Prue Phillipson - Hordens of Horden Hall (45 page)
Read Prue Phillipson - Hordens of Horden Hall Online
Authors: Vengeance Thwarted
Daniel narrowed his eyes. Yes, carved into the stone lintel were the initials CC with the H below and above it, incised much earlier, the date the house was built –1620. They had arrived. Clifford and Celia and all the other unknown relations must be lurking behind that handsome façade, while his little family approached, shabby and footsore, from the street like beggars.
“You will be able to change your clothes,” his mother said, boldly pushing open the gate. “Our travelling chests we sent ahead from the boat must have arrived long since.”
“But to greet them like this!”
His father drew him forward as he hung back. “Daniel, it is the inner man that counts.” It was a favourite theme of his father’s but here, Daniel was sure, it would carry no weight with ladies familiar with the French court.
But now the door was being opened by a footman and behind him in an oak-panelled hall a thin grey man and a round pudding of a woman were hastening to greet them.
“Cousins Clifford and Celia,” his mother whispered to him. “Not royalists, so keep silent about the King.”
“We were listening for a carriage, dear Arabella. What! You have been caught in all the crush? We dare not venture out ourselves but we saw from the windows when the procession passed to Westminster. And these are your menfolk. Greetings, Cousin Nathaniel, and you, young man. My, what a height you are! Come come, your family are all agog to meet you,” and she led the way up the wide staircase.
He was not to have time to make himself presentable and behind that door where Cousin Celia’s hand was reaching to the handle were Madeline, Diana and Eunice, one of whom, if he was not very careful, he might be obliged to marry.
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