Read Online A Study In Seduction by Nina Rowan - Free Book Online Page B

Lydia’s childhood, her father had spent much of his time either traveling or working, but his dedication to her, his support of her education, had never wavered. And after Jane was born, he ceased traveling in favor of teaching and studying. His placid, serious presence had been so very, very welcome after the loneliness of Lydia’s childhood and the death of Theodora Kellaway.
    And Jane—to Lydia’s utter, complete gratitude—had known only Sir Henry’s unwavering love and devotion.
    Jane closed the book and rested her head against Lydia’s shoulder. “Do you think Grandmama really will send me away?”
    Lydia looked at her sister. “How did you find out?”
    “I couldn’t sleep and came downstairs for a glass of milk. I heard you talking in the drawing room.”
    “You oughtn’t have listened.”
    “Wouldn’t you have listened if you overheard someone talking about you?”
    Lydia chuckled and conceded the point. “I suppose.”
    “Do you think she’ll do it?” Jane asked. “Do you think she’ll send me to that school in Paris?”
    Lydia searched for a proper response. She could not undermine her grandmother’s authority, but neither could she lie. She opted to evade the question.
    “How would you feel if she did?”
    When Jane didn’t respond, Lydia’s heart sank. She wished Jane would immediately say she didn’t want to go, but of course her sister didn’t respond to anything without thinking it through.
    “I don’t know,” Jane finally said. “I’d miss you, of course, and the house. But it’s not as if… I mean, it isn’t as if we ever
go
anywhere, d’you know?”
    “That’s not entirely true. We—”
    “It is true, Lydia.” Frustration edged Jane’s voice. “The only place I’ve been outside of London was that trip we took to Brighton. At least Paris would be interesting.”
    “Yes, it would,” Lydia admitted, though her heart began to feel like a rock.
    “And honestly, I’d like to learn piano and French.” Jane turned her head to look at Lydia’s face. “Oh, Lyddie, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
    “You didn’t.” Lydia hugged her sister. “I understand what you mean. When I was a few years older than you, I went away to school as well. To Germany.”
    “Did you like it?”
    Lydia’s stomach knotted. That single year was like a diamond inside her—bright, cold, and hard. In some ways it had opened her to things she could never have anticipated, and in other ways… it had destroyed both her and those closest to her.
    “I liked learning new things,” she said. “Everything was different and interesting. But it wasn’t easy. I spoke little German. I didn’t make many friends. I missed home. I often felt alone.”
    I was alone.
    Even before Sir Henry had agreed to send her to Germany, Lydia had been alone. With her grandmother caring for her mother and her father either away or working… solitude had been Lydia’s sole companion.
    Until
him.
The man with the cold green eyes and twisted heart. She shivered.
    “What happened when you were there?” Jane asked.
    “What—”
    “I heard you say something to Grandmama about punishing you for something that happened. Was that in Germany? What was it?”
    Panic quivered in Lydia’s chest. She tightened her arm around Jane and kissed the top of her head again. “Nothing you need worry about. It was a very long time ago.”
    She released her sister to stand. “Would you like to see the diorama in Regent’s Park this afternoon? It just opened last week.”
    “Yes, let’s.” Jane brightened.
    “Good. Go upstairs and finish your geography report. We’ll go after lunch.”
    Jane hurried from the room.
    Lydia picked up the book her sister had left on the sofa. Bright, multicolored butterflies sprang from the pages, each illustration created with meticulous detail. A folded piece of paper stuck out from the back of the book. Lydia slipped it back into place.
    She tried to imagine what her life would be like