Read The Seventh Suitor for Free Online Page A

in an appearance that afternoon, it was not difficult to arrange that Ralph join the three of them for a ride. With a grin to Kate, Susan declared, “Benjamin, you must have a fine eye for a horse. I have never seen such a marvelous animal.”
    Cutting short Benjamin’s gracious acceptance of this compliment, Kate said with enthusiasm, “You should have seen the horse Lord Winterton was riding today, Susan. It is no wonder he has such a reputation for breeding them. I’ve seldom seen such a magnificent animal.”
    “Oh, he’s good enough, I suppose,” Ralph interjected, still smarting under his lordship’s recent criticism. “But I have no doubt Benjamin or I could do as well if we had the opportunity.”
    “Come now. You and Benjamin both have a good eye, I feel sure, but there is more to breeding excellent horses than that. What do you know of their care and the proper combinations to produce a prime goer?” Kate teased.
    “As much as the next one,” Benjamin retorted.
    “Not as much as Lord Winterton,” Susan chimed in.
    “Well, he has been doing it for some years. Probably reads the journals, too. And he has good land for them,” Benjamin added.
    “Then you couldn’t do it,” Kate mused, “for you haven’t been at it for years, and I am sure you would not touch a journal, though of course there is good land to be had.”
    “Where?” the two young men asked in chorus.
    “Mr. Drew’s farm, for example. I have heard he has put it up for sale. Since it touches on Lord Winterton’s lands, I imagine it must be quite as suitable for pasturing horses. I wonder if Papa would be interested? But then, Lord Winterton will probably snap it up. The Carruthers farm is available, too, for with the end of the war and the drop in corn prices they are feeling the pinch and plan to go to Ireland, I’m told.”
    “What say we ride over and look out the Drew farm?” Benjamin asked. “It’s not far.”
    “I’ve no objection,” Susan agreed with a sparkling glance cast at Kate.
    Ralph merely grunted, “Would be just like Winterton to snatch up some good land before anyone else has a chance to see it.”
    The farm was a pleasant, well-maintained one of good size. Mr. Drew had no objection to their riding about it. It was necessary for Kate to comment on the farming methods used, the crops likely to be raised there, the lack of adequate drainage, and the improvements which could be made to produce a better yield. Ralph and Benjamin showed a moderate interest in her disclosures, but were more concerned with the pasturage and inadequate stables. Kate did not wish to press the point and dropped back to ride with Susan.
    “At least you have them interested, though I think they would make a horrid failure of it, Kate,” Susan remarked. “They know nothing.”
    “No. It’s excellent land, though, and Papa would be a guiding hand. We shall just have to see if anything comes of it. I must have a word with Papa.”
    It was several hours before Kate was able to speak with her father. She found him in his study, where he welcomed her and thanked her for showing Winterton about the estate.
    “Is he still convinced that my three offspring are chuckleheads?” he asked her, his face serious but his eyes laughing.
    “I assure you, sir, he was impressed with my knowledge, but not with my unruly tongue,” Kate offered.
    “You have set his back up again, child? Why must you always do that?”
    “He has been hard on me for no good reason, Papa, and I cannot like his high and mighty air. He is forever dictating to someone.”
    “Would you like him better if people took advantage of him?”
    “Of course not. But there must be some middle ground, some softness of heart.”
    “He was very devoted to his brother and to his mother, Kate. You cannot have forgotten that,” he said sadly.
    “No, you’re right, Papa. I shall try to mind my manners in future,” Kate said penitently. “It was not about him I came to speak,