Judith McNaught Quote

Elizabeth was not entirely right. The climb was steep enough, but the trunk, which originally felt quite light, seemed to gain a pound of weight with every step they took. A few yards from the house both ladies paused to rest again, then Elizabeth resolutely grabbed the handle on her end. You go to the door, Lucy, she said breathlessly, worried for the older woman’s health if she had to lug the trunk any further. I’ll just drag this along.Miss Throckmorton-Jones took one look at her poor, bedraggled charge, and rage exploded in her breast that they’d been brought so low as this. Like an angry general she gave her gloves an irate yank, turned on her heel, marched up to the front door, and lifted her umbrella. Using its handle like a club, she rapped hard upon the door.Behind her Elizabeth doggedly dragged the trunk. You don’t suppose there’s no one home? She panted, hauling the trunk the last few feet.If they’re in there, they must be deaf! said Lucinda. She brought up her umbrella again and began swinging at the door in a way that sent rhythmic thunder through the house. Open up, I say! she shouted, and on the third downswing the door suddenly lurched open to reveal a startled middle-aged man who was struck on the head by the handle of the descending umbrella.God’s teeth! Jake swore, grabbing his head and glowering a little dizzily at the homely woman who was glowering right back at him, her black bonnet crazily askew atop her wiry gray hair.It’s God’s you need, not his teeth! the sour-faced woman informed him as she caught Elizabeth’s sleeve and pulled her one step into the house. We are expected, she informed Jake. In his understandably dazed state, Jake took another look at the bedraggled, dusty ladies and erroneously assumed they were the women from the village come to clean and cook for Ian and him. His entire countenance changed, and a broad grin swept across his ruddy face. The growing lump on his head forgiven and forgotten, he stepped back. Welcome, welcome, he said expansively, and he made a broad, sweeping gesture with his hand that encompassed the entire dusty room. Where do you want to begin?With a hot bath, said Lucinda, followed by some tea and refreshments.From the corner of her eye Elizabeth glimpsed a tall man who was stalking in from a room behind the one where they stood, and an uncontrollable tremor of dread shot through her.Don’t know as I want a bath just now, Jake said.Not for you, you dolt, for Lady Cameron.Elizabeth could have sworn Ian Thornton stiffened with shock. His head jerked toward her as if trying to see past the rim of her bonnet, but Elizabeth was absolutely besieged with cowardice and kept her head averted. want a bath? Jake repeated dumbly, staring at Lucinda.Indeed, but Lady Cameron’s must come first. Don’t just stand there, she snapped, threatening his midsection with her umbrella. Send servants down to the road to fetch our trunks at once. The point of the umbrella swung meaningfully toward the door, then returned to jab Jake’s middle. But before you do that, inform your master that we have arrived.His master, said a biting voice from a rear doorway, is aware of that.