Read Online Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal - Free Book Online
Authors: Mary Robinette Kowal
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quite mad with curiosity about what you were painting. Don’tmind her concerns with propriety. She can sometimes be over-nice.”
Jane burned with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. She had to hold herself quite still to control the urge to turn and march away, leaving Melody alone with this man.
“Miss Ellsworth, I am afraid that is all the introduction we are likely to receive.” His voice, which Jane only just realized she had never before heard, rumbled in his chest at the lower end of baritone. “What about my work made you curious?”
“Nothing, I assure you. My sister has confused my remarking on your presence with an interest beyond the commonplace. By the angle of your easel and the direction of your gaze, I surmized that you were painting Robinsford Abbey. I will defer any further interest until the piece is ready for showing.”
“And yet you had no compunctions about looking at my glamural at Banbree Manor.”
“I was invited to view it. I had no way of knowing it was in progress when I agreed.”
“And when you returned?”
Jane compressed her lips and raised her chin. “Clearly, I was in error to do so. If you will excuse us, Melody and I must be going.”
“I have no wish to detain you.” Mr. Vincent inclined his head in the briefest of bows, then returned his attention to his canvas as if they had already departed.
Without waiting to see if Melody was following, Janegathered her skirts and crossed the lawn in the direction of Long Parkmead. She heard a few more words behind her; then Melody was by her side, breathless and laughing.
“I do not know that I have ever seen such a pair as the two of you.”
Jane kept her gaze fixed on the path, letting her bonnet hide her expression. Had she lifted her head, the fury on her face would have been enough to make Medusa envious. “I am glad I could amuse you.”
Melody’s renewed laughter did nothing to improve Jane’s spirits.
Six
Strawberries and Bonnets
The strawberry-picking party was delayed once because of weather and again because Captain Livingston had an engagement in town, but at last all the elements co-operated and the party gathered at Long Parkmead in anticipation of their outing.
Miss Dunkirk arrived on horseback, quite alone. As she alighted, her face was rosy and aglow with delight.
“Oh, Miss Ellsworth, you would not believe how beautiful it is this morning. I woke before the sun and thought I should never see such a morning. I begged Edmund to take me riding.”
“But where is Mr. Dunkirk?”
“Oh, his gelding is so slow.” She waved ahand languidly behind her as Mr. Dunkirk appeared on the road. “There. See? He is only now coming. He would have stayed in Robinsford Abbey all day, but I made him go out. The sky was so glorious with colours. You would not believe such colors.”
“Then you must tell me all about them so that I may imagine them for myself.” Jane smiled and took her young friend by the hands. They had spent a great deal of time together of late. The girl had come to call at every opportunity, sometimes riding over without her brother to spend the afternoon learning some of the finer points of glamour from Jane. Other days they spent the afternoon rambling through the estate and talking of nothing and everything, for though their ages were separated by more than ten years, Miss Dunkirk had about her a combination of youthful exuberance and steadiness of manner which Jane found appealing. Too, Jane had to admit, she was often out of sorts with Melody these days, and Miss Dunkirk provided a welcome distraction.
In short order they heard the unmistakable sound of Lady FitzCameron’s coach-and-four arriving. Jane was not at all surprized to see Captain Livingston accompanying Lady FitzCameron and her daughter, but she was quite surprized to see the other gentleman who arrived with them.
“I do hope you do not mind extending your invitation to Mr. Vincent.” Lady FitzCameron indicated by her
Jane burned with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. She had to hold herself quite still to control the urge to turn and march away, leaving Melody alone with this man.
“Miss Ellsworth, I am afraid that is all the introduction we are likely to receive.” His voice, which Jane only just realized she had never before heard, rumbled in his chest at the lower end of baritone. “What about my work made you curious?”
“Nothing, I assure you. My sister has confused my remarking on your presence with an interest beyond the commonplace. By the angle of your easel and the direction of your gaze, I surmized that you were painting Robinsford Abbey. I will defer any further interest until the piece is ready for showing.”
“And yet you had no compunctions about looking at my glamural at Banbree Manor.”
“I was invited to view it. I had no way of knowing it was in progress when I agreed.”
“And when you returned?”
Jane compressed her lips and raised her chin. “Clearly, I was in error to do so. If you will excuse us, Melody and I must be going.”
“I have no wish to detain you.” Mr. Vincent inclined his head in the briefest of bows, then returned his attention to his canvas as if they had already departed.
Without waiting to see if Melody was following, Janegathered her skirts and crossed the lawn in the direction of Long Parkmead. She heard a few more words behind her; then Melody was by her side, breathless and laughing.
“I do not know that I have ever seen such a pair as the two of you.”
Jane kept her gaze fixed on the path, letting her bonnet hide her expression. Had she lifted her head, the fury on her face would have been enough to make Medusa envious. “I am glad I could amuse you.”
Melody’s renewed laughter did nothing to improve Jane’s spirits.
Six
Strawberries and Bonnets
The strawberry-picking party was delayed once because of weather and again because Captain Livingston had an engagement in town, but at last all the elements co-operated and the party gathered at Long Parkmead in anticipation of their outing.
Miss Dunkirk arrived on horseback, quite alone. As she alighted, her face was rosy and aglow with delight.
“Oh, Miss Ellsworth, you would not believe how beautiful it is this morning. I woke before the sun and thought I should never see such a morning. I begged Edmund to take me riding.”
“But where is Mr. Dunkirk?”
“Oh, his gelding is so slow.” She waved ahand languidly behind her as Mr. Dunkirk appeared on the road. “There. See? He is only now coming. He would have stayed in Robinsford Abbey all day, but I made him go out. The sky was so glorious with colours. You would not believe such colors.”
“Then you must tell me all about them so that I may imagine them for myself.” Jane smiled and took her young friend by the hands. They had spent a great deal of time together of late. The girl had come to call at every opportunity, sometimes riding over without her brother to spend the afternoon learning some of the finer points of glamour from Jane. Other days they spent the afternoon rambling through the estate and talking of nothing and everything, for though their ages were separated by more than ten years, Miss Dunkirk had about her a combination of youthful exuberance and steadiness of manner which Jane found appealing. Too, Jane had to admit, she was often out of sorts with Melody these days, and Miss Dunkirk provided a welcome distraction.
In short order they heard the unmistakable sound of Lady FitzCameron’s coach-and-four arriving. Jane was not at all surprized to see Captain Livingston accompanying Lady FitzCameron and her daughter, but she was quite surprized to see the other gentleman who arrived with them.
“I do hope you do not mind extending your invitation to Mr. Vincent.” Lady FitzCameron indicated by her
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