Page 2 of A Summer Romance
Immediately her elder sister Abby took hold of her arm to prevent her from escaping.
“Where have you been, Breana?I looked everywhere for you.”Her eyes narrowed.“I do hope you have not been up to any mischief.”
Breana tried to appear as innocent as possible.
Abby sighed, and then announced in a firm voice that they were leaving.As they said their goodbyes to Mr.and Mrs.Norris, Breana looked anxiously over her shoulder, looking for Francis, wanting to keep that connection between them just one second longer.
But he was nowhere in sight.It was his brother Theodore who caught her gaze.He was frowning, as usual, as if she had done something wrong.She always felt uncomfortable when he looked at her like that, and she quickly looked away.
Abby and Breana took their coach home to Starling Hall.Neither had much to say, and Breana stared dreamily up at the stars in the velvet sky and thought about that wonderful kiss.She knew she would never, ever forget it, and very much hoped it wasn’t the last time.She very much hoped he would kiss her again.
Chapter one
ONE
Summer 1838
Breana Starling’s mare trotted along the lane that led to the Norris’s home.Barton Manor was a great deal bigger and more imposing than Starling Hall, and Breana considered it far superior—no matter what her brother Will said.He called it ramshackle, and she supposed itwasa little uncared for, but this was only the country home of the Norris family.Their real home was in London.
Will wouldn’t be happy if he knew where she was going today.Much to her relief, he had been too busy to notice her set off, otherwise he would have quizzed her as to her destination.Thatwas irritating, because at nineteen years of age, Breana considered herself fully grown up, and therefore it was no one’s business but hers as to where she went and why.
Thewherewas the Norris house, and thewhywas because Francis Norris was expecting her.Ever since the spring ball at Barton Manor, she had been longing for another assignation with him.
They had met only once since that memorable night, at a garden party arranged by Mrs.Norris.Breana had had high hopes for another of those earth-shattering kisses in private, but the event had turned out to be a disappointment.
At the garden party, Francis had sought her out.They had conversed, perhaps even more flirtatiously than usual.Breana had giggled at his jokes, ignoring Abby’s disapproving looks, before Francis had suggested she see his mother’s roses.They were particularly beautiful at the moment, and he was sure she would appreciate them.
“For you are a beautiful rose yourself, Miss Starling,” he had said quietly.
Once they were alone, he had taken her in his arms and kissed her, just as she had hoped.
Only, it wasn’tquitewhat she had imagined.At first they had fumbled awkwardly, bumping noses before his lips found hers.He hadn’t been nearly as masterful as she remembered either.She supposed no two kisses were ever the same, but this was not at all like the magical moment in the cupboard that she had played in her mind so many times.
It was possible the matter would have improved, but then they had been interrupted by Francis’s hateful brother Theo, forcing them to pretend they reallywerelooking at the roses.The next day, Francis had returned to London, and she hadn’t seen him since.
The last two months had seemed like a lifetime to Breana.Then, this morning, she received a note from Francis informing her that he had returned and asking her to meet in the orchard at two o’clock in the afternoon.
It was serendipitous because Breana had had an invitation from her old school friend Chloe Bennett, inviting her to visit her in London.Breana was leaving that very evening, catching the mail coach that stopped at the road junction between Barton Lacey and Starling Hall.
She had thought she might be able to visit the Norris house in the capital, and see Francis there, but now she could tell him of her plans in person.
Breana had been up early to help her younger brothers and sisters dress, and two o’clock seemed like such an awfully long time to wait.She had considered arriving at the orchard before two, but that would mean kicking her heels among the pear trees until Francis finally turned up.He was not known for his punctuality, and it was doubtful he had changed in the past two months.Living in the fashionable part of London, he may have become even more removed from the country hours of Barton Lacey.The Norrises spent most of the year in the capital, and it seemed to Breana that they were far more sophisticated than the Starlings.She longed to be part of that life.
Mrs Norris could almost be said to be lackadaisical, as if village life bored her because she was so used to the excitement of London.She had yawned once when speaking to Breana’s mother, Lady Meg Starling.Abby considered her to be very ill-mannered, but Breana rather admired her indifference.She had often wanted to yawn during one of her mother’s lectures but knew she would be given a stern talking to about manners.
Starling Hall was sotedious, and she was hoping to have some fun with Chloe in London.Anything was better than the mundane predictability of Starling Hall.
Will was marrying in two months to Molly Lacey, and as much as Breana loved them and wished them happy, she felt a little left out.
Now, just as she was leaving to stay with Chloe, the Norrises had returned to Barton Manor for the summer.Such a pity.But at least she had this meeting in the orchard to look forward to, and perhaps some cherished memories to sustain her until she returned.
Would Francis kiss her again?Would he say he could not live without her by his side?Would he ask her to marry him?Perhaps he’d declare his desperate love for her and ask her to run away to Gretna Green with him!They would set up house together in one of the fashionable parts of London and she would arrive at balls dripping with jewels and wearing the latest ensemble.And Francis would gaze at her admiringly and tell everyone how lucky he was to have her as his wife.
Sometimes Breana’s imagination ran away with itself, a habit of which she was fully aware, but what was the harm?Fantasizing about her future gave her something to look forward to, and was so much more exciting than real life.
By now she had reached the back gate into the Barton Manor gardens.She tied her mare to one of the gateposts and set off on foot to the old orchard.
The trees were heavy with their crop of fruit, and Breana wondered idly why they had not yet been picked.Lady Meg had her own orchard and liked to make preserves from the fruit, so there was always jam for their breakfast toast.Over the years, Abby had taken on some of their mother’s household tasks.Breana had a recent memory of her sister stirring the fruit over the range in the kitchen, her face red and sweaty.When Abby had asked if Breana wanted to learn, Breana had wrinkled her nose at the idea.
