Read Online Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind by Heidi Ashworth - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Heidi Ashworth
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Ginny knew the urge to scratch those spots was almost beyond her ability to withstand.
“If the doctor would just come and see her, I’m sure he would know what to do for her.”
“It’s the chicken pox, plain and simple,” came Mrs. Barrington’s voice through the door. “Poultices for the itching and laudanum to make her sleep is the best we can do” The crack in the door disappeared with a snap. There were the sounds of footsteps, another door opening, and Mrs. Barrington’s capricious step down the hall to the stair.
Sir Anthony, reading the paper in the library, heard someone coming down the stairway. It could only be Lucinda. She had a light, unpredictable step, not a thing like Ginny’s brisk, even stride. He tossed the newspaper onto a table, hoping to relieve his boredom with some conversation when she passed by the open door. He counted himself most fortunate when he spotted the matronly lace cap on a dark head of hair in time to duck his own into the hastily retrieved newspaper. He had no wish to converse with Mrs. Barrington. He hadn’t made many points with her of late, and she had a way of letting him know it. A high-pitched, whining sort of way.
Too late. She had seen him. She tripped into the room like a battle ship in full gale. “Sir Anthony, is that you?”
Gad. Could that be a musical tone to her voice? He wondered what he had done to put her in such charity with him. He lowered the paper. “I’ve just been helping myself to the periodicals. It seems that the ‘change has suffered a bit of a reverse”
“How unfortunate,” Mrs. Barrington crooned. “My, you are looking very natty this morning, Sir Anthony.”
He emerged from the society page and gave her a wary smile. “Yes, well, one can affect wonders with a good, bracing bath”
“Dear me. Was the water that cold, then?”
“Just a bit cooler than tepid, but I’m not wishful to complain. Your hospitality has been most abundant.”
Mrs. Barrington blushed and twittered behind the hand she had put to her lips. He supposed it was to hide a row of sadly yellowed teeth.
“Well! I am most happy to hear you say so. I imagine you might have heard already. The doctor has ordered the house under a ten-day quarantine.”
“There was a rumor bantered about at breakfast. Miss Delacourt and I are fortunate to have stumbled upon such a capable hostess”
“It is our good fortune that we have two handsome bachelors in our midst at such a time.”
“Two?!” Sir Anthony prayed he wasn’t being considered a potential mate for the Barrington’s hen-witted daughter. “Ah, that is to say, Avery is staying? He can’t have been exposed as of yet”
“Very true, but we mustn’t let on. Our poor Lucinda has been confined to the house for the past month, and we could not let such a talented young man slip through our fingers. He is a poet, you know.”
Sir Anthony tried to smile. “So I’ve heard”
“Yes, well, we shall convince him to stay. Actually,” she added coyly. “It should not be very difficult to achieve. He has had his eye on Lucinda for quite some time.”
“That is not surprising. Miss Barrington is a treasure” One to whom Lord Avery was more than welcome.
Mrs. Barrington perched on a burgundy leather chair across from Sir Anthony and launched into what proved to be a well-rehearsed report. “Our Lucinda has been trained in all the fine arts, as you yourself can plainly see. She is literate in French and the language of music. She plays, sings, dances, and paints the most exquisite watercolors! She has the manners and conversation of any young miss above her station, and though her lisp is a bit unusual, I hear they are considered quite exotic in London this season” Mrs. Barrington punctuated this last remark with an arch look and a meaningful nod.
“Yes, she is, to say the least, captivating. In turn, she seems quite captivated with Lord Avery. Is there an understanding between them?”
“Naughty,
“If the doctor would just come and see her, I’m sure he would know what to do for her.”
“It’s the chicken pox, plain and simple,” came Mrs. Barrington’s voice through the door. “Poultices for the itching and laudanum to make her sleep is the best we can do” The crack in the door disappeared with a snap. There were the sounds of footsteps, another door opening, and Mrs. Barrington’s capricious step down the hall to the stair.
Sir Anthony, reading the paper in the library, heard someone coming down the stairway. It could only be Lucinda. She had a light, unpredictable step, not a thing like Ginny’s brisk, even stride. He tossed the newspaper onto a table, hoping to relieve his boredom with some conversation when she passed by the open door. He counted himself most fortunate when he spotted the matronly lace cap on a dark head of hair in time to duck his own into the hastily retrieved newspaper. He had no wish to converse with Mrs. Barrington. He hadn’t made many points with her of late, and she had a way of letting him know it. A high-pitched, whining sort of way.
Too late. She had seen him. She tripped into the room like a battle ship in full gale. “Sir Anthony, is that you?”
Gad. Could that be a musical tone to her voice? He wondered what he had done to put her in such charity with him. He lowered the paper. “I’ve just been helping myself to the periodicals. It seems that the ‘change has suffered a bit of a reverse”
“How unfortunate,” Mrs. Barrington crooned. “My, you are looking very natty this morning, Sir Anthony.”
He emerged from the society page and gave her a wary smile. “Yes, well, one can affect wonders with a good, bracing bath”
“Dear me. Was the water that cold, then?”
“Just a bit cooler than tepid, but I’m not wishful to complain. Your hospitality has been most abundant.”
Mrs. Barrington blushed and twittered behind the hand she had put to her lips. He supposed it was to hide a row of sadly yellowed teeth.
“Well! I am most happy to hear you say so. I imagine you might have heard already. The doctor has ordered the house under a ten-day quarantine.”
“There was a rumor bantered about at breakfast. Miss Delacourt and I are fortunate to have stumbled upon such a capable hostess”
“It is our good fortune that we have two handsome bachelors in our midst at such a time.”
“Two?!” Sir Anthony prayed he wasn’t being considered a potential mate for the Barrington’s hen-witted daughter. “Ah, that is to say, Avery is staying? He can’t have been exposed as of yet”
“Very true, but we mustn’t let on. Our poor Lucinda has been confined to the house for the past month, and we could not let such a talented young man slip through our fingers. He is a poet, you know.”
Sir Anthony tried to smile. “So I’ve heard”
“Yes, well, we shall convince him to stay. Actually,” she added coyly. “It should not be very difficult to achieve. He has had his eye on Lucinda for quite some time.”
“That is not surprising. Miss Barrington is a treasure” One to whom Lord Avery was more than welcome.
Mrs. Barrington perched on a burgundy leather chair across from Sir Anthony and launched into what proved to be a well-rehearsed report. “Our Lucinda has been trained in all the fine arts, as you yourself can plainly see. She is literate in French and the language of music. She plays, sings, dances, and paints the most exquisite watercolors! She has the manners and conversation of any young miss above her station, and though her lisp is a bit unusual, I hear they are considered quite exotic in London this season” Mrs. Barrington punctuated this last remark with an arch look and a meaningful nod.
“Yes, she is, to say the least, captivating. In turn, she seems quite captivated with Lord Avery. Is there an understanding between them?”
“Naughty,
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