Read Online Elizabeth Thornton by Whisper His Name - Free Book Online
Authors: Whisper His Name
Ads: Link
give him plenty of time before he kept his appointment with destiny.
CHAPTER 5
O livia Fairbairn peered through the lens of the magnifying glass and feasted her eyes on the name of the publisher of the slim volume she was examining. “Colin,” she mouthed to herself. There was no doubt in her mind that this was the genuine article. This was one of Marat’s tracts that Colin had published during the French Revolution. If her father was alive, he would have paid a tidy sum to add it to his collection. Now Abbie could sell it for a nice little profit, and her own half share would plump up the nest egg she was squirreling away for the proverbial rainy day.
If it hadn’t been for Abbie, there would be no nest egg.
She leaned back in her chair and reflected on her changed circumstances. The turning point had come when she applied for the position of companion that Abbie had advertised in the Bath
Chronicle
. Life for an elderly single woman who had once eked out her existence on the fringes of polite society couldn’t be better. Courtesy of Abbie, she had acquired a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. She’d seen more of the world in the last six months than she’d seen in the previous half century.
But more satisfying by far was the knowledge that it wasn’t all one-sided, that she had something to offer Abbie in return. She was the mastermind behind the little business enterprise they had drifted into. In short, she was an authority on rare books.
She had her father to thank for that. His knowledge and love of books had been phenomenal, and he’d passed that love and knowledge on to his only child. His own library, which he built up book by book, had been the envy of the county. It should have all come to her. Unfortunately, her father’s knowledge of books was not matched by his knowledge of accounting, and on his death, everything had to be sold to pay off his debts.
She’d fallen on hard times. But all that had changed with Abbie. They were partners, Abbie liked to say. Abbie put up the money and she, Olivia, contributed her knowledge. It was a fair exchange, Abbie said.
There was nothing she would not do for that dear girl.
She gave a start of surprise when the door handle rattled and the door swung slowly open. “Abbie!” she burst out. “Dear Lord! What’s happened to you? You’re as white as a sheet.”
Abbie tried to smile, then winced. She put a finger to her swollen lip. Her jaw was sore as well, but only her lip gave any outward evidence of last night’s attack, and even then, the cut was on the inside of her mouth. But she was shaking badly and couldn’t hide it. “The silliest thing,” she said. “I walked into a door and knocked myself senseless.”
Miss Fairbairn jumped to her feet and went to Abbie. “You poor thing,” she cried, gathering her in her arms. “I didn’t hear anything. When did this happen?”
“Not long after we got home last night.” She choked back a teary sob. Olivia’s concern after what she’d beenthrough the night before made Abbie want to cry like a baby.
Miss Fairbairn led Abbie to a chair close to the fire and pushed her into it. She glanced at Abbie’s warm dressing robe and shook her head. “Have you just come to yourself?”
“No,” said Abbie. “I didn’t feel like getting dressed. I’m all right. Really.”
But she wasn’t all right. She was just a hairbreadth away from hysteria. It was a nightmare. She was just an ordinary girl, and things like this didn’t happen to ordinary people.
“All the same, I think we should send for the doctor. Concussion can have serious consequences.”
“I didn’t have a concussion. I wasn’t unconscious for more than a few minutes.”
Miss Fairbairn’s hands fluttered. “You’re shaking. Let me get you a shawl.”
It was all Abbie could do to sit still while Olivia fussed over her. She wanted to rush around the house and lock all the doors and windows. And even that wouldn’t be enough
CHAPTER 5
O livia Fairbairn peered through the lens of the magnifying glass and feasted her eyes on the name of the publisher of the slim volume she was examining. “Colin,” she mouthed to herself. There was no doubt in her mind that this was the genuine article. This was one of Marat’s tracts that Colin had published during the French Revolution. If her father was alive, he would have paid a tidy sum to add it to his collection. Now Abbie could sell it for a nice little profit, and her own half share would plump up the nest egg she was squirreling away for the proverbial rainy day.
If it hadn’t been for Abbie, there would be no nest egg.
She leaned back in her chair and reflected on her changed circumstances. The turning point had come when she applied for the position of companion that Abbie had advertised in the Bath
Chronicle
. Life for an elderly single woman who had once eked out her existence on the fringes of polite society couldn’t be better. Courtesy of Abbie, she had acquired a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. She’d seen more of the world in the last six months than she’d seen in the previous half century.
But more satisfying by far was the knowledge that it wasn’t all one-sided, that she had something to offer Abbie in return. She was the mastermind behind the little business enterprise they had drifted into. In short, she was an authority on rare books.
She had her father to thank for that. His knowledge and love of books had been phenomenal, and he’d passed that love and knowledge on to his only child. His own library, which he built up book by book, had been the envy of the county. It should have all come to her. Unfortunately, her father’s knowledge of books was not matched by his knowledge of accounting, and on his death, everything had to be sold to pay off his debts.
She’d fallen on hard times. But all that had changed with Abbie. They were partners, Abbie liked to say. Abbie put up the money and she, Olivia, contributed her knowledge. It was a fair exchange, Abbie said.
There was nothing she would not do for that dear girl.
She gave a start of surprise when the door handle rattled and the door swung slowly open. “Abbie!” she burst out. “Dear Lord! What’s happened to you? You’re as white as a sheet.”
Abbie tried to smile, then winced. She put a finger to her swollen lip. Her jaw was sore as well, but only her lip gave any outward evidence of last night’s attack, and even then, the cut was on the inside of her mouth. But she was shaking badly and couldn’t hide it. “The silliest thing,” she said. “I walked into a door and knocked myself senseless.”
Miss Fairbairn jumped to her feet and went to Abbie. “You poor thing,” she cried, gathering her in her arms. “I didn’t hear anything. When did this happen?”
“Not long after we got home last night.” She choked back a teary sob. Olivia’s concern after what she’d beenthrough the night before made Abbie want to cry like a baby.
Miss Fairbairn led Abbie to a chair close to the fire and pushed her into it. She glanced at Abbie’s warm dressing robe and shook her head. “Have you just come to yourself?”
“No,” said Abbie. “I didn’t feel like getting dressed. I’m all right. Really.”
But she wasn’t all right. She was just a hairbreadth away from hysteria. It was a nightmare. She was just an ordinary girl, and things like this didn’t happen to ordinary people.
“All the same, I think we should send for the doctor. Concussion can have serious consequences.”
“I didn’t have a concussion. I wasn’t unconscious for more than a few minutes.”
Miss Fairbairn’s hands fluttered. “You’re shaking. Let me get you a shawl.”
It was all Abbie could do to sit still while Olivia fussed over her. She wanted to rush around the house and lock all the doors and windows. And even that wouldn’t be enough
Similar Books
