again with the new perspective of someone who was leaving it all behind. Would she soon long for the sight of neatly tended cottages among the great houses of London? Or would the countryside in her special part of Norfolk come to seem 57
Lady Alex's Gamble
by Evelyn Richardson
endless and boring in the extreme after the constant activity and the magnificent edifices of the metropolis?
After what seemed an age, Alex was rewarded by a gradual change in the scenery as the treeless fens and vast stretches of fields gave way to the more solid ground and gentle undulations of Cambridgeshire. Thatched roofed cottages were replaced by tile and slate and she leaned forward eagerly to absorb each new detail. How lucky men were that they might hop in a carriage or mount a horse without much ado, unencumbered by the need for companions to maintain the spotlessness of their reputations, and see all these new things, even if it were merely to observe the tiny differences in geography between one county and another.
At last they arrived in Cambridge, but the hour was so advanced that Alex was unable to see much beyond the crowded streets. Ned, having conferred with other neighboring coachmen before they left, had been assured of excellent accommodations to be had for both man and beast at the Rose and Crown in Market Square. Before she knew it, Alexandra was being ushered into a private parlor by a most gracious host. She was assured that the punch soon to be sent up would be much to her liking and that the missus was known for being an excellent cook of anything that his lordship could possibly desire.
Alex thanked him, wondering how on earth she could dispose of the punch he seemed determined to press on her. She ordered a fowl, simply dressed, for her supper, but in truth, she was far too excited to eat more than a few bites. 58
Lady Alex's Gamble
by Evelyn Richardson
Accustomed to practicing the strictest economies because of her brother's ruinous propensities, she wrapped up the remainder of the generous meal in the hopes that it would sustain her and Ned and save them the expense of having to order another meal on the road.
As for the punch, after a tentative taste, which quite burned her throat and stung her eyes with the strength of its fumes, she waited until all was silent in the innyard and quietly poured it out of the window. To be sure, it was a most effective way to preserve both her manly reputation and her clear head, but it also brought to mind the difficulties she was likely to encounter among the choice spirits at White's. How was she to keep from consuming voluminous quantities of port without arousing comment?
Alex shook her head. As with so many things, she would have to deal with these problems when they arose. She would just have to cope with life in much the manner her father had taught her to play cards; looking at each hand as she was dealt it while remaining calm and collected, allowing her mind to stay clear and her face impassive, and emptying her thoughts of needless anxieties and speculation, concentrating instead on extracting the most advantage from any given situation. "You will always do well, Alexandra," the old Earl of Halewood had told her one evening not long before he had died, "to look at the distribution of the cards while the others are worrying about how much money they will win or lose. Remain unaffected by such emotions and you will always come away a winner—maybe not a big winner, but a steady one, and that is what counts. I eventually learned to do that 59
Lady Alex's Gamble
by Evelyn Richardson
and it is that attitude that brought me Halewood and all of you."
It was the memory of the warm smile and utter confidence accompanying those words that was sustaining Alex now. She settled into the soft pillows, so welcoming after the hours spent jolting over the country roads. Ned had assured her that the turnpikes would be better as they got closer to London and she admitted
Lady Alex's Gamble
by Evelyn Richardson
endless and boring in the extreme after the constant activity and the magnificent edifices of the metropolis?
After what seemed an age, Alex was rewarded by a gradual change in the scenery as the treeless fens and vast stretches of fields gave way to the more solid ground and gentle undulations of Cambridgeshire. Thatched roofed cottages were replaced by tile and slate and she leaned forward eagerly to absorb each new detail. How lucky men were that they might hop in a carriage or mount a horse without much ado, unencumbered by the need for companions to maintain the spotlessness of their reputations, and see all these new things, even if it were merely to observe the tiny differences in geography between one county and another.
At last they arrived in Cambridge, but the hour was so advanced that Alex was unable to see much beyond the crowded streets. Ned, having conferred with other neighboring coachmen before they left, had been assured of excellent accommodations to be had for both man and beast at the Rose and Crown in Market Square. Before she knew it, Alexandra was being ushered into a private parlor by a most gracious host. She was assured that the punch soon to be sent up would be much to her liking and that the missus was known for being an excellent cook of anything that his lordship could possibly desire.
Alex thanked him, wondering how on earth she could dispose of the punch he seemed determined to press on her. She ordered a fowl, simply dressed, for her supper, but in truth, she was far too excited to eat more than a few bites. 58
Lady Alex's Gamble
by Evelyn Richardson
Accustomed to practicing the strictest economies because of her brother's ruinous propensities, she wrapped up the remainder of the generous meal in the hopes that it would sustain her and Ned and save them the expense of having to order another meal on the road.
As for the punch, after a tentative taste, which quite burned her throat and stung her eyes with the strength of its fumes, she waited until all was silent in the innyard and quietly poured it out of the window. To be sure, it was a most effective way to preserve both her manly reputation and her clear head, but it also brought to mind the difficulties she was likely to encounter among the choice spirits at White's. How was she to keep from consuming voluminous quantities of port without arousing comment?
Alex shook her head. As with so many things, she would have to deal with these problems when they arose. She would just have to cope with life in much the manner her father had taught her to play cards; looking at each hand as she was dealt it while remaining calm and collected, allowing her mind to stay clear and her face impassive, and emptying her thoughts of needless anxieties and speculation, concentrating instead on extracting the most advantage from any given situation. "You will always do well, Alexandra," the old Earl of Halewood had told her one evening not long before he had died, "to look at the distribution of the cards while the others are worrying about how much money they will win or lose. Remain unaffected by such emotions and you will always come away a winner—maybe not a big winner, but a steady one, and that is what counts. I eventually learned to do that 59
Lady Alex's Gamble
by Evelyn Richardson
and it is that attitude that brought me Halewood and all of you."
It was the memory of the warm smile and utter confidence accompanying those words that was sustaining Alex now. She settled into the soft pillows, so welcoming after the hours spent jolting over the country roads. Ned had assured her that the turnpikes would be better as they got closer to London and she admitted
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