Lady Star (Sir Edward 2)

“Precisely, sir.” With which Georgie rode off toward the bridle path that would take her the remaining distance to Madison Stables. She wanted to cry and rant at herself. She had been unable to stem the flow of her words and tone. What w

as wrong with her? That was no way to win a man. But, she didn’t want to win a man. She wanted him to freely love her as she loved him. She didn’t want to play at games. She didn’t want to flirt and be coy and tease. She wanted him to feel for her, want her, love her above all others. She wanted him to know his mind and she wanted his mind and heart to see only her.

She loved Jules Stamford with all her being, and this total realization made her burst into tears.

* * *

The Berkley library was a cozy scene, Star thought as she looked around. Candles burned softly in their holders and the summer evening had brought a cool chill, so that she had closed the windows and lit the fire in the hearth. She watched her brother push the logs around in the grate while Miles told him he wasn’t stacking them correctly and laughed.

Miles had joined them for an early dinner. He had stayed on while the sun went down and had kept them entertained with anecdotes.

Star plopped onto the sofa while she waited for the men to finish their ‘work’ at the fireplace and take up their drinks and join her.

Miles came to sit beside her and sighed comfortably as he sipped his brandy and advised her happily, “Good stuff this. I’d wager it never saw the inside of the customs house.” He found this amusing and chuckled.

Star gave him a soft smile. She was really only half listening as her mind was elsewhere. Vern left the fireplace, downed his brandy and paced by the window and with his hands clasped behind his back and asked Miles, “How much do you think that old relic of a yacht would fetch me?”

Miles screwed up his mouth as he thought about this, “I don’t quite know…but do you really want to part with it?”

Vern shrugged, “I can remember my father standing at the helm…but sentimentality has to be discarded at times like these. Do you think it might fetch a handsome coin?”

“As a matter of fact, it is in fairly decent condition. Yes, yes, I think it might. Shall I take care of the matter for you? I’ll send my man to attend to it, Vern.”

“Would you, Miles? Best of good fellows…”

“Yes, we shall get the finances in hand, you and I, now that I am aware of the problem, but we have to do something about Farley. We cannot allow him to threaten Star. That, my friend is punishable by death, as far as I am concerned.” Miles announced strongly.

“Yes, I quite agree. Mean to find him and run the fellow through as soon as I get stronger,” Vern answered staunchly.

“Stop it, both of you! We must not go outside the law,” Star admonished.

“Challenge him to a duel…” Miles said. “That is what I shall do.”

“Also quite against the law,” Star stuck in.

“Indeed, besides one does not duel with the likes of Farley. He hasn’t a shred of honor in his blood. He would have his henchmen shoot you in the back. No, he must be dealt with as his lives… ruthlessly!”

“Agreed, let’s just put a bullet in his head when we find him,” Miles said.

“No, no, stop it! You shan’t do such a thing. I won’t have it,” Star said. “If anyone is to kill him, it should be me! I am the one he accosted and if he tries it again, I shall be ready for him.”

“There are some things, a man does not discuss with his sister,” Vern told her.

“Too late, you already have, and this sister knows too much to be left out at this juncture. Honestly,” Star said shaking her head.

“Let us play at ducks and drakes. Where is the board?” Miles said all at once and although Star got to her feet and fetched the board and pieces from the cupboard she glared at him and said, “Don’t think for one moment that I am fooled. I will have my eyes on both of you!”

Chapter Eighteen

IT WAS A well sprung coach of modern design. Its lines were sleek and its doors carried its owner’s crest painted in gold. It was led by a pair of matched bay geldings and Websly, the driver at the long reins knew his job well.

He called out to his employer through a small trap door at his back and said that he was sorry for the bumpy road and hoped sir was not too uncomfortable.

His passenger said, “Don’t concern yourself, Websly. You and I have traveled far worse roads than this.”

“Aye, that we have sir, but this is in a sorry state, it is.”

“So it is, but I don’t think we have much further to go,” Sir Edward answered thoughtfully as he peered through the darkness of his open window and surveyed the passing landscape eerily lit up by a waning moon.