famous Trefoyle spring ball. Unless you’ve already been invited?”
“Are you trying to be troubling, Hampton? You know perfectly well I’ve had no such thing from Lady Guilmor. What I have had are people asking me if you’re good for your debts.” That killed the conversation fairly effectively with John Hampton left twisting in the wind. “Well? As your colonel what should I tell them?”
“It takes time, Theo. I’ve had a run of bad luck.” John Hampton must have realised how inadequate his reply sounded for he went on to volunteer some information. “There was a todo a couple of years back about a Spanish Marqués who called Stainford out over his wife. Got killed for his trouble. Though they say he marked Stainford’s face for him.”
“Maybe I can be of service by assuring those who ask that all you need is time to organise your affairs, John.” Theodore Horsley waited just long enough for some semblance of confidence to return to John Hampton. “If you can be of more use to me. Why is Stainford here now? Been fishing in Spanish waters again has he? Or just a fancy for a safer billet?”
“I’ll try Theo. Stainford is less than confiding.”
“But you were friends once John. And I need to know what Stainford’s game is. So I must be able to count on you.” It was the kind of remark that didn’t expect an answer and John Hampton could only nod his head without the first idea how he was supposed to fulfil his task .
“You know John, that sister of yours is a rare find, a diamond of the first water. Mother is always commenting that I need to marry for connections. I could do far worse. You could put in a word for me, my boy. After all I am helping you with those creditors.”
~
All through their childhood John Hampton had struggled to fool his sister. So he shouldn’t have been surprised when his offer to join her on her morning ride was greeted with mistrust and a snort of laughter. “Are you sure Thor is up to it, John? He’s looking a bit slack these days. Carrying your weight he might find it difficult to keep up with me.”
His ready protest and awkward jocularity only convinced Judith that her brother was somehow trying to gammon her. It wasn’t until he accompanied her to the stables next morning that she was prepared to accept that he actually intended to ride with her. The morning was crisp, frosty but sunny, and normally she would have revelled in the sting of the sharp air on her face. Except this morning she couldn’t rid herself of her suspicions.
“Shall we take the Bosford track, John?” Judith asked the question as a courtesy with no intention of changing her intended route, but John’s quick agreement still took her by surprise. As did his consideration in keeping Thor from his usual crowding and barging of her gelding. His conversation was limited certainly, a desultory commentary on the weather, and ready concurrence with her opinions on the estate, but he seemed to be trying to make himself agreeable.
Finally her patience gave out. “Well, what is it?”
“Sis?” The attempt at innocence wouldn’t have fooled a child, let alone Judith, but John’s vapid smile stayed fixed, forcing her to ask again.
“What is it you want, John? Or have you something to confess?” Exasperation made her tone too sharp. Judith might be two years younger than her brother, but she’d never felt anything but responsible for him.
“Neither, Judith.” He was still smiling, when his normal response to such abrupt questions would have been unrestrained warfare.
“Then I am honoured to have your company this morning for no reason other than fraternal affection. How unusual.” Judith decided she was sounding regrettably arch. “I want to take a look at Okey spinney, John. Brewson says there might have been poachers after the deer.”
The spinney showed no disturbance or sign of any poachers, but any reassurance Judith took was lost in the face of her brother’s forbearance
“Are you trying to be troubling, Hampton? You know perfectly well I’ve had no such thing from Lady Guilmor. What I have had are people asking me if you’re good for your debts.” That killed the conversation fairly effectively with John Hampton left twisting in the wind. “Well? As your colonel what should I tell them?”
“It takes time, Theo. I’ve had a run of bad luck.” John Hampton must have realised how inadequate his reply sounded for he went on to volunteer some information. “There was a todo a couple of years back about a Spanish Marqués who called Stainford out over his wife. Got killed for his trouble. Though they say he marked Stainford’s face for him.”
“Maybe I can be of service by assuring those who ask that all you need is time to organise your affairs, John.” Theodore Horsley waited just long enough for some semblance of confidence to return to John Hampton. “If you can be of more use to me. Why is Stainford here now? Been fishing in Spanish waters again has he? Or just a fancy for a safer billet?”
“I’ll try Theo. Stainford is less than confiding.”
“But you were friends once John. And I need to know what Stainford’s game is. So I must be able to count on you.” It was the kind of remark that didn’t expect an answer and John Hampton could only nod his head without the first idea how he was supposed to fulfil his task .
“You know John, that sister of yours is a rare find, a diamond of the first water. Mother is always commenting that I need to marry for connections. I could do far worse. You could put in a word for me, my boy. After all I am helping you with those creditors.”
~
All through their childhood John Hampton had struggled to fool his sister. So he shouldn’t have been surprised when his offer to join her on her morning ride was greeted with mistrust and a snort of laughter. “Are you sure Thor is up to it, John? He’s looking a bit slack these days. Carrying your weight he might find it difficult to keep up with me.”
His ready protest and awkward jocularity only convinced Judith that her brother was somehow trying to gammon her. It wasn’t until he accompanied her to the stables next morning that she was prepared to accept that he actually intended to ride with her. The morning was crisp, frosty but sunny, and normally she would have revelled in the sting of the sharp air on her face. Except this morning she couldn’t rid herself of her suspicions.
“Shall we take the Bosford track, John?” Judith asked the question as a courtesy with no intention of changing her intended route, but John’s quick agreement still took her by surprise. As did his consideration in keeping Thor from his usual crowding and barging of her gelding. His conversation was limited certainly, a desultory commentary on the weather, and ready concurrence with her opinions on the estate, but he seemed to be trying to make himself agreeable.
Finally her patience gave out. “Well, what is it?”
“Sis?” The attempt at innocence wouldn’t have fooled a child, let alone Judith, but John’s vapid smile stayed fixed, forcing her to ask again.
“What is it you want, John? Or have you something to confess?” Exasperation made her tone too sharp. Judith might be two years younger than her brother, but she’d never felt anything but responsible for him.
“Neither, Judith.” He was still smiling, when his normal response to such abrupt questions would have been unrestrained warfare.
“Then I am honoured to have your company this morning for no reason other than fraternal affection. How unusual.” Judith decided she was sounding regrettably arch. “I want to take a look at Okey spinney, John. Brewson says there might have been poachers after the deer.”
The spinney showed no disturbance or sign of any poachers, but any reassurance Judith took was lost in the face of her brother’s forbearance
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