Read Online A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper - Free Book Online
Authors: Michelle Cooper
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(he must be terribly out of practice), but I wasn’t quite foolish enough to offer to take over. Instead I busied myself gathering up bits of wood, scraping off the seaweed and barnacles before tossing them in the basket, while trying not to trip over any of Henry’s rubbish (she and Jimmy have been building a raft in the cave) or drop anything on Simon’s jacket (which was folded on a rock with his rather nice gold watch sitting on top).
I couldn’t think of anything fascinating to say, so I concentrated on trying to decide whether Simon really is handsome or not. His face is all planes and sharp angles, with thick brows and deep, dark eyes. I noticed he had quite a lot of blue-black stubble along his jaw, even though he’d shaved only hours before. He’s taken to slicking his hair back with some sort of oil, too. It doesn’t suit him, it makes him look severe and much older (although I suppose that could be the effect he’s aiming for). He certainly hasn’t any of Toby’s golden-haired, blue-eyed good looks, but Toby is a completely different type of boy. Perhaps that’s it – that Toby is a boy and Simon is a man. A man of the world, I thought with a lovely shiver.
Then it occurred to me that Simon might have some advice regarding my dilemma. At any rate, it would be something to talk about. The silence was becoming awkward – for me, at least.
‘Um,’ I said. ‘Simon. Has ... has Toby said anything to you about Veronica and me going to England?’
‘Not to attend school, I presume,’ he said, tossing a chunk of wood in the basket.
‘No, to be presented at Court. It’s Aunt Charlotte’s idea. And after that – well, you know...’
‘Society awaits,’ he said dryly. He straightened and gave me an appraising look. I could feel myself starting to blush – again. ‘Well then, that’s very exciting news for you, Sophia. And, of course, for Her Highness. ’
I’d asked him to call me by my first name years ago, but I can’t imagine Veronica ever extending him that courtesy. He does manage to infuse her royal title with such disdain that it turns the words meaningless. Mind you, she never calls him anything but Simon Chester, usually spat out as though they’re swear words.
‘Yes, but the thing is,’ I continued, ‘Veronica refuses to leave Montmaray. She doesn’t have the slightest interest in Society. And I can’t possibly go without her. So I wondered if, well, if you might...’ I trailed off with a pleading look.
‘Are you suggesting she’d listen to me? ’ He almost laughed, then caught himself.
‘Well, no, but you could give me some ideas about how to persuade her,’ I said. ‘I mean, I haven’t been to England. What might make Veronica want to visit?’
‘Why do you want to go?’
I thought about it for a moment. I wasn’t entirely sure I did want to leave Montmaray, but there were certainly some things beckoning me towards England. I sighed. ‘Dress shops. Parties. The cinema. But that’s not going to help. She’s so much more ... I mean, she’s an intellectual.’
He narrowed his eyes and I was reminded of the lessons the four of us – Toby, Simon, Veronica and I – had shared, before Toby went away to school. Veronica had always been clever, but Simon had focused so intensely, worked so doggedly, that he nearly always matched her in the tasks our tutors set us. It might seem nothing much to boast about, given that she’s five years his junior, but then he’d lived in the village, with hardly any access to books, until he was twelve. For him to have achieved as much as he had was evidence, I thought, of his innate intelligence. At any rate, I was sure he could solve any problem I might care to throw at him – provided I could persuade him it was in his interests to solve it.
‘Aunt Charlotte would be so grateful if you could help me convince Veronica,’ I said, putting on what I hoped was a winning expression. ‘There’s going to be an awful battle
I couldn’t think of anything fascinating to say, so I concentrated on trying to decide whether Simon really is handsome or not. His face is all planes and sharp angles, with thick brows and deep, dark eyes. I noticed he had quite a lot of blue-black stubble along his jaw, even though he’d shaved only hours before. He’s taken to slicking his hair back with some sort of oil, too. It doesn’t suit him, it makes him look severe and much older (although I suppose that could be the effect he’s aiming for). He certainly hasn’t any of Toby’s golden-haired, blue-eyed good looks, but Toby is a completely different type of boy. Perhaps that’s it – that Toby is a boy and Simon is a man. A man of the world, I thought with a lovely shiver.
Then it occurred to me that Simon might have some advice regarding my dilemma. At any rate, it would be something to talk about. The silence was becoming awkward – for me, at least.
‘Um,’ I said. ‘Simon. Has ... has Toby said anything to you about Veronica and me going to England?’
‘Not to attend school, I presume,’ he said, tossing a chunk of wood in the basket.
‘No, to be presented at Court. It’s Aunt Charlotte’s idea. And after that – well, you know...’
‘Society awaits,’ he said dryly. He straightened and gave me an appraising look. I could feel myself starting to blush – again. ‘Well then, that’s very exciting news for you, Sophia. And, of course, for Her Highness. ’
I’d asked him to call me by my first name years ago, but I can’t imagine Veronica ever extending him that courtesy. He does manage to infuse her royal title with such disdain that it turns the words meaningless. Mind you, she never calls him anything but Simon Chester, usually spat out as though they’re swear words.
‘Yes, but the thing is,’ I continued, ‘Veronica refuses to leave Montmaray. She doesn’t have the slightest interest in Society. And I can’t possibly go without her. So I wondered if, well, if you might...’ I trailed off with a pleading look.
‘Are you suggesting she’d listen to me? ’ He almost laughed, then caught himself.
‘Well, no, but you could give me some ideas about how to persuade her,’ I said. ‘I mean, I haven’t been to England. What might make Veronica want to visit?’
‘Why do you want to go?’
I thought about it for a moment. I wasn’t entirely sure I did want to leave Montmaray, but there were certainly some things beckoning me towards England. I sighed. ‘Dress shops. Parties. The cinema. But that’s not going to help. She’s so much more ... I mean, she’s an intellectual.’
He narrowed his eyes and I was reminded of the lessons the four of us – Toby, Simon, Veronica and I – had shared, before Toby went away to school. Veronica had always been clever, but Simon had focused so intensely, worked so doggedly, that he nearly always matched her in the tasks our tutors set us. It might seem nothing much to boast about, given that she’s five years his junior, but then he’d lived in the village, with hardly any access to books, until he was twelve. For him to have achieved as much as he had was evidence, I thought, of his innate intelligence. At any rate, I was sure he could solve any problem I might care to throw at him – provided I could persuade him it was in his interests to solve it.
‘Aunt Charlotte would be so grateful if you could help me convince Veronica,’ I said, putting on what I hoped was a winning expression. ‘There’s going to be an awful battle
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