Read Online A Murder at Rosamund's Gate by Susanna Calkins - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Susanna Calkins
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kisser!”
Lucas grinned at her country expression. “Is that so? Then come here. I could use a knock across my kisser, particularly if it came from you. You look lovely, even if your nose is fast looking like a goose’s egg.”
Startled, Lucy looked at him. Though he was joking, the compliment seemed real. Then he winked at her, continuing to chew. Cook tousled his hair and wagged her finger at him. “None of your nonsense, now,” she said, and then to Lucy, “Don’t ye worry, lass—I’ve just the thing.” Adding a crust of old bread and some water to the fragrant concoction, Cook soon had a paste, which she then smoothed gently around Lucy’s tender nose. “This will do the trick.”
After washing her face in cold rainwater a little while later, Lucy surveyed herself critically in the cracked looking glass. She could not compare to Bessie’s plump loveliness, with her dimpled cheeks and full lips that begged for a kiss. Even so, she thought her own dark lashes were wonderfully long and framed her brownish green eyes nicely, and when she moved her head just so, her brown hair glinted with golds and reds like the setting sun.
Then her mother’s voice came dancing to her ears. The devil loves a looking glass. She put the mirror down abruptly.
* * *
Later that evening, Lucy and a few of the maids from the Embry household peered from behind the curtain into the great room at the feast and the dancing. The festivities of Lady Embry’s Easter masquerade in the great room were being mimicked happily by the servants in the lower kitchens and the servants’ dining hall. Barrels of beer and ale were flowing freely among the servants, while near fifty guests in fancy costumes and masques dipped their mugs into open barrels of Rhenish and French wine.
The musicians hired for the occasion played fashionable new pieces from France on beautiful stringed instruments. Lady Embry’s newly imported spinet and harpsichord were widely admired at their prominent location by the great fire. Men and women danced gracefully together in sets of sixes and eights, the ladies holding their masks and fans coyly to their faces, the men leading confidently through the intricate steps. Jewels winked softly in candlelight, and a number of lovers, some acknowledged, others not, laughed and murmured together in the shadows.
From her vantage point of the hidden balcony, Lucy found herself looking for the Hargraves. The magistrate was deep in conversation with three dour-looking men, all of whom looked like they’d rather be in someone’s home, sipping sherry, than caught in this gorgeous and flamboyant display. Lucy recognized them as frequent visitors to the house. Two were members of Parliament; the other was a justice of the peace.
Mistress Hargrave was sitting with several other matrons, watching her daughter whirl from one handsome partner to the next and allowing herself to be fanned by a young whelp. Adam was listening politely to a beautiful young heiress who, if the whispers in the alcove could be believed, had just been presented at court, her vizard held to one side so he could see her fine features. As Lucy watched, the young woman daringly laid her hand on Adam’s sleeve and, with great pleasure evident in her face, allowed him to lead her into the next set.
Others had been watching Adam, too. “He’s really the best dancer of the lot,” one of the maids said with a sigh.
“I wonder what else he’s good at?” asked another young woman, grinning wickedly. Lucy recognized her as one of Lady Harrington’s lady’s maids. “I may aim to find out, one of these days!”
“I expect he’s already had his way with you, Lucy?” Janey asked, her smile bright but her features hard. Seeing Lucy flush, she continued, “Do tell, did he have you over the kitchen table? Or spread your skirts as you bent to pick up his linens?”
“Not when Bessie’s around for the taking, I’d say!” chimed Mariah, Janey’s
Lucas grinned at her country expression. “Is that so? Then come here. I could use a knock across my kisser, particularly if it came from you. You look lovely, even if your nose is fast looking like a goose’s egg.”
Startled, Lucy looked at him. Though he was joking, the compliment seemed real. Then he winked at her, continuing to chew. Cook tousled his hair and wagged her finger at him. “None of your nonsense, now,” she said, and then to Lucy, “Don’t ye worry, lass—I’ve just the thing.” Adding a crust of old bread and some water to the fragrant concoction, Cook soon had a paste, which she then smoothed gently around Lucy’s tender nose. “This will do the trick.”
After washing her face in cold rainwater a little while later, Lucy surveyed herself critically in the cracked looking glass. She could not compare to Bessie’s plump loveliness, with her dimpled cheeks and full lips that begged for a kiss. Even so, she thought her own dark lashes were wonderfully long and framed her brownish green eyes nicely, and when she moved her head just so, her brown hair glinted with golds and reds like the setting sun.
Then her mother’s voice came dancing to her ears. The devil loves a looking glass. She put the mirror down abruptly.
* * *
Later that evening, Lucy and a few of the maids from the Embry household peered from behind the curtain into the great room at the feast and the dancing. The festivities of Lady Embry’s Easter masquerade in the great room were being mimicked happily by the servants in the lower kitchens and the servants’ dining hall. Barrels of beer and ale were flowing freely among the servants, while near fifty guests in fancy costumes and masques dipped their mugs into open barrels of Rhenish and French wine.
The musicians hired for the occasion played fashionable new pieces from France on beautiful stringed instruments. Lady Embry’s newly imported spinet and harpsichord were widely admired at their prominent location by the great fire. Men and women danced gracefully together in sets of sixes and eights, the ladies holding their masks and fans coyly to their faces, the men leading confidently through the intricate steps. Jewels winked softly in candlelight, and a number of lovers, some acknowledged, others not, laughed and murmured together in the shadows.
From her vantage point of the hidden balcony, Lucy found herself looking for the Hargraves. The magistrate was deep in conversation with three dour-looking men, all of whom looked like they’d rather be in someone’s home, sipping sherry, than caught in this gorgeous and flamboyant display. Lucy recognized them as frequent visitors to the house. Two were members of Parliament; the other was a justice of the peace.
Mistress Hargrave was sitting with several other matrons, watching her daughter whirl from one handsome partner to the next and allowing herself to be fanned by a young whelp. Adam was listening politely to a beautiful young heiress who, if the whispers in the alcove could be believed, had just been presented at court, her vizard held to one side so he could see her fine features. As Lucy watched, the young woman daringly laid her hand on Adam’s sleeve and, with great pleasure evident in her face, allowed him to lead her into the next set.
Others had been watching Adam, too. “He’s really the best dancer of the lot,” one of the maids said with a sigh.
“I wonder what else he’s good at?” asked another young woman, grinning wickedly. Lucy recognized her as one of Lady Harrington’s lady’s maids. “I may aim to find out, one of these days!”
“I expect he’s already had his way with you, Lucy?” Janey asked, her smile bright but her features hard. Seeing Lucy flush, she continued, “Do tell, did he have you over the kitchen table? Or spread your skirts as you bent to pick up his linens?”
“Not when Bessie’s around for the taking, I’d say!” chimed Mariah, Janey’s
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