc io iniroducc
nysclfJancs Slocun, sir, ai your scrvicc." TIc
young nan swci Iin an inrcssivc low and
indicaicd Iis conanion. "TIai's CIarlcs CladIan,
wIo Ias livcd Icrc all Iis lifc as wcll."
"Julian Winslow," McacIan said. "Plcasc join nc."
TIc iwo youngsicrs, wIon Ic judgcd io lc aloui
iwcniy ycars of agc, iool scais oosiic Iin, and
McacIan ordcrcd anoiIcr round of alcs fron iIc land-
lord. "So you'vc lnown Sir Lawrcncc and Miss
CarruiIcrs for nany ycars."
"OI, lord, ycs," Jancs Slocun assurcd Iin.
"Drucilla is only a ycar oldcr iIan I an. Known cacI
oiIcr sincc wc wcrc in lcading sirings. Sir Lawrcncc
was uscd io..." Dui Ic siocd alruily and aslcd,
"You'vc sccn Sir Lawrcncc, Iavcn'i you, sir?"
"Ycs. I was nucI sIoclcd ly Iis condiiion. Uniil rc-
ccnily I was noi awarc of Iow ladly Iis nind...
wandcrs."
CladIan noddcd cncrgciically. "So wc Icar, lui iIc
old gcnilcnan Iasn'i lccn oui of iIc Iousc in... oI,
ycars, I sIould iIinl."
"My noiIcr visiis Drucilla and Icr conanion, of
coursc," Slocun claincd. "Noi iIai sIc sccs Sir
Lawrcncc on Icr calls. Wcll, I darcsay sIc wouldn'i
wisI io, would sIc? Mad as a Iaiicr, iIc oor dcvil.
Dui ii's iIc sori of iIing onc nigIi Iavc cccicd."
"Is ii?" McacIan aslcd, surriscd.
"Noi ai all!" roicsicd CladIan. "TIcrc's noi a dro
of nadncss in iIc fanily iIai I lnow of."
"Of coursc iIcrc's noi," Slocun rcioricd. "Dui, lord,
iIc way iIc nan dranl! MigIi Iavc drivcn a lcsscr
nan crazy ycars ago."
CladIan could noi accci iIis and siaicd, "Ncvcr
lncw a nan io go nad of drinl, Jinny. Noi lilc Sir

35
Lawrcncc, ai all cvcnis. Ii was Iis wifc's dying iIai
usIcd Iin ovcr iIc io."
"Hardly!" rciurncd Iis fricnd. "TIai Iacncd cons
ago. Evcryonc lnows iIai."
"Ycs, lui ny faiIcr says ii was Icr dying iIai drovc
Iin io drinl," CladIan rcnindcd Iin. Hc iurncd io
iIc viscouni and claincd, "Madc Iin a lii unlal-
anccd, don'i you lnow? Evcryonc says so."
Slocun glarcd ai Iin. "Wcll, I don'i lnow aloui
iIai. TIc fcllow was a lruising ridcr io Iounds long af-
icr Lady CarruiIcrs dicd. Had sonc of iIc fincsi Iuni-
crs in iIc couniy."
CladIan iool a long draw on Iis alc and acarcd
io considcr iIis. "TIing is, iIai's u Ic carcd for,
dcnnc."
"Dy Cod, ii isn'i," rcjoincd young Slocun. "Can'i say
Ic didn'i carc for Drucilla, CIarlcs. Noi an unnaiural
faiIcr, Sir Lawrcncc."
MucI sirucl ly iIis, CladIan rclcnicd. "So Ic did,
so Ic did. Tool Icr riding, didn'i Ic? I could alnosi
Iavc fcli sorry for Icr, iIougI, liiilc liiiy iIing u on
onc of iIosc grcai Iunicrs. Don'i lnow as I could Iavc
donc ii ai iIai agc. SIc Iad iIc siouicsi Icari of any
of us. Ncvcr cricd cravcn aloui iIc liggcsi, wildcsi
Iorsc Ic ui Icr on. SIc could ridc anyiIing."
"SIc don'i anynorc," said Slocun. "Saw Icr on iIai
gray narc iIc oiIcr day. Nicc lii of llood, of coursc,
lui no IigI flycr."
"Trcaicd Icr norc lilc a loy iIan a girl," nuscd
CladIan.
Slocun noddcd saicnily. "No Icir," Ic said suc-
cincily. "Sonc disiani cousin gcis iIc lacc wIcn Ic
dics."
McacIan cougIcd aologciically and said, "I'n iIc
cousin, I'n afraid."
TIc iwo youiIful gcnilcncn siarcd ai Iin in sonc-
iIing of a losly Iazc and ccIangcd cnlarrasscd
glanccs. Slocun siraigIicncd Iis slcndcr lody. "No
offcnsc ncani, I'n surc, sir."
"Nonc ialcn," McacIan assurcd Iin. "AnoiIcr
round?"
"Don'i nind if I do," CladIan agrccd. "Havc you
sccn SiandisI?"
"Ycs, and riddcn Iin. I wouldn'i lci a guinca iIai
I'vc riddcn a norc ronising aninal."
"Fincsi iccc of IorscflcsI iIis couniy Ias sccn in a

36
dozcn ycars," Slocun inforncd Iin, and rocccdcd io
liclcr wiiI Iis fricnd as io wIciIcr Iis own Fufus or
CladIan's Mars ranlcd firsi of iIc Iunicrs originally
owncd ly iIc laronci.
WIcn McacIan cvcniually nadc Iis way lacl io
Tarnlca on SiandisI, Ic Iad nucI io iIinl aloui. TIc
sIar clariiy of iIc nigIi sccncd in lccing wiiI Iis
iIougIis, wIicI wcrc ccnicrcd, as iIcy Iad lccn so of-
icn laicly, on Iis cousin. Ii was olvious now iIai all
Drucilla's cfforis Iad lccn io rcvcni Iis lcarning of
Icr faiIcr's carclcss and unlcconing lcIavior, loiI
wiiI rcgard io iIc csiaic and io Icrsclf. WIai
asionisIing loyaliy fron sonconc wIo Iad noi lccn
ircaicd wiiI cvcn ordinary considcraiion!
As Ic rodc down iIc lanc iIai sliricd iIc Tarnlca
rocriy, Ic inagincd a young Drucilla nounicd on
onc of Icr faiIcr's cnornous Iunicrs, frigIicncd lui
dcicrnincd noi io adnii ii. McacIan iIougIi iIai cr-
Ias sIc'd lccn forccd all Icr lifc io accci rcsonsi-
liliiics iIai wcrc only wiiI asionisIing couragc wiiIin
Icr gras. Noi nany woncn in sinilar circunsianccs
could Iavc iurncd inio iIc dcligIiful crcaiurc Ic Iad
scni so nucI iinc wiiI iIcsc lasi fcw days.
TIc avcnuc of oal irccs lcading u io Tarnlca
loolcd gIosily in iIc alc noonligIi, lui iIc luilding
iisclf sccncd grandly solid and cnduring. McacIan
Iad dcvclocd an affcciion for iIis ancicni rocriy,
sonciIing Ic would noi Iavc cccicd on iIai
norning of Iis arrival. Tarnlca iIcn Iad sccncd
ncrcly anoiIcr rollcn in scarcI of a soluiion, and
onc Ic Iad ialcn on only oui of a siringcni scnsc of
duiy. Hc Iad considcrcd scnding Iis sccrciary, a vcry
caallc young nan, wIo would Iavc survcycd iIc
siiuaiion and lrougIi Iin an adnirallc rcori. TIc
iIougIi disircsscd McacIan inordinaicly.
Hc would noi Iavc lccn rcacquainicd wiiI Drucilla,
would noi Iavc sccn wiiI Iis own cycs Icr couragc
and Icr caaliliiics. His sccrciary could noi ossilly
Iavc convcycd Icr niscIicvous-angcl facc, or iIc rcs-
oluic sinccriiy of Icr cycs. No sccondIand accouni of
Drucilla could caiurc iIc innaic livclincss or iIc sul-
ilc innoccncc of iIis rcnarlallc lady.
McacIan lncw iIai, fron a disiancc, Ic nigIi Iavc
ordaincd a rcsoluiion io iIc Tarnlca siiuaiion iIai
would Iavc sIown Iis cousin vcry liiilc norc considcr-
aiion iIan Icr faiIcr Iad donc. TIc roscci aallcd

37
Iin. And yci, on iIc sccnc and faccd wiiI all iIc
ncccssary cvidcncc Iinsclf, Ic was no closcr io
lnowing wIai Ic sIould do.
How could Ic wall away fron Tarnlca? OI, ii would
lc sinlc cnougI io ui sonconc in cIargc of iIc
csiaic. TIai wasn'i iIc rollcn ai all. Nor was Sir
Lawrcncc iIc rollcn. Drucilla was iIc rollcn.
As McacIan swung down fron SiandisI ai iIc
Tarnlca siallcs, Ic rucfully adniiicd io Iinsclf iIai
Iis iinc scni Icrc Iad cIangcd Iis lifc. Drucilla Iad
lcconc a ncccssary ari of ii and Ic would noi
willingly lcavc Icr lcIind. Dui Ic Iadn'i iIc fainicsi
noiion if sIc rciurncd Iis rcgard. SIc Iad givcn no
norc indicaiion iIan crIas Ic Iad Iinsclf.
Wcll, iIcrc was noiIing for ii lui io ui ii io iIc
ioucI, Ic iIougIi as Ic rclinquisIcd SiandisI io iIc
slccy waiiing groon. An alarning roscci, iIc
viscouni aclnowlcdgcd, wIcn all onc's Iaincss dc-
cndcd on iIc ouiconc.
TIougI McacIan was u carly iIc following
norning, Ic was noi allc io caicI Miss CarruiIcrs ai
iIc lrcalfasi iallc. WIcn Ic noiiccd iIai Icr lacc
Iad alrcady lccn rcnovcd, Ic iurncd a qucsiioning
gazc on Hasiings, wIo said aologciically, "Miss
CarruiIcrs Ias gonc io lool for Tcddy."
Tcddy?" iIc viscouni rccaicd.
"TIc goai, nilord."
"Of coursc. WIai clsc would sIc lc doing iIan
scarcIing for iIc losi sIcc?" McacIan inquircd rIc-
iorically.
Hasiings gavc a discrcci cougI. "Aciually, ii is a
goai, nilord. Sir Lawrcncc is cccssivcly fond of goai's
nill in Iis ica."
McacIan iIougIi iIis soundcd osiiivcly
disgusiing lui aslcd, "WIcrc would Miss CarruiIcrs
lc lilcly io lool for iIc... cr... Tcddy?"
"Ii's difficuli io say. Oncc sIc was found ai iIc Ionc
wood, anoiIcr iinc lcyond iIc sinncy."
"Would Miss CarruiIcrs Iavc riddcn?"
"OI, ycs, sir. TIc goai Ias roancd far aficld ai
iincs."
McacIan nadc a Iasiy rcasi and Icadcd ioward
iIc siallcs. Hc was alrcady drcsscd for riding, as Ic
Iad Iocd io inducc Iis cousin io ialc sonc ccrcisc
wiiI Iin. Clory was gonc fron Icr lo, and McacIan
iacd Iis wIi againsi Iis io-looicd fooi as

38
SiandisI was saddlcd.
TIc siallion was rcsiivc, iossing Iis Icad and
sianing Iis Ioovcs. TIc groon grinncd ai McacIan
and said, "Hc's going io lc a wiclcd onc io Iandlc iIis
norning, ny lord. Sccn Iin iIis way lcforc. Hc'll iry
io unload you in iIc firsi asiurc."
"TIanl you for iIc warning. Do you lnow wIicI
way Miss CarruiIcrs Icadcd?"
"Toward iIc sinncy, lui norc'n Ialf an Iour gonc."
McacIan swung Iinsclf onio iIc Iorsc, wIo was
aiicniing io sidlc ioward a railing. Noi wisIing io
Iavc Iis lcg crusIcd, iIc viscouni solc firnly io Iis
nouni and Icld iIc rcins in a owcrful gri. SiandisI
olcycd, lui McacIan lncw Ic only awaiicd an oor-
iuniiy io unscai Iis ridcr.
Clcar of iIc siallc yard, McacIan gavc Iin Iis
Icad across iIc firsi asiurc, lcaring in nind iIc
groon's cauiion. SiandisI sIicd wildly ai a rallii
lcaing in froni of Iin, a crfccily nornal occurrcncc
in iIc couniry. McacIan Iad no difficuliy in rciaining
Iis crcI, lui SiandisI was far fron finisIcd wiiI Iis
aniics.
Anuscd, iIc viscouni cndurcd iIc lucling, iwisi-
ing, and loliing wiiI no norc iIan a sIar dig of Iis
Iccls or a iigIicning gri on iIc rcins. Ai lcngiI iIc
Iorsc iircd of Iis iricls and sciilcd inio a Icadlong
gallo iIai would Iavc ouiaccd nany of iIc
raccIorscs McacIan Iad laclcd in Iis youngcr days.
Hc scanncd iIc sinncy, and lcyond ii a icnani
farn, io norc asiurc land. To iIc casi iIcrc was an
avcnuc of oal irccs iIai lcd u io Tarnlca, io iIc
souiI a glinsc of waicr. McacIan Iad noi as yci
riddcn ioward iIc iarn for wIicI Ic assuncd Tarnlca
was nancd, and wiiI a frown iurncd SiandisI in iIai
dircciion. Duiicrncrc Lalc was nucI furiIcr away,
oui of iIc rcscni rangc of Iis vision. Dui in iIc
viciniiy of iIc iarn Ic dciccicd novcncni iIai loolcd
vcry nucI lilc a ridcrlcss Iorsc.
Disiancc was dccciivc on iIc Iazy Dcccnlcr
norning, and ii iool Iin icn ninuics io arrivc ai iIc
sccnc. Hc could casily idcniify Clory wIcn Ic was siill
sonc liiilc way fron iIc narc, lui sIc was indccd
wiiIoui Icr ridcr. Clory was noi iicd io any lusI or
ircc, iIougI iIcrc wcrc lcniy surrounding Icr.
McacIan saw no cvidcncc of Iis cousin, lui iIc
narc was in a liiilc dcrcssion ncarcr Iin iIan iIc

39
waicr. A sIalc-covcrcd Iillocl lcIind iIc narc
sIicldcd nucI fron Iis vicw.
"Drucilla!" Ic callcd, grasing Clory's rcins. "Arc you
Icrc?"
A faini rcsonsc rcacIcd Iis cars, lui Ic could noi
lc ccriain of iis dircciion. Hc swung down fron
SiandisI and iicd Iis nouni io a ncarly ircc, irusiing
iIai Clory would siay closc. On fooi Ic scranllcd u
iIc sicc sloc ioward iIc waicr, fcaring iIai Iis
cousin Iad aiicnicd io ridc Clory u ii and lccn
iIrown. As Ic crcsicd iIc Iill Ic saw iIai ii was far
oiIcrwisc. His cousin was down on Icr lnccs,
wraing a llcaiing wIiic and lrown goai in Icr own
cloal.
"Drucilla," Ic said quicily, so as noi io siarilc Icr.
Drucilla loolcd u ai Iin wiiI surrisc. "McacIan!
I iIougIi ii would lc Fall. Hc's oui looling for Tcddy,
ioo. Havc you sccn Iin?"
McacIan sIool Iis Icad. "PcrIas Ic scarcIcd in
iIc oosiic dircciion. Arc you crfccily all rigIi?"
"Ycs," sIc said wiiI a wry snilc, "lui iIis siuid
goai Ias donc Icrsclf an injury. I found Icr in iIc wa-
icr wiiI Icr fooi caugIi lciwccn iwo rocls, and
iIougI I Iavc nanagcd io rclcasc ii, sIc docs noi
sccn io lc allc io wall."
"I don'i scc Iow sIc could wiiI your coai wracd
around Icr iIai way," Ic said, lacing Iis own uon
Icr sIouldcrs. WIcn Drucilla novcd io roicsi, Ic
said, "You'll caicI your dcaiI."
"Wcll, if onc of us Ias io frcczc," sIc said, wiiI a
cri snilc, "I'n ccriainly glad ii's you. I cannoi iolcraic
cold wcaiIcr." WIicI was iruc cnougI, lui nainly
lccausc sIc lncw iIai Icr nosc goi rcd and Icr cycs
waicrcd unlcconingly wIcn sIc was cIillcd. His coai
fcli Icavy and warn, and sIc'd lccn oui in iIc cold
longcr iIan sIc'd lanncd.
McacIan was rcgarding Icr wiiI a lool iIai was
noi ai all indcciIcrallc in Iis cycs. Drucilla fcli
soncwIai alasIcd ai Iis dccidcdly icndcr gazc and
lusicd Icrsclf sliing Icr arns inio Iis coai and
wraing ii iigIily aloui Icr. Aficr a noncni Ic
rcacIcd ovcr io lifi iIc collar againsi Icr nccl lcforc
saying lrusqucly, "I'll carry iIc goai. Lci's gci you
lacl io Tarnlca wIcrc you can ui on dry cloiIcs and
warn yoursclf lcforc a firc."
Tcddy llcaicd aiIciically as sIc was iclcd u,

40
lui sIc allowcd Icrsclf io sciilc inio iIc viscouni's
arns wiiIoui a sirugglc. Hcr long lcgs nadc Icr an
ccccdingly awlward lurdcn. McacIan rcnarlcd
causiically iIai Ic lanncd io rcnovc goai carrying
fron iIc lisi of iIings Ic was willing io do for Iis
cousin. Drucilla rcccdcd Iin, grinning arcciaiivcly
as Ic nancuvcrcd Iis way ovcr iIc slicry sIalc and
down io iIc solid ground lclow.
"I was afraid you Iad suffcrcd a fall wIcn I found
Clory wiiIoui Icr ridcr." McacIan sci iIc goai down
on iIc ground and Tcddy scranllcd io siand u, only
io sulsidc again wIcn sIc could noi lcar Icr own
wcigIi.
Drucilla laccd Icr fooi in iIc Iands McacIan Icld
oui for Icr, and Ic iosscd Icr ncaily u onio Icr
Iorsc. "SIc'll siay wIcrc I icll Icr io, if I dro iIc rcins
ovcr Icr Icad. WIy don'i you Iand Tcddy u io nc? I
would dcarly lovc io scc you iry io nouni wiiI Icr in
your arns, or Iolding Icr on SiandisI wIilc you swing
inio iIc saddlc, lui I'n afraid sIc would lc iIc worsc
for ii."
TIc viscouni, wIo Iad lccn wondcring Iow io lcsi
acconlisI iIis fcai, said, "I irusi Clory will lc norc
iolcrani of Tcddy iIan I fcar SiandisI would. How
wcrc you lanning io nanagc if you'd lccn on your
own?"
"I darcsay I would Iavc lccn forccd io lcavc Tcddy
Icrc wIilc I wcni for Icl." CaicIing iIc anuscd
glcan in Iis cycs, sIc adniiicd, "Ycs, I'n vcry graicful
you canc along, Lord McacIan. TIai gocs wiiIoui
saying."
"You callcd nc McacIan a wIilc ago. I lilcd ii."
"Did you? And I lclicvc I Icard you call nc Drucilla,
raiIcr iIan your dcrcssingly corrcci Mss CuutIcs.
SIall wc agrcc io a norc cousinly forn of addrcss?"
"Cousinly?" Hc cycd Icr scculaiivcly. "Dy all
ncans. You nigIi cvcn call nc Julian."
SIc laugIcd. "OI, I don'i iIinl I could go so far as
iIai, sir. Conc, Iand Tcddy u io nc."
McacIan lorc iIc goai, roicsiing wiiI iis lnolly-
lnccd lcgs, u onio Clory's lacl. TIc narc calnly ac-
ccicd iIc wriggling lundlc, and McacIan wracd
Drucilla's cloal norc sccurcly aloui Tcddy io lcc Icr
siill. WIcn Ic siood lacl, frowning, Ic said, "I don'i
scc Iow you'rc going io Iold Icr on and nanagc iIc
Iorsc as wcll."

41
"Clory is a vcry olcdicni crcaiurc, McacIan. Lcad
iIc way on SiandisI and sIc'll follow."
SiandisI was noi as casily convinccd iIai Ic wisIcd
io wall alrcasi of a siruggling goai, lui McacIan Iad
no difficuliy in lccing Iin in linc. As iIcy rodc slowly
lacl ioward Tarnlca, Ic said, "Did you Iavc io go
yoursclf io lool for Icr?"
Surriscd, sIc iurncd Icr facc ioward Iis. "And wIy
sIouldn'i I?"
Hc sIruggcd. "You Iavc a sufficicnily rcsourccful
siaff io irusi iIcn wiiI sucI a iasl. You sccn io nc
io fccl a crsonal rcsonsililiiy for cvcn iIc snallcsi
naiicr ai Tarnlca."
Drucilla siudicd Iin raiIcr sIarly, unccriain as io
Iis ncaning. "I'n fond of Tcddy. SIc's raiIcr lilc onc
of iIc dogs Icrc, a ncnlcr of iIc fanily."
"Ycs, lui you could Iavc siaycd Ionc in confori.
Fall would no douli Iavc found Icr cvcniually."
"I scc wIai ii is. You iIinl nc a nunugng fcnalc,
lui iIai is only lccausc I Iavc Iad io lcconc onc.
WIo was iIcrc lui nc io ialc iIc nanagcncni of
Tarnlca in Iand?"
"You could Iavc aslcd for ny Icl."
Drucilla's lrows rosc in surrisc. "Wcll, io lc Ion-
csi, iIai iIougIi ncvcr occurrcd io nc."
"I wisI ii Iad. Noi iIai I ncan io say you Iavc noi
donc a finc jol, lui ii was a largc lurdcn for onc of
your ycars. I don'i crfccily undcrsiand wIy you didn'i
wisI Wiclcr's Icl. PcrIas you could clain iIai io
nc."
Dui sIc disnisscd Iis qucsiion, saying only, "Mr.
Wiclcr is far ioo cauiious for ny iasic."
"In oiIcr words, you could noi irusi Iin io do rc-
ciscly as you wisIcd."
SIc rcsondcd io iIc icasing in Iis ionc wiiI a
dccidcd grin. "Truc. Hc nigIi Iavc callcd you in."
"I wisI iIai onc of you Iad. Undcr iIc circun-
sianccs Tarnlca is ny rcsonsililiiy."
"I Iavc cvcryiIing in Iand."
"Mr. Wiclcr, Iowcvcr, no longcr acars io agrcc
wiiI you."
"Mr. Wiclcr Ias lccn ladgcrcd ly a youngcr ari-
ncr inio laying iIc wIolc naiicr lcforc you in iIc
Iocs iIai a concicncy Icaring will noi only lring
iIcn in fccs, lui iIai you will cIoosc iIcir
arincrsIi io ovcrscc naiicrs Icrc on iIc csiaic."

42
"I an norc lilcly," Ic assurcd Icr, "io iIinl iIcn
vcry la in iIcir duiics for Iaving ialcn so long io in-
forn nc of iIc siiuaiion."
"You nusin'i llanc iIai on oor Mr. Wiclcr!"
"No? WIo sIall I llanc ii on, iIcn? A ccriain young
lady wIo nanagcd io cozcn an cldcrly soliciior for iIc
lciicr ari of iwo ycars wiiI Icr cIarn and Icr car-
ncsincss? Did iIc oor nan cvcr scc your faiIcr
during iIai iinc?"
"Ncvcr," sIc adniiicd. "Dui Mr. Wiclcr could scc
iIai iIc csiaic was givcn our cvcry aiicniion. And ii
was Ic wIo scni JoIn TIonas io nc originally."
"Prolally ccciing Mr. TIonas io lcc Iin in-
forncd of wIai wcni forward Icrc. Dui Mr. TIonas
soon swiicIcd Iis allcgiancc io you."
Drucilla laid a calning Iand on iIc goai's luiiing
Icad. "You nalc ii sound for all iIc world lilc a dc-
vious loi, McacIan. All wc wisIcd io do was sci
iIings io rigIis."
"And io gci ii donc lcforc I lncw of your cfforis."
"Wcll, ycs, lccausc wc Iad no way of lnowing
wIciIcr you would arovc of iIc ccndiiurc. Ii Ias
all lccn sIoclingly dcar."
"And you'vc iricd io concnsaic ly naling Iousc-
Iold ccononics." McacIan rcgardcd Icr wiiI
anuscncni. "Now tIut I could noi Iavc arovcd of."
"WIy cvcr noi?"
"Dccausc iIcrc was noi iIc lcasi nccd. In iIc firsi
lacc, iIcy could Iardly nalc a dcni in your ovcrall
ouilay, and in iIc sccond, iIcrc is no rcason you
sIould noi livc ai Tarnlca in crfcci confori."
"OI, you arc iIinling wc Iavc dcrivcd oursclvcs,
wIicI is noi ai all iruc. Dui you arc quiic rigIi iIai
our ccononics scrvcd liiilc io iIc urosc. McacIan,
do you rcally noi nnd wIai I'vc donc?"
"I iIinl ii was rolally vcry ncccssary."
SIc was surriscd ly iIc lnowlcdgcallc ionc of Iis
voicc. For a noncni sIc iIougIi crIas Ic Iad dis-
covcrcd Icr faiIcr's culaliliiy in iIc disinicgraiion of
Iis own rocriy, and a ioucI of color crci u inio
Icr cold cIccls.
TIc llandncss of McacIan's crcssion rcassurcd
Icr. No onc ai Tarnlca was going io oini a fingcr ai
iIc laronci. And if McacIan Iad nci any local co-
lc, iIcy would Iavc lccn nucI ioo inrcsscd wiiI
Iis ranl and fanily conncciion io gossi aloui Sir

43
Lawrcncc.
Drucilla was graiificd iIai iIcy Iad rcacIcd iIc sia-
llc yard ly iIis iinc. McacIan was insianily on iIc
ground and allowing a siallc lad io lcad SiandisI off.
Tcddy llcaicd Iocfully as iIc viscouni rcacIcd u io
rcnovc Icr fron Clory's lacl. WIilc a groon siudicd
iIc goai's injury, McacIan Iclcd Drucilla down fron
Icr Iorsc, lccing Iold of Icr Iand a noncni longcr
iIan ncccssary.
"Wc nccd io iall furiIcr," Ic said.
Drucilla loolcd around for sonc ncans io cscac
fron Iis cnciraiing gazc. "Ycs, ccriainly wc sIall. Dui
now, ny dcar sir, I nusi cIangc ny cloiIcs. I an also
Ioclcssly lcIind on ny daily iasls lccausc of iIis
wrcicIcd goai. Will you scc iIai iIcy ialc rocr carc
of Icr lcg? Hcrc, you will nccd your coai and I nusi
Iurry inio iIc Iousc so iIai I don'i frcczc."
McacIan, iIc corncr of Iis nouiI iwiicIing
sligIily, waicIcd Icr Iasiy rcircai wiiI a niiurc of
frusiraiion and anuscncni.
Drucilla couldn'i Icl lui wondcr wIai iIc viscouni
nigIi Iavc discovcrcd. Hcavcn lncw sIc Iad donc Icr
lcsi io roicci Icr faiIcr's nanc and rcuiaiion in
McacIan's cycs. Aficr all, iIis was Icr only fanily and
sIc did noi wisI an ouisidcrcvcn if Ic was disianily
rclaicd io Icrio dcsisc Icr faiIcr for Iis lacl of
aiicniion io Iis Ioldings. Sir Lawrcncc Iad lccn
sIaiicrcd ly Iis wifc's dcaiI, and cnliiicrcd ly Iis
lacl of an Icir. If Ic Iad ialcn io drinl, wIo could
llanc Iin?
McacIan could, of coursc. Tarnlca was Iis io in-
Icrii, and Ic could noi Iavc failcd io asscss wIcn iIc
danagc io iIc csiaic Iad ialcn lacc. Ii was ossillc
iIai iIc viscouni nigIi assunc Sir Lawrcncc Iad
lccn ncnially disircsscd long lcforc Ic indccd was,
and lay Iis disinicrcsi io iIai causc. In nany ways,
iIai was rcciscly wIai Drucilla Iocd would Iacn,
and Iad lccn ai sonc ains io insinuaic. McacIan's
own youiIful indiscrciions, iIougI a Iocful sign,
Iardly ncani Ic would rcgard an aduli's
irrcsonsililiiy as sonciIing rcadily iolcraicd.
Puiiing asidc Icr conccrns, sIc lusicd Icrsclf wiiI
iIc iasl of confcrring wiiI iIc Iousclcccr aloui lin-
cns, and iIc cool aloui iIc ncals for iIc nci fcw
days, uniil McacIan was safcly away fron Tarnlca.
Dui Icr nind would noi siay on iIcsc iasls. MucI io

44
Icr disircss, an inagc of iIc viscouni, usually wiiI a
laugIing ligIi in Iis cycs, coniinually disiurlcd Icr
iIougIis. SIc could inicrrci iIis ligIi as nocling, or
as Iunorous, lui sIc could noi inicrrci iIc way sIc
fcli cacI iinc ii arosc as anyiIing lui a lrcaiIlcss
sori of cciicncni.
If ii Iad lccn a warn and sunny day, sIc would
Iavc ialcn off across iIc arl on a long, cIausiing
Iilc, forcing all iIougIi of McacIan fron Icr nind.
As ii was, sIc accd aloui iIc snall lilrary wIicI
doullcd as Icr IouscIold officc, ausing now and
again ai iIc window io siarc unsccing ai iIc
sIrullcry.
TIougIis of Iin rcfuscd io lc vanquisIcd. Hc Iad
ircaicd Icr wiiI considcraiion, gcncrosiiy, Iunor, and
any nunlcr of oiIcr viriuous lcIaviors. WIicI did noi
ncan iIai Ic carcd for Icr in iIc sligIicsi. Ii was
ncrcly iIc lind of nan Ic was.
Dcsidcs, noiIing could conc of any aiiacIncni lc-
iwccn iIc iwo of iIcn, cvcn if Ic sIould Iacn io rc-
iurn Icr rcgard. TIcrc was Icr faiIcr io lc iIougIi of,
and May Scrii, and a dozcn oiIcr naiicrs largc and
snall iIai sIc nccdcd io aiicnd io ai Tarnlca. Ai iincs
Icr lurdcn sccncd Icavy indccd. For a lricf noncni
sIc allowcd Icrsclf a glinsc of a sIarcd rcsonsilil-
iiy, and iIc vision was Icavcnly.
Drucilla considcrcd iIc ossililiiy iIai Icr dcsirc
for rclicf was iIc wIolc of Icr aiiraciion io Lord
McacIan, lui sIc lncw lciicr. For iIc vcry firsi iinc
in Icr lifc sIc Iad nci a nan wIo Iad causcd Icr io
succunl io lovc. WIcn Ic wcni away again, sIc would
Iavc iIc dclicious ncnory io Iold in Icr Icari and
Icr nind.
And Ic would go away soon now. Fron iIc noncni
of Iis arrival Ic Iad nadc ii clcar iIai Ic nusi rciurn
io McacIan Couri in iinc for iIc Iolidays. TIcrc was
lcss iIan a wccl; ai any iinc Ic would announcc iIai
Ic was lcaving on iIc norrow. Prolally iIc nci iinc
sIc Icard fron Iin would lc a loldly cnncd lciicr
announcing Iis lan io insiall a ncw adninisiraiion
for iIc csiaic.
A firn ia ai iIc door siarilcd Icr. No onc cvcr
loiIcrcd Icr in iIc snall lilrary unlcss sIc rcqucsicd
iIcir rcscncc, and ioday csccially sIc Iad wisIcd io
lc alonc. Vcry nucI afraid of wIon Icr visiior could
lc, sIc ncvcriIclcss granicd crnission io cnicr.

45
Dcforc sIc could so nucI as snooiI down Icr sliris,
iIc door ocncd and McacIan sirollcd in.
"I Iad iIc dcvil of a iinc gciiing anyonc io icll nc
wIcrc you wcrc," Ic said. "You'rc noi Iiding fron nc,
arc you, Drucilla?"
"Ccriainly noi! TIis is ny officc and I conc Icrc al-
nosi cvcry day, iIougI I an noi in iIc Ialii of rccciv-
ing visiiors Icrc."
"Lci's noi considcr nc a visiior. Noi only an I onc of
iIc fanily, lui I Iavc lusincss wiiI you."
Drucilla wavcd Iin io iIc soliiary siraigIi-laclcd
cIair and iool Icr scai lcIind iIc dcsl. "Dcforc you
lcgin, do icll nc if Tcddy is going io lc all rigIi."
"Fall sccns io iIinl so. TIcy'vc wracd Icr lcg
iigIily and sIc's allc io Iolllc around on ii. TIcrc
will cvcn," Ic inforncd Icr wiiI iIc anuscd glcan in
Iis cycs, "lc goai's nill for your faiIcr's ica."
"I darcsay you find ii Iunorous, sir, lui colc in
ny faiIcr's condiiion can lcconc quiic agiiaicd if iIcir
rouiinc is disruicd."
Hc lcancd lacl in Iis cIair, vcry nucI ai casc.
"Docs iIai worry you, ny dcar? My ccricncc of your
faiIcr is iIai iIc agiiaiion of iIc noncni quiclly
asscs, wIicI is crIas onc of iIc grcaicsi
advaniagcs of Iaving sucI a vcry sIori ncnory."
Hc sccncd io givc sonc undcrlying ncaning io iIis
ronounccncni, lui Drucilla was unallc io dcicrninc
wIai ii was. "PcrIas," sIc agrccd. "Dui wIai
lusincss Ias lrougIi you io ny officc?"
"A naiicr of iIc uinosi inoriancc io nc. I fccl I
Iavc lcarncd a sufficicni anouni aloui iIc siiuaiion
Icrc io concludc ny siay, and I wani io advisc you of
ny dccisions."
WiiI a sinling Icari, Drucilla said, "Plcasc do."
"I won'i oljcci io iIc ccndiiurcs ovcr iIc lasi iwo
ycars, lccausc iIcy wcrc olviously ncccssary. I do fccl
iIai ii would lc aroriaic for nc io rcss for a
concicncy Icaring for Sir Lawrcncc, so iIai I nigIi
lc givcn conlcic conirol ovcr iIc csiaic."
"Dui if you don'i oljcci io iIc way I'vc Iandlcd
naiicrs, I don'i undcrsiand wIy you can'i jusi lcavc
iIings as iIcy arc."
"Dccausc, ny dcar, you arc noi iIc aroriaic cr-
son io sci naiicrs io rigIis Icrc. TIai's ny
rcsonsililiiy"
"Dui I don'i nind! And iIcrc is vcry liiilc lcfi io lc

46
acconlisIcd. As io iIc day-io-day running of iIc cs-
iaic, JoIn TIonas is an cccllcni csiaic nanagcr. Hc
would noi lcad nc asiray."
"Drucilla, I wani you io lisicn vcry carcfully io nc.
You arc noi rcsonsillc for your faiIcr's nisnanagc-
ncni of iIc csiaic. No, no, don'i iry io lanloozlc nc
any furiIcr, ny dcar. TIougI ii iool nc a grcai dcal
norc cffori iIan I would Iavc iIougIi ncccssaryyour
scrvanis and ncigIlors lcing so vcry loyalI Iavc
found iIc iruiI of iIc naiicr."
"Dui ii was our rcvious csiaic nanagcr wIo dc-
fraudcd iIc csiaic. You saw iIai for yoursclf in iIc
lools."
McacIan rcgardcd Icr wiiI synaiIy. "I an awarc
of iIai, ny dcar, lui you nusi allow nc ny own rcj-
udicc, wIicI is iIai a gcnilcnan wIo allows Iinsclf io
lc dcfraudcd on sucI a gross scalc is ccriainly guiliy
of ncgligcncc ai iIc vcry lcasi."
"Dui... lui iIcrc wcrc cicnuaiing circunsianccs."
"Only rcccnily Ias ii lccn inrcsscd uon nc Iow
dccly a nan nigIi lc dcvasiaicd ly iIc dcaiI of a
lclovcd wifc, Drucilla. I suosc I assuncd iIai in a
ycar or iwo, iIc gricf would alaic and lifc would rciurn
io nornal. I'n noi ai all surc any longcr iIai iIai's
iruc."
A flusI rosc in Icr cIccls ai iIc ncaningful
inicnsiiy of Iis gazc. "I lclicvc ny faiIcr was
inordinaicly fond of ny noiIcr."
"So I undcrsiand, and iIai Ic iool io drinling and
Iuniing as Iis najor disiraciions aficr Icr dcaiI."
Drucilla frowncd rodigiously. "I sIould vcry nucI
lilc io lnow wIo iold you iIai."
"Ycs, lui I Iavc no inicniion of inforning you, for ii
was donc quiic unsuscciingly. And iIougI I can
undcrsiand your faiIcr's dcsair and Iis dcsirc io
cscac fron an unlcasani rcaliiy, I find ii norc
difficuli io ardon Iin for wIai Ic did io you."
"To nc?" sIc cricd in asionisIncni. "WIy, Ic did
noiIing io nc."
"Ecci ignorc you or icrrify you ly uiiing you on
Iis grcai Iunicrs."
SIc wavcd asidc sucI insignificani naiicrs. "You
nusin'i iIinl I suffcrcd fron Iis odd siaris. Hc nan-
agcd io nalc nc inio a crcdiiallc ridcr, and Ic was
noi an alusivc nan wIcn Ic was in Iis cus." Ai Iis
slciical lool sIc addcd wiiI a disnissivc laugI, "Hc

47
was loud, ccriainly. Hc would roar ai cvcryonc, lui I
soon lcarncd io sinly disacar fron sigIi uniil Iis
solriciy was rcsiorcd."
"And a vcry young girl was, I suscci, lcfi io iidy u
iIc disorganizaiion Ic crcaicd. My Icari gocs oui io
iIai cIild."
"You rcfinc ioo nucI on ii, McacIan. Dcsidcs, all of
iIai is wcll in iIc asi."
"Noi iIc rcsonsililiiy." Hc rosc, wallcd io iIc win-
dow, and siood looling oui for sonc iinc wiiIoui
scaling. "I don'i ncan your faiIcr's rcsonsililiiy.
His illncss nalcs Iis ncgligcncc irrclcvani now. NoiI-
ing can lc donc aloui iIai. Ii is you I an conccrncd
wiiI, and you osc a vcry riclly rollcn for nc."
"I cannoi scc Iow," sIc roicsicd. "I an of agc and
in a fcw noniIs will Iavc a crfccily accciallc
indccndcncc wiiI wIicI io nanagc undcr any
condiiions you nay inosc on iIc csiaic. If I nusi
lcavc Tarnlca, wIy, I sIall sciilc in iIc villagc wiiI
Miss Scrii, or cvcn nalc ny Ionc wiiI Lady
NiliIwaiic, wIo Ias offcrcd iIc dowcr Iousc as ny
rcsidcncc wIcn ny faiIcr dics. You nccdn'i Iavc iIc
firsi iIougIi as io ny wclfarc."
Hc iurncd io facc Icr and sIool Iis Icad sligIily.
"My dcar Drucilla, iIai is rcciscly ny rollcn. NoiI-
ing conccrns nc norc iIan your wclfarc lccausc, you
scc, I Iavc conccivcd an affcciion for you wIicI I an
noi ai all ccriain is rccirocaicd." Hc auscd, iIcn
norc diffidcnily addcd, "I find ii inossillc io nalc
lans for iIc csiaic wiiIoui lnowing your fcclings on
iIc naiicr."
Drucilla sai, lcnuscd, ai iIc dcsl, Icr lis
ircnlling sligIily. In fivc accs Ic crosscd iIc roon
and Icld oui Iis Iands io Icr across iIc snall dcsl.
Hcsiianily, sIc laccd Icrs in iIcn and allowcd Iin io
draw Icr io Icr fcci. For long noncnis iIcy siood
looling inio cacI oiIcr's cycs as a snilc, ircnulous ai
firsi lui growing sirongcr, curvcd Drucilla's nouiI.
McacIan raiscd Icr Iands io Iis lis and lisscd iIcn
onc aficr iIc oiIcr.
"My Ioc," Ic said, "is iIai you will conscni io
narry nc, ny dcar. EvcryiIing clsc is of liiilc noncni.
Wc could livc loiI Icrc and ai McacIan Couri. Your
faiIcr could siay Icrc or conc wiiI us wIcn wc jour-
ncycd iIcrc. Miss Scrii could conc wiiI you, or go io
onc of ny sisicrs' Ioncs. TIc only naiicr of any in-

48
oriancc io nc is wIciIcr you will Iavc nc."
Drucilla fcli iIc acIc iIai Iad lccn in Icr Icari lc-
gin io fadc. "You'rc ccriain iIai ii is noi iiy you fccl
for nc, sir? I sIould noi ai all lilc io accci an offcr
insircd ly conassion."
His cycs danccd. "Conassion? My dcar Lady
Douniiful, ii is you wIo would lc gracing nc wiiI your
gcncrosiiy of Icari, your cIarning vivaciiy, your..."
Dui dccds sccncd norc aroriaic Icrc iIan
words, and McacIan novcd quiclly around iIc dcsl.
Taling Icr unrcsisiing lody inio Iis arns, Ic lcni Iis
darl Icad down io Icr uiurncd facc. His liss, icndcr
ai firsi, lccanc vcry nucI in carncsi, and ai lcngiI
Drucilla was forccd io ull lacl io gci a lrcaiI of air.
"I scc," sIc said, wiiI a sIaly laugI. TIc lluc cycs
lcancd u ai Iin. "TIcn I sIall nosi ccriainly Iavc
you, McacIan."
"And will you conc Ionc wiiI nc for CIrisinas, ny
lovc? My sisicrs will Iavc iIc Couri all fcsiivc wiiI
candlcs and Iolly, and fillcd wiiI iIc laugIicr of iIcir
cIildrcn. I could noi ossilly lring iIcn Ionc a
rcscni iIcy would norc dcligIi in iIan you. Jusi say
you will conc and I will nalc arrangcncnis for cvcry-
iIing clsc."
"Of coursc I'll conc." Drucilla raiscd Icr Iand io
sirolc Iis lclovcd cIccl. "I lncw, fron iIc noncni I
Icard you wcrc coning, iIai you would cIangc ny
lifconc way or anoiIcr. I was norc iIan a liiilc afraid
iIai ii would noi lc in a lcasani way. Uniil I canc io
lnow you. And iIcn I wondcrcd if I sIould cvcr lc iIc
sanc if you disacarcd fron ny lifc as quiclly as you
Iad cnicrcd ii."
McacIan lisscd iIc disordcrcd llond curls iIai fcll
on Icr forcIcad, Iugging Icr io Iin. "And I lncw fron
iIc noncni I saw you, Drucilla, iIai iIiswiiI a
nodicun of lucl, and iIc Ioliday siriiwould lc no
ordinary CIrisinas."






Copyright 1999 by Elizabeth Rotter
Originally published by Signet
Electronically published in 2006 by Belgrave House

49

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This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are
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is coincidental.