Read Online Carola Dunn by Mayhemand Miranda - Free Book Online
Authors: Mayhemand Miranda
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Mrs. Lowenstein now. After that, I am at your disposal, sir. Unless you have need of me, Lady Wiston?”
“Not until we go to the hospital, dear. The Vicar threatened to call this morning, but I daresay I can hold up my end in our dispute without your presence. I hope to be able to make Mr. Sagaranathu known to him.”
“Do you think it wise, ma’am?” Miranda asked.
Lady Wiston gave her a mischievous smile. “If not wise, at least interesting.”
Mr. Daviot grinned. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world! Never fear, Miss Carmichael, I shall make sure we finish our business in time to attend.”
“Then I had best be on my way,” Miranda said tartly.
* * * *
Domestic concerns dealt with, she repaired to the study. Mr. Daviot was already there. He stood by his desk under the window, staring not down at the higgledy-piggledy muddle of papers but out at the rain-drenched garden.
Hearing Miranda’s entrance, he swung round, a frown clearing from his brow.
“I am in some perplexity, ma’am, and sorely in need of your counsel,” he said. “Do sit down.”
Miranda took one of the easy chairs. Mr. Daviot perched on the edge of the writing table, his back to the window so that she could make out little of his expression. His voice, however, was unwontedly serious.
“You looked not quite happy, Miss Carmichael, when I entered the dining parlour just now. Would I be wrong in supposing my aunt had just proposed to you certain expenditures on my behalf?”
“It cannot have been for this you requested my advice!”
“Oh, that can wait,” he said with an impatient gesture. “Is my conjecture correct?”
“Yes, sir, but it is not my place to approve or disapprove her ladyship’s char...expenditures.”
“Charities? I am, after all, Aunt Artemis’s nearest relative.”
“I do beg your pardon, Mr. Daviot,” Miranda said contritely. “That was an unfortunate slip of the tongue. Of course her support of her nephew cannot be regarded as charity. May we wipe clean the slate and begin again?”
“Certainly.” He smiled. “It won’t be the first time.”
Recalling her first request of that nature, and the kiss which preceded it, Miranda was annoyed to feel her face grow warm. As a result, it was with some asperity that she said, “Lady Wiston announced her intention of purchasing a horse for your use. She also desired my opinion as to whether the offer of an allowance would affront you. I daresay it was not quite proper to discuss the matter with a hired companion, but—”
“But my aunt cannot be relied upon to do what is proper, bless her!”
“I was going to say: but I had no choice in the matter. I am heartily sorry if you are offended.”
“Not in the least. She is wise to rely upon your judgement, Miss Carmichael. How can I think otherwise when I mean to do the same? Did you tell her I should be affronted?” he asked with apparent real interest.
“Hardly! As a matter of fact, I suggested her insisting on your paying back any outlay on your behalf.”
“I might have guessed!” he said, laughing. “I could not credit Aunt Artemis coming up with that notion, though it was less of a demand than a hint. But all this is beside the point. You were right, I was far too grateful to feel insulted, but before I accept—”
“You have not accepted?” she exclaimed in astonishment.
“Provisionally. I wish to be certain that my aunt can stand the nonsense without discomfort to herself or a lessening of her charity to more worthy objects than myself. Short of applying to her lawyer, who would doubtless kick me downstairs, you are the person most likely to be able to tell me just how well to pass the Admiral left her.”
“I see.” Impressed by his consideration, a moment later Miranda found herself doubting. Was he cozening her, whether to make her think well of him, or to discover the extent of Lady Wiston’s wealth for his own purposes? “I am not fully acquainted with her ladyship’s
“Not until we go to the hospital, dear. The Vicar threatened to call this morning, but I daresay I can hold up my end in our dispute without your presence. I hope to be able to make Mr. Sagaranathu known to him.”
“Do you think it wise, ma’am?” Miranda asked.
Lady Wiston gave her a mischievous smile. “If not wise, at least interesting.”
Mr. Daviot grinned. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world! Never fear, Miss Carmichael, I shall make sure we finish our business in time to attend.”
“Then I had best be on my way,” Miranda said tartly.
* * * *
Domestic concerns dealt with, she repaired to the study. Mr. Daviot was already there. He stood by his desk under the window, staring not down at the higgledy-piggledy muddle of papers but out at the rain-drenched garden.
Hearing Miranda’s entrance, he swung round, a frown clearing from his brow.
“I am in some perplexity, ma’am, and sorely in need of your counsel,” he said. “Do sit down.”
Miranda took one of the easy chairs. Mr. Daviot perched on the edge of the writing table, his back to the window so that she could make out little of his expression. His voice, however, was unwontedly serious.
“You looked not quite happy, Miss Carmichael, when I entered the dining parlour just now. Would I be wrong in supposing my aunt had just proposed to you certain expenditures on my behalf?”
“It cannot have been for this you requested my advice!”
“Oh, that can wait,” he said with an impatient gesture. “Is my conjecture correct?”
“Yes, sir, but it is not my place to approve or disapprove her ladyship’s char...expenditures.”
“Charities? I am, after all, Aunt Artemis’s nearest relative.”
“I do beg your pardon, Mr. Daviot,” Miranda said contritely. “That was an unfortunate slip of the tongue. Of course her support of her nephew cannot be regarded as charity. May we wipe clean the slate and begin again?”
“Certainly.” He smiled. “It won’t be the first time.”
Recalling her first request of that nature, and the kiss which preceded it, Miranda was annoyed to feel her face grow warm. As a result, it was with some asperity that she said, “Lady Wiston announced her intention of purchasing a horse for your use. She also desired my opinion as to whether the offer of an allowance would affront you. I daresay it was not quite proper to discuss the matter with a hired companion, but—”
“But my aunt cannot be relied upon to do what is proper, bless her!”
“I was going to say: but I had no choice in the matter. I am heartily sorry if you are offended.”
“Not in the least. She is wise to rely upon your judgement, Miss Carmichael. How can I think otherwise when I mean to do the same? Did you tell her I should be affronted?” he asked with apparent real interest.
“Hardly! As a matter of fact, I suggested her insisting on your paying back any outlay on your behalf.”
“I might have guessed!” he said, laughing. “I could not credit Aunt Artemis coming up with that notion, though it was less of a demand than a hint. But all this is beside the point. You were right, I was far too grateful to feel insulted, but before I accept—”
“You have not accepted?” she exclaimed in astonishment.
“Provisionally. I wish to be certain that my aunt can stand the nonsense without discomfort to herself or a lessening of her charity to more worthy objects than myself. Short of applying to her lawyer, who would doubtless kick me downstairs, you are the person most likely to be able to tell me just how well to pass the Admiral left her.”
“I see.” Impressed by his consideration, a moment later Miranda found herself doubting. Was he cozening her, whether to make her think well of him, or to discover the extent of Lady Wiston’s wealth for his own purposes? “I am not fully acquainted with her ladyship’s
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