The Portrait by Hazel Statham Page B

have the right of it, Jen," replied the earl
thoughtfully. "I will ask the coachman if he can recommend an
establishment. I wouldn't wish to prolong our journey."
    "You will be glad to be rid of me?"
    "Of the situation-of course. The thought of the torment
young Freddie must be suffering is intolerable."
    "I would almost say he deserves it," said Jennifer tartly.
"He should have more sense than to enter into a bout of
fisticuffs."
    "Sometimes such situations are unavoidable," replied
Sinclair. "He may have had no alternative but to defend himself. Tempers flare more quickly than reason"
    "I can't imagine you being led into such a situation."
    Sinclair laughed. "Do I appear so sensible? For I assure you,
I am not."
    "You are known to be very tolerant, Ned"
    "If I'm to be accused of tolerance now, it's merely because
I remember like instances in my youth when I was equally as hotheaded as our respective brothers. Perhaps even more so,
until entering the cavalry moderated my moods"

    "I don't believe it for one minute. Arthur told me you were
ever known for your even temper."
    "You would wish me otherwise?" he asked with some surprise. "If I was, I would not have attempted this journey. I
would have returned you home immediately."
    "Edward Thurston .. " she began.
    He laughed. "I know, I know-'Edward Thurston, I hate
you. ,,
    "I was about to say," replied Jennifer, feigning superiority,
"that I don't believe you for one moment. You are far more
generous than that, and you certainly don't appear averse to
the situation. Indeed, one could almost accuse you of enjoying
the experience."
    "That's as may be, my girl," he said, finally relenting. "You
seem to have the measure of me. Though what Flora would
say if she could see us, I know not. She's confirmed that I've
become very staid and dull. If she could see me cavorting about
the countryside with a hoyden of a girl masquerading first as
my pupil and now as my brother, I doubt she would be of the
same opinion."
    "Arthur would be only too thankful to be rid of me; indeed,
he's often told me so"
    The earl's dark brows snapped into a frown. "You're not
welcome in your own home?" he asked with great concern.
    "I am decidedly de trop. He wishes to marry and for he and
his wife to be the sole occupants of the house"
    "What of you and Freddie?"
    "He cares not what becomes of us. He daren't coerce me into
marriage, though frequently his methods come near to it."
    "Your life is made uncomfortable?" Sinclair asked, concern heavy in his voice.
    "At times."
    "Damn him," he swore forcefully. "Am I to suppose that
when our engagement was broken, he was less than charitable
to you?"

    "Considerably so. He saw his own plans thwarted and reacted accordingly."
    For quite a few moments he said nothing, the heavy frown
remaining on his brow as he stared sightlessly through the
window. Eventually he returned his gaze to his companion,
and, sitting forward in his seat, he reached out and took her
hand.
    "You must forgive me, Jenny," he said earnestly. "It was not
my intention to put you into an invidious position."
    At the touch of his fingers, she hastily withdrew her hand.
"There's no need to apologize," she said quickly. "I was of the
same frame of mind as you. I must take my share of the blame.
Indeed, I'd already informed Arthur of my intention of ending
the betrothal before I came to see you at Fly."
    "Then it came as no great shock to you when I followed the
same course?" he asked, watching from beneath lowered brows
as he once more sat back in his seat.
    "It rankled that you were the first to state the case. As is
common in these situations, I would have preferred to be the
one to make the break. I'd come to Fly with the intention of
explaining all to you"
    "And I was too eager to say my piece," he stated flatly.
    "You did seem somewhat eager to be rid of the betrothaland me-yes"
    "I wished only to assure you that you were in no way obligated to proceed