Read Online Cut to the Quick by Kate Ross - Free Book Online Page B

quite nice, and we’ve got some fine model farms. I don’t know if you’re interested in that sort of thing.”
    “I try to be interested in very nearly everything. I always think boredom is to some extent the fault of the bored.”
    Hugh was relieved. He had feared that a fellow like Kestrel, jaded with London life, might not be easy to keep entertained. “I’ve got
    to closet myself with the parents for an hour or two, to go over those settlements the lawyers sent. Why don’t I come looking for you after that?”
    Julian agreed. He was not sorry to get an hour or two to himself. The Fontclairs had a superb pianoforte, and he had been wanting to try it out.
    He went to the music room. There was no one there. He opened the piano, laying bare her ivory keys with a little thrill of anticipation. He touched the keys, explored them, finally drew from them the joyous, rippling strains of Mozart’s Sonata in C major.
    As he struck the final notes, there was a little burst of applause. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Maud Craddock in the doorway. He came to his feet.
    She blushed, left off clapping, and hid her hands behind her. “I hope you don’t mind my listening. It was very nice.”
    “I don’t mind in the least. I’m flattered you should wish to.” She relaxed ever so slightly. “You’re very good, aren’t you? I mean, I don’t know much about music, but you seem to me as good as the real musicians who play at Papa’s parties.”
    “Thank you.” He could not help smiling, but he managed to look gratified rather than amused.
    Her gaze shied away from his. She walked past him and began to examine a harp on the other side of the room. “Mr. Fontclair is very fond of music. I— I daresay that’s one of the things you and he have in common.”
    This is rather a coil, he thought. Of course she thinks, since I’m Fontclair’s groomsman, he and I must have been Damon and Pythias for years. I can’t admit we’re barely acquainted without explaining how we came to know each other—which would be amusing, but hardly sporting toward Fontclair.
    “We do share an interest in music,” he allowed.
    She turned toward him suddenly, shaking a little, her face very white. “Mr. Kestrel—may I talk to you? I wouldn’t ask, only there isn’t anyone else. I— I can't talk to Papa—I’ve tried, and it’s no use. And I can't talk to any of the Fontclairs. They’re not my friends—they never wanted me here—I couldn’t expect them to. You’re Mr. Fontclair’s friend—you know him. You understand his family, his world. Will you advise me? Will you help me? I don’t know what to do!”
    “My dear Miss Craddock.” Julian closed the distance between them in a few quick steps. “I don’t know how I can be of service to you. But whatever I can do, rest assured, I will.”
    “Thank you,” she whispered.
    He led her to a sofa, and sat down beside her. She looked around uneasily. “Perhaps we should close the doors, or go out into the garden.”
    He shook his head. “Closing doors only attracts attention, and in a garden one never knows who may be behind the next cluster of wisteria. From where we are now, we can see clearly into the hall and the rooms on either side of us. No one will be able to get near us without our knowing.”
    Maud could not help thinking he must have, had a good deal of experience arranging tete-a-tetes with ladies. Misgiving swept over her. What was she doing?—meeting alone with a fashionable gentleman, one she hardly knew! Her father said young men of the Quality were all scoundrels, who would compromise a girl as soon as look at her. No matter, she thought desperately, I’ll take the risk. Nothing can make things any worse than they are now.
    She looked down at her lap, clasping and unclasping her fingers. “I expect you know this marriage between Mr. Fontclair and me— it didn’t come about of its own accord. My father arranged it. I don’t know how. At first I thought