Read Online Labyrinth Gate by Kate Elliott - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kate Elliott
Ads: Link
money,” Chryse said to him. “Or suitable clothing. Or a place to stay. How can we wait five weeks?”
There was a moment of silence. Aunt Laetitia regarded first Kate and then Julian. “Yours are reasonable concerns, Madame Lissagaray,” she replied finally. “But it appears to me that the matter of clothing has already been settled. And as chatelaine of my bachelor nephew’s establishment, I see no reason why you cannot continue to stay with us. It must be obvious to you both that we have ample room and staff and little enough occupation.”
“But we couldn’t impose—” began Sanjay.
“Why not?” said Kate. “I do.” She laughed at his stricken expression. “Don’t worry about insulting me,” she continued. “My parents disinherited me years ago in favor of my cousin Miranda. I’ve lived on my wits and charm and my aptitude for gambling ever since. But mostly on Julian’s charity.”
“Yes, and a damned nuisance you are, too,” said Julian, helping himself to a biscuit from the tea tray. “And have been since I’ve known you.”
“Which since we were born only five days and two miles apart has been a bloody long time.”
“And in any case,” added Julian, looking now at Sanjay, “I think I may have a solution, if it is acceptable to you. My acquaintance Professor Farr needs a secretary, as I mentioned before. He could employ you, and you could continue to stay at Vole House.”
“Of course,” said Aunt Laetitia. “That will serve very well.”
“But what am I to do?” asked Chryse. “I suppose I could take in sewing.”
“Certainly not. No gentlewoman would stoop to such an occupation.”
Chryse shrugged. “There must be a school of music in this city. I can teach piano, voice, and recorder, and perform.”
Aunt Laetitia raised one finger. “A gentlewoman may perform for the pleasure of others, but never for money. She may, however, teach—there is no shame in instruction. And there is a pleasant and neglected music room here. You will of course teach privately. I will tell my wide acquaintance that you are a noted musician from Vesputia who is willing in her short stay here to accept a few select students. That should be enough to send them thundering to your door. But both of you must realize—” Here she examined them with a stern glance. “—that although you will be treated as family in this house, the fact that you are employed for pay means you will not be able to go out in society.”
Chryse laughed. “We’re overwhelmed already. I can’t imagine we’ll want to venture into society.”
Sanjay shook his head, looking somber. “How can we possibly thank you? Under our circumstances, your generosity is—” He broke off, unable to find words.
“If they can’t throw me out,” said Kate, “they certainly can’t throw you out.”
“Don’t fool yourself into thinking that it is generosity,” scolded Aunt Laetitia. “It is pure selfishness. I find Julian’s youngest siblings tiresome and callow. His sisters Lucy and Emily, with whom I remain in charity, are married and live elsewhere. It is obvious to me that you will enliven this house. Therefore, you will stay.”
Julian smiled, waving one hand negligently. “And obedient nephew that I am, I would never dare oppose my aunt’s wishes.”
“Great-aunt, Julian. I’ll have you give my age the respect it is due.”
Chapter 5:
The Hunter
“C HARITY,” SAID MARETHA Farr from her desk, where she carefully rewrote her father’s scrawled notes into a readable and coherent form, “when you’re done fixing your hair, could you walk with me down to the booksellers? There’s a package come in I need to pick up for Papa.”
“Of course, Maretha.” The young woman who turned from the dressing table bore a striking resemblance to the soft-eyed Queen of Heaven who sat holding her ruddy-cheeked baby Son in the painting above the fireplace. “But I hope you mean to change and do something to your hair
There was a moment of silence. Aunt Laetitia regarded first Kate and then Julian. “Yours are reasonable concerns, Madame Lissagaray,” she replied finally. “But it appears to me that the matter of clothing has already been settled. And as chatelaine of my bachelor nephew’s establishment, I see no reason why you cannot continue to stay with us. It must be obvious to you both that we have ample room and staff and little enough occupation.”
“But we couldn’t impose—” began Sanjay.
“Why not?” said Kate. “I do.” She laughed at his stricken expression. “Don’t worry about insulting me,” she continued. “My parents disinherited me years ago in favor of my cousin Miranda. I’ve lived on my wits and charm and my aptitude for gambling ever since. But mostly on Julian’s charity.”
“Yes, and a damned nuisance you are, too,” said Julian, helping himself to a biscuit from the tea tray. “And have been since I’ve known you.”
“Which since we were born only five days and two miles apart has been a bloody long time.”
“And in any case,” added Julian, looking now at Sanjay, “I think I may have a solution, if it is acceptable to you. My acquaintance Professor Farr needs a secretary, as I mentioned before. He could employ you, and you could continue to stay at Vole House.”
“Of course,” said Aunt Laetitia. “That will serve very well.”
“But what am I to do?” asked Chryse. “I suppose I could take in sewing.”
“Certainly not. No gentlewoman would stoop to such an occupation.”
Chryse shrugged. “There must be a school of music in this city. I can teach piano, voice, and recorder, and perform.”
Aunt Laetitia raised one finger. “A gentlewoman may perform for the pleasure of others, but never for money. She may, however, teach—there is no shame in instruction. And there is a pleasant and neglected music room here. You will of course teach privately. I will tell my wide acquaintance that you are a noted musician from Vesputia who is willing in her short stay here to accept a few select students. That should be enough to send them thundering to your door. But both of you must realize—” Here she examined them with a stern glance. “—that although you will be treated as family in this house, the fact that you are employed for pay means you will not be able to go out in society.”
Chryse laughed. “We’re overwhelmed already. I can’t imagine we’ll want to venture into society.”
Sanjay shook his head, looking somber. “How can we possibly thank you? Under our circumstances, your generosity is—” He broke off, unable to find words.
“If they can’t throw me out,” said Kate, “they certainly can’t throw you out.”
“Don’t fool yourself into thinking that it is generosity,” scolded Aunt Laetitia. “It is pure selfishness. I find Julian’s youngest siblings tiresome and callow. His sisters Lucy and Emily, with whom I remain in charity, are married and live elsewhere. It is obvious to me that you will enliven this house. Therefore, you will stay.”
Julian smiled, waving one hand negligently. “And obedient nephew that I am, I would never dare oppose my aunt’s wishes.”
“Great-aunt, Julian. I’ll have you give my age the respect it is due.”
Chapter 5:
The Hunter
“C HARITY,” SAID MARETHA Farr from her desk, where she carefully rewrote her father’s scrawled notes into a readable and coherent form, “when you’re done fixing your hair, could you walk with me down to the booksellers? There’s a package come in I need to pick up for Papa.”
“Of course, Maretha.” The young woman who turned from the dressing table bore a striking resemblance to the soft-eyed Queen of Heaven who sat holding her ruddy-cheeked baby Son in the painting above the fireplace. “But I hope you mean to change and do something to your hair
Similar Books
