Read Online Melinda Hammond by Highclough Lady - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Highclough Lady
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Day!'
'As I explained, Miss Shore, Mr Bannerman knew he would not be able to collect the jewels himself and deliver them to you before the ball.'
'Then he should have sent a servant!'
Mr Reedley looked grave. 'Miss Shore, only in the most exceptional circumstances would I condone entrusting such a delicate task to a hireling. Pray believe me when I say that I was only too willing to undertake this mission.'
Miss Shore realized that her anger was misdirected, and did her best to control her indignation.
'Indeed I am most grateful to you sir, but I am also mortified to have taken you away from your hearth on this day! Can we not persuade you to sit with us for a while, perhaps take a little refreshment before your journey back to Halifax?'
The lawyer hesitated, then smiled and lowered his thin frame into a chair.
'Well, if you insist. A glass of your fine Malmsey wine and perhaps a biscuit would be very welcome. I must not over-indulge, however, for my good wife is even now preparing a special dinner for us.' He allowed himself another small smile. 'Goose,' he said simply, his eyes twinkling in anticipation.
Luke filled a glass and handed it to the lawyer. 'Mr Bannerman mentioned that the remaining jewels are in safekeeping. Where would that be, do you know?'
Mr Reedley took a moment to choose a biscuit from the plate held out to him by Mrs Worsthorne before replying.
'When old Mr Shore took to his bed he summoned Mr Bannerman and myself to the house to make a new will – you may recall the day: Mr Shore arranged for the Reverend Haskins and one or two of his oldest acquaintances to be present. At that time he handed over his wife's jewels, with orders that Mr Bannerman and I were to see them safely stored with his bankers in Halifax. You need have no fear that they are in danger of being lost,' Mr Reedley assured them. 'Upon Miss Shore's twenty-first birthday, if Mr Bannerman and I consider that she has complied with the terms of the will and is, in Sir Ambrose's words, a fit and proper person to inherit his property, the jewels will be handed over to her. However,' he continued, observing the question forming on Verity's lips, 'when Mr Bannerman came to me and explained his plan for the emeralds, I thought it a most sensible idea, and had no hesitation in supporting him. I do hope that you, too, approve of it, Miss Shore. However, if you do not like the design, the stones can always be replaced in their original setting, or even in some other design of your own choosing.'
Verity stared at the box lying open in her lap. The emeralds gleamed back at her.
'No,' she said quietly, 'I think they are most exquisitely set.'
'Good, good. Then if you will excuse me, I will be on my way. I wish to be home again before dark.'
'Of course you do,' agreed Mrs Worsthorne, rising from her chair. 'And there is your dinner awaiting you.'
'Ah yes, I think I shall have worked up an appetite by then, don't you?' In quiet good humour the lawyer departed with Mrs Worsthorne escorting him to the door. Left alone, Luke moved across the room to sit beside Verity.
'Will you wear them at Rafe's party?'
'What? Oh, yes, I think I shall.'
'The stones are yours by right, Cousin. You have no need to feel under any obligation.'
She laughed. 'I don't! That is, I am certainly obliged to Mr Reedley for his labours…'
'But you think Bannerman presumes too much?'
She did not answer him immediately, but closed the box gently and held it between her hands.
'Well, perhaps I was a little hasty.'
'It certainly puts my poor gift in the shade.'
Verity thought of the embroidered gloves he had given her that morning.
'Not at all! Did I not wear them to church? Besides, you said yourself that these jewels are rightfully mine, so I do not consider them a Christmas gift at all, although it was a kind thought.'
He caught one of her hands and held it between his own.
'A kind thought, yes, but it
'As I explained, Miss Shore, Mr Bannerman knew he would not be able to collect the jewels himself and deliver them to you before the ball.'
'Then he should have sent a servant!'
Mr Reedley looked grave. 'Miss Shore, only in the most exceptional circumstances would I condone entrusting such a delicate task to a hireling. Pray believe me when I say that I was only too willing to undertake this mission.'
Miss Shore realized that her anger was misdirected, and did her best to control her indignation.
'Indeed I am most grateful to you sir, but I am also mortified to have taken you away from your hearth on this day! Can we not persuade you to sit with us for a while, perhaps take a little refreshment before your journey back to Halifax?'
The lawyer hesitated, then smiled and lowered his thin frame into a chair.
'Well, if you insist. A glass of your fine Malmsey wine and perhaps a biscuit would be very welcome. I must not over-indulge, however, for my good wife is even now preparing a special dinner for us.' He allowed himself another small smile. 'Goose,' he said simply, his eyes twinkling in anticipation.
Luke filled a glass and handed it to the lawyer. 'Mr Bannerman mentioned that the remaining jewels are in safekeeping. Where would that be, do you know?'
Mr Reedley took a moment to choose a biscuit from the plate held out to him by Mrs Worsthorne before replying.
'When old Mr Shore took to his bed he summoned Mr Bannerman and myself to the house to make a new will – you may recall the day: Mr Shore arranged for the Reverend Haskins and one or two of his oldest acquaintances to be present. At that time he handed over his wife's jewels, with orders that Mr Bannerman and I were to see them safely stored with his bankers in Halifax. You need have no fear that they are in danger of being lost,' Mr Reedley assured them. 'Upon Miss Shore's twenty-first birthday, if Mr Bannerman and I consider that she has complied with the terms of the will and is, in Sir Ambrose's words, a fit and proper person to inherit his property, the jewels will be handed over to her. However,' he continued, observing the question forming on Verity's lips, 'when Mr Bannerman came to me and explained his plan for the emeralds, I thought it a most sensible idea, and had no hesitation in supporting him. I do hope that you, too, approve of it, Miss Shore. However, if you do not like the design, the stones can always be replaced in their original setting, or even in some other design of your own choosing.'
Verity stared at the box lying open in her lap. The emeralds gleamed back at her.
'No,' she said quietly, 'I think they are most exquisitely set.'
'Good, good. Then if you will excuse me, I will be on my way. I wish to be home again before dark.'
'Of course you do,' agreed Mrs Worsthorne, rising from her chair. 'And there is your dinner awaiting you.'
'Ah yes, I think I shall have worked up an appetite by then, don't you?' In quiet good humour the lawyer departed with Mrs Worsthorne escorting him to the door. Left alone, Luke moved across the room to sit beside Verity.
'Will you wear them at Rafe's party?'
'What? Oh, yes, I think I shall.'
'The stones are yours by right, Cousin. You have no need to feel under any obligation.'
She laughed. 'I don't! That is, I am certainly obliged to Mr Reedley for his labours…'
'But you think Bannerman presumes too much?'
She did not answer him immediately, but closed the box gently and held it between her hands.
'Well, perhaps I was a little hasty.'
'It certainly puts my poor gift in the shade.'
Verity thought of the embroidered gloves he had given her that morning.
'Not at all! Did I not wear them to church? Besides, you said yourself that these jewels are rightfully mine, so I do not consider them a Christmas gift at all, although it was a kind thought.'
He caught one of her hands and held it between his own.
'A kind thought, yes, but it
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