barakjou

@@@@@John Morland and Scarlett shared a bond of hopeless loveCharlotte had told her what "everyone in Ireland" knew-John was relatively immune to husband-hunting women because he had little moneyHis title and his property were old-impressively old -but he had no income except his rents, and he spent almost every shilling of that on his horses Even so, he was very handsome in an absentminded way, tall and fair with warm, interested gray eyes and a breathtakingly sweet smile that accurately reflected his goodhearted natureHe was strangely innocent for a man who had spent all of his forty-some years in the worldly circles of British societyOccasionally a woman with money of her own, like the Honourable Louisa, fell in love with him and made a determined pursuit that embarrassed Morland and amused everyone else His eccentricities became more pronounced then; his absentmindedness bordered on vacancy, his waistcoats were often buttoned wrong, his contagious whooping laughter became sometimes inappropriate, and he rearranged his collection of paintings by George Stubbs so often that the walls of his house became peppered with holesA beautiful portrait of the famous horse Eclipse was balanced perilously on a stack of books, Scarlett noticedIt made no difference to her, she wanted to know about RhettI'll go ahead and ask, she decided Bart won't remember anyhow"Did Rhett say anything about me?" Morland blinked, his mind on the filly's forebearsThen her question registered"Oh, yes, he asked me if you might possibly sell Half MoonHe's thinking about starting up the Dunmore Hunt againHe wants me to keep my eye open for any more like Half Moon, too "He'll have to come back to buy them, I guess," Scarlett said, praying for affirmationBart's answer sunk her in despair "No, he'll have to trust meHis wife's expecting, you see, and he won't leave her sideBut now that I'll be aiming you at the cream of the crop, I couldn't help Rhett anyhowI'll write and tell him so as soon as I find the time Scarlett was so preoccupied with Bart's news that he had to shake her arm to get her attentionWhen did she want to start the search for her hunters, he asked Throughout the winter she went every Saturday with John Morland to one hunt or another in County Meath, trying out hunters that were for sale