Read Online I Thee Wed by Celeste Bradley - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Celeste Bradley
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managed to trick Asher Langford into helping her feed her specimens and clean up after them by telling Judith stories while they worked. She didnât feel too bad for it, since physical activity clearly calmed his nerves, and the stories were even somewhat true. That was one good use of this wasted hour.
At last, the ormolu clock on the mantel chimed the hour. As if summoned by the sweet silvery ring, Pennysmith appeared with the gentlemenâs hats and gloves in hand.
Francesca made a gracious farewell to Asher and the probably inoffensive Sir Humphrey (although who really knew?). She managed a stiff nod to that supercilious ass, NicholasWitherspoon, although he didnât really bow to her as much as slump slightly in her general direction.
Her duties as Judithâs chaperone concluded, she strolled sedately away from the foyerâat least, until she was out of sight. Then she picked up her skirts and bolted for the library.
Free at last!
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
A TTIE W ORTHINGTON HAD never worried too much about invitations as such. After all, she hadnât actually been forbidden to climb back up the tree, along the teetering branch, and into Orionâs chamber window. Entering Blayne House by such a roundabout fashion might be considered unlawful entry, but Attie had long ago decided not to concern herself with semantics.
Orion was not in his room, nor had she expected him to be at this time of day. She had heard of Sir Geoffreyâs astonishing laboratory. She longed to see it with her own eyes, but Sir Geoffrey sounded like one of those stuffy, unpleasant scholars who didnât understand that a superior mind could be encased in a skinny little girlâs body.
Some people did not deserve to be called scientists.
Still, if everyone was occupied during the day, Attie saw no reason not to explore her brotherâs new home at her leisure. Orionâs chamber was nothing special, in her opinion. The furniture might be unscarred and gleaming, but it was all the usual sort. The room contained a bed, a dresser, a writing desk, and a chamber pot, just like any bedchamber in her own house. And at Worthington House, such a vast room would have also contained a lively assortment of artwork, literature, cooking utensils, rusting farm implements, and other fascinating whatnots. This room was just . . . empty.
The bed, however, was marvelous for jumping.
After she exhausted her interest in that juvenile activity, Attie gently forgave herself for being a child (since it was a temporary condition and one soon cured) and set out toexplore the rest of the house. She found herself in a long, boring hallway that ended in a gracefully curving set of stairs leading down, and then there was another long, boring hallway with nothing on it but doors. Attie enjoyed opening doors to places she was not supposed to enter, so that was entertaining for a while. There was a drawing room, very ladylike and posh. Her sister Elektra wouldâve liked it very much. The next door contained a very similar drawing room, only this one had more masculine touches and a rather nice card table.
Attie approved of gambling in general, especially when people underestimated the abilities of a thirteen-year-old girl. Iris often told her that a lady had few advantages in the world, and the ones she had ought to be used wisely. Attie took that to mean that her ability to count the cards in any game should be used to her advantage.
However, no game was going on at the moment, and there was nothing of interest in any of the next rooms. There was a sort of study, but it was unexciting and anonymous. Another door led to a dining room that was too small to accommodate her fondness for skipping and running. The room after that was intriguingly locked.
Attie pondered the wisdom of picking that lock. It wasnât so much
whether
she should pick the lock as it was
when
she should pick the lock. She decided to put it off for
At last, the ormolu clock on the mantel chimed the hour. As if summoned by the sweet silvery ring, Pennysmith appeared with the gentlemenâs hats and gloves in hand.
Francesca made a gracious farewell to Asher and the probably inoffensive Sir Humphrey (although who really knew?). She managed a stiff nod to that supercilious ass, NicholasWitherspoon, although he didnât really bow to her as much as slump slightly in her general direction.
Her duties as Judithâs chaperone concluded, she strolled sedately away from the foyerâat least, until she was out of sight. Then she picked up her skirts and bolted for the library.
Free at last!
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
A TTIE W ORTHINGTON HAD never worried too much about invitations as such. After all, she hadnât actually been forbidden to climb back up the tree, along the teetering branch, and into Orionâs chamber window. Entering Blayne House by such a roundabout fashion might be considered unlawful entry, but Attie had long ago decided not to concern herself with semantics.
Orion was not in his room, nor had she expected him to be at this time of day. She had heard of Sir Geoffreyâs astonishing laboratory. She longed to see it with her own eyes, but Sir Geoffrey sounded like one of those stuffy, unpleasant scholars who didnât understand that a superior mind could be encased in a skinny little girlâs body.
Some people did not deserve to be called scientists.
Still, if everyone was occupied during the day, Attie saw no reason not to explore her brotherâs new home at her leisure. Orionâs chamber was nothing special, in her opinion. The furniture might be unscarred and gleaming, but it was all the usual sort. The room contained a bed, a dresser, a writing desk, and a chamber pot, just like any bedchamber in her own house. And at Worthington House, such a vast room would have also contained a lively assortment of artwork, literature, cooking utensils, rusting farm implements, and other fascinating whatnots. This room was just . . . empty.
The bed, however, was marvelous for jumping.
After she exhausted her interest in that juvenile activity, Attie gently forgave herself for being a child (since it was a temporary condition and one soon cured) and set out toexplore the rest of the house. She found herself in a long, boring hallway that ended in a gracefully curving set of stairs leading down, and then there was another long, boring hallway with nothing on it but doors. Attie enjoyed opening doors to places she was not supposed to enter, so that was entertaining for a while. There was a drawing room, very ladylike and posh. Her sister Elektra wouldâve liked it very much. The next door contained a very similar drawing room, only this one had more masculine touches and a rather nice card table.
Attie approved of gambling in general, especially when people underestimated the abilities of a thirteen-year-old girl. Iris often told her that a lady had few advantages in the world, and the ones she had ought to be used wisely. Attie took that to mean that her ability to count the cards in any game should be used to her advantage.
However, no game was going on at the moment, and there was nothing of interest in any of the next rooms. There was a sort of study, but it was unexciting and anonymous. Another door led to a dining room that was too small to accommodate her fondness for skipping and running. The room after that was intriguingly locked.
Attie pondered the wisdom of picking that lock. It wasnât so much
whether
she should pick the lock as it was
when
she should pick the lock. She decided to put it off for
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