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.Jenny Kaye and Daphne Pringle, in raptures to be invited to Five Oaks, immediately set about the siege of Lord Danville.Teresa found it impossible to blame him for turning increasingly to the non-threatening, safely betrothed Muriel.Whenever the younger set split up, for instance when they went by carriage to see Arundel Castle, he manoevred so that he, Teresa, Muriel and Sir Andrew were together.This did not please his brother."The devil of it is," he explained to Teresa, "that as soon as Tom's out of view they start after me, though I ain't half such a good catch."Teresa had mixed feelings on the subject, which she confided to no one.It was a painful joy to be so often with Andrew.The presence of his betrothed increased the pain.Though in some ways Cousin Tom’s company helped her bear the situation, he also presented a source of confusion: he and Muriel seemed often to have more to say to each other than to Andrew or herself.She knew Andrew noticed it and was hurt.In spite of these circumstances, she enjoyed the trip to Arundel.She had never seen anything remotely like the ancient medieval castle, rebuilt time and time again over the centuries, and she listened fascinated to Cousin Tom's tales of its history.It belonged to the Duke of Norfolk, and though he was not in residence his housekeeper made them welcome and provided a magnificent luncheon.The December days were short, so they left early for the two hour drive back to Five Oaks.Though the sun was shining it was bitterly cold, and the housekeeper provided hot bricks for their feet.Andrew and Lord Danville carefully tucked fur rugs about Teresa and Muriel in the smaller of the two carriages, then took their seats opposite and tucked themselves in.They set off, followed by the larger coach with the rest of the group.Some three miles from Five Oaks, they passed through the village of Billingshurst.They were in the middle of the village when their carriage stopped abruptly, with much whoa-ing from the coachman."What is it?" called Lord Danville.The answer was drowned by a confusion of snarling growls and screams.Teresa leaned out of the window, but all she could see was a village girl carrying two pails of water on a yoke, her hand raised to her mouth, an expression of horror on her face.“Lord, what’s to do?” asked Andrew, peering over Teresa’s shoulder.“I cannot make out.”“Here, let me by and I’ll go and see.” He swung open the door and jumped out of the carriage, followed by Teresa.The horses were shying and tossing their heads, held with difficulty by the coachman.Behind them the second coach had stopped and several of its occupants descended, calling out questions.John ran to join Teresa and Andrew as they hurried forward to where they could see past the restless team.A mastiff and a bull terrier were locked in combat in the middle of the street, blood-curdling sounds issuing from their throats.It was a terrifying sight, but it did not explain the horror on the girl's face.Then they saw the child.Perhaps two years old, he was toddling towards the dogs with every evidence of fascinated delight, his hand held out as if to pet them.Somewhere a woman screamed, "Jemmy!"With one accord, Andrew and Lord John leaped at the dogs.They seized them by the scruffs of their necks and hung on with all their strength.Teresa dodged round them, picked up the little boy and set him down at the side of the road, well out of the way.He pouted at her.“See doggies,” he said indignantly.A woman in a white apron hurried up, tears pouring down her pale, plump face."Oh, Jemmy! Oh, miss!"Teresa had no time for her.A backward glance showed her Sir Andrew and Lord John backing away with bloodied hands.The mastiff and the bull terrier, their quarrel forgotten, had both turned on the spoilsports and were advancing with teeth bared.Teresa had not seen so many teeth, so close, since she lay on the ground with the jaguar poised above her.She dashed to the girl with the yoke, praying that she had already been to the pump.The buckets were full.She seized one of them and threw the icy water at the menacing dogs.They shook themselves and looked back at her, annoyed at this new interruption to their sport.As she picked up the second bucket and sloshed its contents at them they fled, yelping.So did Lord John and Andrew."Here, I say, cousin!" said Lord John indignantly."That water is damnably cold.""Your skill with a bucket does not match your skill with a pistol," added Andrew, looking down with annoyance at his soaked unmentionables."I should have let them go after you!" Hurt by their ingratitude, Teresa turned her back on them.The rest of the party from the second carriage hurried up, laughing at the sodden gentlemen, congratulating Teresa on the rescue."Dashed if I've ever seen anything so neat!" exclaimed Mr Wishart."Well done, Teresa," cried Marco."How brave you are," shuddered Daphne."I should never have known what to do."Then the child's mother approached, shyly pushing through the gentlefolk to thank her baby's saviour.Several other villagers arrived to hear the tale and marvel.Teresa was the centre of attention, and basking in it, until a reproachful voice from the first carriage interrupted."We must be on our way!" called Lord Danville."Miss Parr is sadly shocked and must be taken home.""And we are frozen half to death," grumbled Lord John, with a shiver, "not to mention bleeding."Teresa took his hand and examined it."It is not deep, but it must be thoroughly cleansed, and soon," she said."Cousin Tom is right, we must go [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]