AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“My Lady Johnson, we would be honoured to come for tea, doubtlessly!” Conrad came to her rescue.
“Oh, certainly, Lady Johnson.” She amended hastily.
“We are settled then.” Conrad again. “Now, if you allow me, I would like my wife to show me the novelties of the fair.”
“Of course, my lord.” They agreed.
He offered her his arm and she had no other option than to go along.
“What are you doing here?” She demanded between her teeth, after they had distanced from the group.
“You left my bed quite in a hurry, I should say.” To which a renewed wave of blasting heat assailed her. “I wanted to know what the reason for it might be.” He smiled blandly at her, his eyes so intent on her shaded face she thought she might catch fire.
“Why can’t you just keep to yourself?” Her anger a notch higher.
“As far as I know, this is a public place.” He placed his hand over the gloved one of hers, causing a veritable gale in her guts. “I have the right to be here as much as you.”
“Splendid. Now you can leave me and go your own way.” He looked down at her to find her bonnet on the way.
“I beg to differ. My duty as your husband is to accompany and protect you.”
> “I’ve been doing fine in the last five years, wouldn’t you say?” She taunted him.
To which she got no reply for someone abruptly interrupted them.
“Conrad, my dear!” Mrs Somersby, the lawyer’s widow, extended her gauzy gloved hand coquettish to Conrad. “I heard you were back.” She smiled all too invitingly. Her ashen blond hair gathered up under her extravagant bonnet, which shadowed her pale, common blue eyes.
“Mrs Somersby.” He bowed, taking her hand lightly by the fingertips.
Conrad did not feel eager to reacquaint himself with one of his old days’…relations.
“Aurelia,” he turned to his wife. “Please meet an acquaintance of mine, Mrs Somersby. Mrs Somersby, this is Lady Strafford, my wife.”
Both women bowed their heads, in a cold compliment. The widow turned to him at once, ignoring his Viscountess.
She measured him from brow to toe appreciatively. “India did you good.” She mumbled ill disguising her thoughts.
“Time showed kindness to you as well, Mrs Somersby.” He complimented with icy politeness. In fact, he just wanted to walk away and continue bartering with his wife.
“So gallant of you, Conrad.” She placed her hand on his arm casually.
He bowed, so that he could subtly move away from her. “We take our leave, Mrs Somersby. My wife is about to show me around the fair.”
“Naturally.” She looked disdainfully at Aurelia, which angered him quite intensely. “You should come for dinner one of these evenings.” Her greedy eyes focused on his lips, causing him aversion.
He smiled faintly. “I don’t think so. Have a nice day.” He tipped his hat and walked past her, without seeing her irritated expression.
Aurelia begun to fume! Besides having to endure her husband’s intromission in her visit to the fair, she had to tolerate this woman! She knew the widow by name – and reputation. The last preceded her by miles. The widow of a wealthy lawyer for a long time, she did not have prejudices when it came to paramours. Married, single, old, young. Clearly, she also wanted to include her husband in her list. This infuriated her to sky-high levels.
From then on, the fair lost most of its enchantment to her. She entertained herself with the booths and new products, no doubt, but her mood had changed. For the worse. She tried to forget the incident. The burning in her guts, though, proved impossible to overlook.
Conrad accompanied her during her whole visit, buying her things and stopping to talk with people who came to greet her. It advanced to late afternoon when they returned to the manor. He with his horse and she with the carriage. Being alone inside gave her some breathing room to try and abate the burning in her chest.
Upon their arrival, a spring rain begun to pour over the fields, rendering the horizon whitish with the sheets of water. The weather seemed to be following her turmoil.
Dinner finished, Aurelia sat in the drawing room to do some mending. On the table beside her a tea tray. Dinner with her husband had been a silent affair. She had not been able to abate her bubbling rage after all. She did not even look at him for fear of losing control.
In the act of seeping her tea, he came in. Her fingers grasped the china so tightly it would splinter at any second. Hastily, she placed it on its saucer before she gave herself away.
