The Flawed Mistress (The Summerville Journals) by Margaret Brazear Page A

was under his protection.
       
He had said he would not be going to court and he had kept his word.  He
had no position there and he was not in favour with the King or the Lord
Protector.  They had no proof that he was catholic, but I do believe they
suspected it.
       
There was a catholic chapel in the woods, overgrown and hidden by the trees,
and I knew that he heard mass there, gaining access through the tunnels under
the house.  He never asked me to accompany him and I never did.  I
attended the church in the village, as that was the law, but neither the
protestant service there, nor the Catholic one in the hidden chapel meant
anything to me.  I was not even certain that there was a God and if there
was, He certainly had no love for me.
       
The years slipped by, quietly and happily.  Lucy married one of the male
servants and set up home in a small cottage in the village, rented from the
Summerville estate.  The man obviously adored her and for that I was glad;
she had supported me through everything and I was so glad to see her happy.
       
Although I had my own house, I still spent time at Summerville Hall.  I
enjoyed Richard’s company and I enjoyed Anthony’s.  He was growing up into
a fine young man and was always kindness itself to me and he worshipped
Richard.
       
One afternoon I had called to see if either of them wanted to come riding with me  the following day, when I caught sight of Richard,
leaving his bedchamber with a rather lovely blonde woman.  I had seen her
before; she was his neighbour from the small manor house over the hill, Winterton House.  So he was choosing his mistresses
from closer to home now?  I said nothing to him nor to Anthony, but I left, not wanting to embarrass the woman by letting her know
I had seen.  I knew she had a husband and exposure might be dangerous for
her.
       
When I got home, I could see that Louisa had just returned from
somewhere.  Although she had said nothing to me, she had taken it upon
herself to ride out to the Monster’s house and see if anyone was living there,
if anyone had yet found his body.
       
“It has burned down, My Lady,” she told me when she came back.  “I asked
about the village and it seems it was burned down just after we left. 
There is nothing there now, nothing at all.  They said the fire started in
the wine cellar.”
       
I turned to see Richard standing in the doorway.  He had just arrived, but
he had overhead and the expression he wore told me he knew a little more about
the fire that had destroyed my former home.
       
I gave him an enquiring look, but he merely shrugged.
       
“Well, that was fortunate,” he said with a grin.  “Perhaps we forgot to
put the fire out properly before we left.”
       
“My Lord,” Louisa said in acknowledgement, then curtsied and left us alone.
       
“It was you, was it not?”
       
“Not personally, no,” he replied.  “It seemed the best way.  Perhaps
the evil that he would have left about the place has burned with him.”
       
I reached up and kissed his cheek.
       
“I am glad to see you.  It has been more than a week.”
       
“Forgive me,” he replied.  “I have been very busy.”
       
“With your lovely neighbour,” I replied with a smile.  “I saw you.”
       
“Julia?  Sorry, that was inconsiderate of me.”
        “Not at all.   It is none of my concern whom you
choose to bed, but a little close to home I would have thought.”
       
He laughed then and came to sit beside me, taking my hands.
       
“It has been almost five years since Rosemary died,” he said softly.  “I
am searching for a new Countess.  I thought you should know.”
       
“Thank you.  I hope you choose wisely this time.  Do you have anyone
in mind?”
       
“I do, but you will think me crass.  Lady Winterton has a sister who visited her in the summer.  I noticed her at once; she
looks a lot like