Read Online Cousin Kate by Georgette Heyer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Georgette Heyer
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don't know! you can't know! We are all afraid of her - all of us, even Matthew! Even me!'
He ended on a hysterical sob. As much moved as shocked, she ventured to lay a soothing hand on his arm, and to say: 'You are her only child, and - and, I collect, not robust!' Her ,care of you must spring from her love - don't you think?'
His hands fell; he showed her a distorted face, in which his eyes blazed 'Love?' he ejaculated. ' Love ? Mama? Oh, that's good! That's rich, by God!' Suddenly he stiffened, and grasped her wrist, listening intently. 'I thought as much! Matthew, or Badger, spying on me! If they ask you what I've been saying to you, don't tell them - either of them! Promise me!'
She had only time to utter the desired assurance before his hand left her wrist. Dr Delabole stepped into the clearing, and waved to them, saying: 'So here you are! "Depend upon it," I told her ladyship, "Torquil has taken Miss Kate to see the bluebells!" My dear young people, have you the least notion of what the time may be?'
'Well, I did ask my cousin, when he suggested a stroll through the wood, but he said it didn't signify! And then we came upon the bluebells!' replied Kate gaily.
'Beautiful, aren't they? One could spend an hour, feasting one's eyes upon them! But it is past noon, and a nuncheon awaits you!'
'Past noon! Oh, we must go back instantly!' exclaimed Kate, stricken.
'On the contrary! We must go on!' said the doctor, laughing gently. 'The wood dwindles into the park, and if we continue down this ride we shall find ourselves within a stone's throw of the house. And what, Miss Kate, did you think of the belvedere?'
He had fallen into step beside her, but it was Torquil who answered him, from beyond Kate. 'How did you know I had taken her there?' he demanded suspiciously.
'Well, by the process of deduction, dear boy!' replied the doctor apologetically. 'Having seen you set out from the house into the gardens, and having failed to discover you there, I naturally assumed that you had done so! When I drew another blank at the belvedere, it dawned on my powerful intellect that you must have crossed the bridge into the wood! And lo, here you are!'
'Oh!' said Torquil, disconcerted.
In a few minutes they were crossing the park, within sight of the house. They entered it by the front door, and were met by Lady Broome, who threw up her hands, and said quizzingly: 'Oh, you abominable children! Where did you find them, Doctor?'
'Where I thought I should find them, ma'am! Looking at the bluebells!'
'Ah, then I must forgive them! And should perhaps blame myself for not having warned you, Kate, that Torquil has no idea of time! Eh, my son?'
She pinched his chin as she spoke, and then slid her hand in his arm, and went with him into one of the saloons, saying over her shoulder: 'I don't stand on ceremony with you, Kate! Are you quite famished? You don't deserve it, either of you, but you shall have a nuncheon!'
The table in the saloon was set for two, and bore a selection of cold meats, and fruit. Lady Broome took her place at the head of it, and carved some slices of chicken for them.
'Not for me, ma'am!' said Torquil.
'Just one slice of breast, to please me!' she said, laying his plate before him.
He looked mutinous, and started to say something about not being hungry, but she interrupted him, meeting his eyes steadily, and saying in a calm tone: 'Eat it, Torquil!'
He reddened, hunching a shoulder, but picked up his knife and fork. Lady Broome chose an apple from the bowl in front of her, and began delicately to peel it with a silver knife. Addressing herself to Kate, she said: 'Well, my dear, and what did you think of the gardens? They are not looking their best so early in the season, but the azaleas and the rhododendrons round the lake must be coming into flower?'
Kate shook her head. 'Not yet, ma'am, though I did notice some buds.'
'Cousin Kate, ma'am, didn't like your belvedere,' interpolated Torquil maliciously. 'She said
He ended on a hysterical sob. As much moved as shocked, she ventured to lay a soothing hand on his arm, and to say: 'You are her only child, and - and, I collect, not robust!' Her ,care of you must spring from her love - don't you think?'
His hands fell; he showed her a distorted face, in which his eyes blazed 'Love?' he ejaculated. ' Love ? Mama? Oh, that's good! That's rich, by God!' Suddenly he stiffened, and grasped her wrist, listening intently. 'I thought as much! Matthew, or Badger, spying on me! If they ask you what I've been saying to you, don't tell them - either of them! Promise me!'
She had only time to utter the desired assurance before his hand left her wrist. Dr Delabole stepped into the clearing, and waved to them, saying: 'So here you are! "Depend upon it," I told her ladyship, "Torquil has taken Miss Kate to see the bluebells!" My dear young people, have you the least notion of what the time may be?'
'Well, I did ask my cousin, when he suggested a stroll through the wood, but he said it didn't signify! And then we came upon the bluebells!' replied Kate gaily.
'Beautiful, aren't they? One could spend an hour, feasting one's eyes upon them! But it is past noon, and a nuncheon awaits you!'
'Past noon! Oh, we must go back instantly!' exclaimed Kate, stricken.
'On the contrary! We must go on!' said the doctor, laughing gently. 'The wood dwindles into the park, and if we continue down this ride we shall find ourselves within a stone's throw of the house. And what, Miss Kate, did you think of the belvedere?'
He had fallen into step beside her, but it was Torquil who answered him, from beyond Kate. 'How did you know I had taken her there?' he demanded suspiciously.
'Well, by the process of deduction, dear boy!' replied the doctor apologetically. 'Having seen you set out from the house into the gardens, and having failed to discover you there, I naturally assumed that you had done so! When I drew another blank at the belvedere, it dawned on my powerful intellect that you must have crossed the bridge into the wood! And lo, here you are!'
'Oh!' said Torquil, disconcerted.
In a few minutes they were crossing the park, within sight of the house. They entered it by the front door, and were met by Lady Broome, who threw up her hands, and said quizzingly: 'Oh, you abominable children! Where did you find them, Doctor?'
'Where I thought I should find them, ma'am! Looking at the bluebells!'
'Ah, then I must forgive them! And should perhaps blame myself for not having warned you, Kate, that Torquil has no idea of time! Eh, my son?'
She pinched his chin as she spoke, and then slid her hand in his arm, and went with him into one of the saloons, saying over her shoulder: 'I don't stand on ceremony with you, Kate! Are you quite famished? You don't deserve it, either of you, but you shall have a nuncheon!'
The table in the saloon was set for two, and bore a selection of cold meats, and fruit. Lady Broome took her place at the head of it, and carved some slices of chicken for them.
'Not for me, ma'am!' said Torquil.
'Just one slice of breast, to please me!' she said, laying his plate before him.
He looked mutinous, and started to say something about not being hungry, but she interrupted him, meeting his eyes steadily, and saying in a calm tone: 'Eat it, Torquil!'
He reddened, hunching a shoulder, but picked up his knife and fork. Lady Broome chose an apple from the bowl in front of her, and began delicately to peel it with a silver knife. Addressing herself to Kate, she said: 'Well, my dear, and what did you think of the gardens? They are not looking their best so early in the season, but the azaleas and the rhododendrons round the lake must be coming into flower?'
Kate shook her head. 'Not yet, ma'am, though I did notice some buds.'
'Cousin Kate, ma'am, didn't like your belvedere,' interpolated Torquil maliciously. 'She said
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