Read Online Our Lady of Pain by Marion Chesney - Free Book Online

lorgnette and surveying Rose’s outfit of blouse and skirt, “we must get you some fashionable clothes.”
    “I would not like to burden you with the expense,” said Rose. “We were only allowed to wear our plainest clothes at the convent. We do have plenty of fashionable items in our luggage.”
    “Nothing is more fashionable than a Paris gown,” retorted the duchess. “Besides, I shall charge anything we buy to your father. My dear Captain Cathcart, do say something. You have been sitting scowling and brooding ever since the ladies arrived. Are you in love with Lady Rose?”
    “We are no longer engaged,” said Harry.
    “That was not the question. Never mind. I must retire for a nap. Come, Lady Rose, you must be chaperoned at all times.”
    Rose and Daisy retired to Rose’s sitting room. “Did you see Becket!” demanded Daisy. “He wouldn’t even look at me!”
    “You will see plenty of him when we go to Paris,” said Rose, “but it is all very uncomfortable, I must admit. The captain went on as if he barely knew me.”
    “Let’s go outside for a walk,” urged Daisy. “I want to enjoy this feeling of freedom.”
    They put on their coats and gloves and pinned hats on their heads and made their way out to the front of the house. “Nothing but trees, lawn and drive,” said Rose. “There’s probably some sort of garden at the back.”
    “You know what I think?” asked Daisy.
    “No, how can I?”
    “I think it’s a bit shocking that this here grand house is merely a hunting box. It could house a whole street of people from the East End of London.”
    “True. But keep such views to yourself or our hostess will think you a Bolshevik. Ah, here are the gardens in front of the terrace.”
    “And there’s the captain,” whispered Daisy, “sitting on that bench down by the sundial.”
    “We should go back,” said Rose, suddenly nervous.
    As if aware of them, Harry turned round, saw them, and stood up. Rose walked towards him, feeling her heart beginning to thud.
    “Lady Rose,” he said, “pray join me.”
    Rose looked over her shoulder but Daisy had disappeared.
    Rose and Harry sat down together on the bench. “We are supposed to be chaperoned, Captain Cathcart,” said Rose.
    “We are in full view of the house and in the open air. The conventions do not apply to the gardens, society obviously never having heard of love in the bushes. Please sit down.”
    They both sat down on the bench. Rose was wearing one of the huge cartwheel hats which were so fashionable. The crown was decorated with curled grouse feathers. She had her head bent forwards and Harry could not read her expression. He wondered if his remark about love in the bushes had been too crude. What did she think? Was there any passion there, or when he had kissed her, had he been mistaken in what he had considered her enthusiastic response?
    At last Rose began to speak. “Captain Harry …”
    “I think you should just call me Harry. We have known each other for some time.”
    “Well, Harry, then. I am deeply grateful to you for having rescued us from that convent. How did you manage to persuade the duchess?”
    “I had done some work for her. A precious diamond brooch was missing and her household was in an uproar, with one servant accusing the other. I eventually found it caught inside a corset.”
    “How did you know where to look?”
    “I thought it might have fallen down inside her clothes, and the corset, which is not as regularly washed as the other garments, seemed like a good idea. After the convent would not let me see you, Becket informed me that he had read in the local newspaper while he was waiting for me that the duchess was resident at this hunting box. Was life at the convent really so bad?”
    “I suppose it would have been all right if I had really wanted to become a nun. The nuns were in the main very pleasant. Sister Agnes was another matter.”
    “I wish you would not come with me to Paris,” said