The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2(130)

"With some help from the Portuguese and Spanish," Elizabeth interjected.



"Yes, of course. In the end they were trained up quite well to fight thanks to Beresford and his officers. Though it has to be said there were enough local people in Portugal and Spain who didn't mind if Napoleon won if it meant they could line their own pockets."



Vanessa shivered. "I can't even begin to imagine what they must have suffered, their country being invaded like that. The women, the children."



"The lovely homes and fields laid waste too," Clifford said, putting his hand over his wife's. "Could you imagine how we would feel if we lost Stone Court?"



"Or Eltham Castle?" Charlotte whispered with a mournful look at her husband.



Elizabeth shrugged. "But it's only a house, land. Surely the people inside are what count more."



"Spoken like a true Eltham. But of course, with twenty or so properties belonging to your family, it's easy for you to say that," Clifford teased. "Just pick up and move on to the next one."



They all laughed at his small joke, but Elizabeth's expression remained sober. "Perhaps it's different for me, since I'm a woman. I don't have any property of my own to speak of. I suppose all women become used to the idea that they will have to pack and leave their family home to go to their husband's one day."



"You know you're welcome to live with us for as long as you wish, Elizabeth," her brother said with a warm smile. "And now that you're longing to test your wings, we've agreed you can have your pick of any of the houses to run as you see fit. More than one if you really want to tie yourself down in such a manner. You won't come into all your money until you're twenty-one. But for the most part you can do as you wish, so long as your estate remains solvent."



She smiled back as her brother. "I was rather narrowing it down to this one or the one in Galway. I adore Brimley and the Castle, but there's just something about living by the sea."



"Not the one in Dublin then?"



She shook her head. "No, Thomas. It's a fine townhouse, but I don't want to be simply a Society hostess and live in a city. It's fine for visiting, the occasional trip up to town to shop and take in some of the cultural events, but it would be as bad if not worse than living in London or Bath all the time. No, I need the grass under my feet and the wind in my hair."



"You're awfully young to be wanting to rusticate at Ardmore," Charlotte said with a smile.



Elizabeth looked at Vanessa. "I believe our friend here was quite a bluestocking down near Lyme Regis when she was running her aunt's estate, and she does not seem overly provincial."



"True. But there's the other rub. An appropriate chaperone."



"Mrs. Phelps will be more than vigilant, I'm sure. In any case, I shall be so busy running the estate, especially at harvest time, and during the winter planting season, that balls and so forth will be the least of my worries."



"But Mrs. Phelps will not be able to mingle in quite the same sphere as yourself. We would not wish you to be lonely."



"All the more reason why I'm glad our cousin Stewart Fitzgerald and his wife Vevina will be so close by. They're coming to see us tomorrow with the whole family," Thomas said with a smile at his blue-eyed wife.



"Don't worry, darling, the servants have all been informed. All shall be in readiness for them to spend the day. We'd better get to bed early tonight, all of us. We'll certainly need all the energy we can get when she and the four children descend upon us."



"I'm looking forward to it. They sound like a fascinating couple." Elizabeth waited for a few moments and then asked, "Have you met or paid calls upon any of the other neighbors yet?"



Thomas shrugged. "The vicar and verger from the village we already know. The verger's sister Penelope is said to be a most excellent spinster. She might suit you as a companion. I'm ashamed to say I've not made as much of an effort as I should have with the rest, but we'll remedy that once we see our own relatives first.



"Then there is a trio of cousins of Stewart's on the other side of the family, Marcus Fitzsimmons and his sisters Amelia and Mary. They are genteel but poor, and have always tried to advance their connection with our family as well, claiming direct kinship. I don't mind. It's just a bit of vain affectation, after all. Our fathers were good friends, but I'm afraid he and I never got on. Marcus was always more chummy with Stewart's twin Samuel than either Stewart or myself. He was nice enough the last time I saw him, before the war. As are his sisters. They might be good companions for you, Elizabeth.