Read Online And Only to Deceive by TASHA ALEXANDER - Free Book Online Page B

Hargreaves seated on a bench at the far end of the gallery. He rose immediately when he saw me, and I introduced him to my companions. As always, he was exceedingly polite, and he asked to accompany us on our tour. Mr. Attewater, however, excused himself.
    “I shall have to leave you now,” he said. “I have an appointment I must keep. It has been most pleasant making your acquaintance, Lady Ashton.”
    Soon thereafter Monsieur Pontiero begged our leave to call on his next pupil. Colin took my drawing material from him, and we continued to walk through the museum.
    “Please forgive me, Emily, but you should perhaps be a bit more discerning about the company you keep. Aldwin Attewater is not the sort of man with whom you ought to consort,” he said in a soft but forceful voice.
    “He seemed pleasant enough to me,” I retorted, feeling my face grow red.
    “Don’t be naïve.”
    “I can’t see why you should object to the acquaintance.” It astonished me how quickly he was willing to attempt control over this small part of my life. Was this what came from dancing with him in such inappropriate circumstances?
    “His profession precludes him from any position of honor.”
    “I did not think you were the type of man who would consider an artist dishonorable.”
    “My dear, he is not an artist. He is a forger.”
    “I don’t see that he does anything wrong. Not everyone can afford originals, and I myself would enjoy having reproductions of some of the objects from museums.”
    “Then make use of the British Museum’s casting services, Emily. There is a significant difference between a man who openly copies objects and one who produces forgeries. Mr. Attewater falls into the latter category, and you should not associate with such a man.”
    “I disagree with you. Mr. Attewater was completely candid about his work. He has no intention to deceive. Furthermore, I would not have expected someone with your liberal views to lecture me on the company I keep. It’s not as if I intend to dance with him.” I glared at him. He met my stare with one of his own.
    “I’m only trying to help you, Emily. I admit I did not expect to receive such an immature response.”
    “Happily, as you are not my husband, I do not have to give your opinion more attention than I choose,” I snapped. “Good day, Mr. Hargreaves.” I grabbed my sketchbook from his hand and marched out of the museum, pleased beyond imagining that there was no man to whom I had to answer for my actions.
     
    “H E IS ABSOLUTELY INFURIATING!” I exclaimed to Cécile as we rode in her carriage to a party at Gordon Bennett’s house that evening. “Can you believe he had the gall to speak to me like that?”
    “I admit it is somewhat surprising, given what little I’ve heard about him.”
    “His character is full of hypocrisy, and I shan’t waste another moment thinking about him.”
    “I imagine you won’t,” Cécile replied sarcastically, not even having the courtesy to pretend to believe me. “I think he’s a very interesting man.”
    “Who cares? Did I tell you the story of Philip’s triumphant elephant hunt?”
    “Yes, chérie, you did. I thought you disliked hunting.”
    “I do. But it seems that Philip was able to commune with the animals in a way that was truly noble.”
    “If he really communed with the animals, I would think he wouldn’t have wanted to shoot them. I must say that your renewed interest in Philip is somewhere between distressing and morbid. It is time that you move on, Kallista. Philip was a good man, but he is dead. You can get nothing more from him, especially love.”
    “You’re right, of course, but I cannot help regretting that I did not know the man better. He grows more fascinating with every account of him that I hear. Arthur Palmer called on me yesterday and told me that Philip actually arranged to have the son of one of their African guides schooled in England. Apparently the boy speaks quite good