Read Online Barbara Metzger by Lord Heartless - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lord Heartless
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to sneak into his own home to purloin his own baby clothes?” Sir Gilliam laughed himself into a coughing fit. Carissa jumped up from her seat next to him to pat his back and hand him a glass of water before Mason could. The butler scowled, making him look more like a weasel than ever.
Sir Gilliam had requested that Carissa join him for dinner that evening, as he did on occasion, to Mason's disapproval. She'd put Philippa to bed in the room they shared, hoping she wouldn't awaken, and donned her one evening frock. It was hopelessly out of fashion and she had sewn it herself, of course, but the dark amber crepe made her feel almost pretty. It wasn't black, at least. Carissa coiled her hair into a crown atop her head, not her usual severe bun, and even let a few wisps of soft brown hair curl around her cheeks.
Sir Gilliam had smiled appreciatively, indicating that she should move her plate closer to his, at the top of the linen-draped table. Mason muttered about females knowing their station, female ewes parading as lambs, and females playing off their tricks, too softly for his employer to hear. Mason, of course, had set Carissa's place at the foot, as far away from the aged knight as possible. Sir Gilliam, however, did not wish to miss a word of her report on the neighborhood's most renowned resident.
With tears of laughter in his eyes, the old banker asked her to begin again. “You mean he nearly required smelling salts? Hartleigh?"
"He turned every shade of green as soon as I asked him to dispose of the baby's soiled linens. In all honesty, his lordship wasn't in prime twig to begin with, but that sent him for the nearest basin—and not to put the diapers in, either."
"And then?"
"And then Sue smiled at him. ‘Twas gas, most likely, but our supposedly hard-hearted lord turned to mush in front of my eyes. Why, if Sue could have asked for the moon, I am sure he'd be thinking of ways to get it for her. The little sweetheart will have him firmly wrapped around her tiny fingers as soon as she figures out how."
"And you are going along with him to Hammond House?"
"With your permission, of course, Sir Gilliam."
He brushed aside her concern for his approval. “I have no objection, my dear. You have this place organized so efficiently, it runs itself without you. But is it necessary for you to accompany his lordship?"
"Heaven knows what he will fetch back, else. Between him and his odd manservant, they wouldn't know a cradle from a coal scuttle. And I will put Philippa to sleep at his house, where Maisie can look out for her. Pippa seems fascinated by the baby, and Maisie seems both conscientious and caring."
That suggestion had been Lord Hartleigh's, when Carissa had objected that she could not leave her daughter alone at Sir Gilliam's, for there would be no one to comfort the child if she awoke in the night. In truth, it was Carissa who was anxious, since she had never been parted from Philippa for more than an hour or so, in the four years since her birth.
Sir Gilliam was not convinced of the wisdom of pillaging Hammond House. “Does the child really need so many things?"
"His lordship is going tomorrow to speak to his solicitor about finding a good home for her. He thinks it might take some time, however, since he has no proof that the child is his to give away. Those distinctive blue eyes do not count in a court of law, I suppose. The fact that Sue was left on Lord Hartleigh's doorstep should be proof enough, but he fears his man of affairs will have to track down Sue's mother or a baptismal record or some such."
"I am sure his lordship's man will know which fist to grease, to see him named legal guardian."
"Yes, but that could take considerable time, time in which Sue deserves a proper place to sleep. She might have been born on the wrong side of the blanket, but she is entitled to as many blankets as she needs."
Sir Gilliam placed his gnarled hand over hers at the table. “Be careful, my dear."
Carissa
Sir Gilliam had requested that Carissa join him for dinner that evening, as he did on occasion, to Mason's disapproval. She'd put Philippa to bed in the room they shared, hoping she wouldn't awaken, and donned her one evening frock. It was hopelessly out of fashion and she had sewn it herself, of course, but the dark amber crepe made her feel almost pretty. It wasn't black, at least. Carissa coiled her hair into a crown atop her head, not her usual severe bun, and even let a few wisps of soft brown hair curl around her cheeks.
Sir Gilliam had smiled appreciatively, indicating that she should move her plate closer to his, at the top of the linen-draped table. Mason muttered about females knowing their station, female ewes parading as lambs, and females playing off their tricks, too softly for his employer to hear. Mason, of course, had set Carissa's place at the foot, as far away from the aged knight as possible. Sir Gilliam, however, did not wish to miss a word of her report on the neighborhood's most renowned resident.
With tears of laughter in his eyes, the old banker asked her to begin again. “You mean he nearly required smelling salts? Hartleigh?"
"He turned every shade of green as soon as I asked him to dispose of the baby's soiled linens. In all honesty, his lordship wasn't in prime twig to begin with, but that sent him for the nearest basin—and not to put the diapers in, either."
"And then?"
"And then Sue smiled at him. ‘Twas gas, most likely, but our supposedly hard-hearted lord turned to mush in front of my eyes. Why, if Sue could have asked for the moon, I am sure he'd be thinking of ways to get it for her. The little sweetheart will have him firmly wrapped around her tiny fingers as soon as she figures out how."
"And you are going along with him to Hammond House?"
"With your permission, of course, Sir Gilliam."
He brushed aside her concern for his approval. “I have no objection, my dear. You have this place organized so efficiently, it runs itself without you. But is it necessary for you to accompany his lordship?"
"Heaven knows what he will fetch back, else. Between him and his odd manservant, they wouldn't know a cradle from a coal scuttle. And I will put Philippa to sleep at his house, where Maisie can look out for her. Pippa seems fascinated by the baby, and Maisie seems both conscientious and caring."
That suggestion had been Lord Hartleigh's, when Carissa had objected that she could not leave her daughter alone at Sir Gilliam's, for there would be no one to comfort the child if she awoke in the night. In truth, it was Carissa who was anxious, since she had never been parted from Philippa for more than an hour or so, in the four years since her birth.
Sir Gilliam was not convinced of the wisdom of pillaging Hammond House. “Does the child really need so many things?"
"His lordship is going tomorrow to speak to his solicitor about finding a good home for her. He thinks it might take some time, however, since he has no proof that the child is his to give away. Those distinctive blue eyes do not count in a court of law, I suppose. The fact that Sue was left on Lord Hartleigh's doorstep should be proof enough, but he fears his man of affairs will have to track down Sue's mother or a baptismal record or some such."
"I am sure his lordship's man will know which fist to grease, to see him named legal guardian."
"Yes, but that could take considerable time, time in which Sue deserves a proper place to sleep. She might have been born on the wrong side of the blanket, but she is entitled to as many blankets as she needs."
Sir Gilliam placed his gnarled hand over hers at the table. “Be careful, my dear."
Carissa
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