Read Online Sons of the Wolf by Barbara Michaels - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Barbara Michaels
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"How you do fuss, Harriet! Let me think. It was yesterday-no, Thursday-oh, me, I can't remember."
She put her pricked finger in her mouth and looked at me wistfully. I laughed and stroked her hair.
"Can you remember anything about it?"
"Well ... I had given her that gown-you know, the pink muslin that is too large for me. She liked it very much. Later she came back with the flower-she called it a flower, but it is not very pretty, is it? At any rate, she said I must always keep it by me. Why is this important, Harriet?"
"It is not important, I suppose. I was curious."
"Some Yorkshire superstition, no doubt," said Ada placidly. "Perhaps if I place it under my pillow, I will dream of my future husband." She giggled and then sighed. "Oh, dear. I shall never mend this properly. My fingers are all thumbs."
"Let me try-although my efforts are not apt to be much better. Ada, you need some new frocks-and probably another shawl, when I finish running this one. We had so little time for shopping in London. ..."
"It would be fun to shop." Ada's face brightened. "Just to visit a large town would be a change. We see no one here."
"I'll speak to Mr. Wolfson. Perhaps he will take us to York."
I could not help thinking, as I walked back down the corridor, that she was right. We have no visitors, except for Mr. •Wolfson's occasional business acquaintances, and he does not entertain them socially. Of course the Abbey is isolated; in all our rides I have not seen another house. But surely there must be some neighbors? We are not accustomed to society-Grandmother's friends having been elderly ladies and gentlemen-but Mr. Wolfson's abilities and position ought to command a wide circle of acquaintances. I suppose the explanation is to be found in Mr. Wolfson's affliction. I can see him fending off would-be sympathizers with savage remarks and contempt. Julian certainly seems to find life at the manor dull. He is frequently absent on visits to friends. But none of his friends ever come here.
May 22
I spoke with Mr. Wolfson today about a journey to York. To my surprise-for he has acquiesced to almost every whim either of us has expressed-he was not agreeable to the idea. As he pointed out, he cannot travel easily, and there is no one else suitable to chaperone Ada and myself in the shops and inns.
I thought of arguing with him. He can travel quite well when he wishes to-witness our trip to Middleham-but I suspect it is a case of "will not" rather than "cannot." He does not like to display his handicap to the world. I can hardly blame him, and yet it does seem as if some arrangement could be made. Ada and I can hardly spend the rest of our lives here.
He did say, however, that if we would make up a list of what we wanted, he would have William purchase the things for us on his next trip; he visits York monthly to buy commodities which cannot be procured locally. A typically masculine suggestion, I thought angrily.
"A typically masculine suggestion," said Mr. Wolfson, grinning-there is really no other word for that white-toothed smile of his. I thought I was used to his mind-reading abilities, but this time I literally and actually started. His smile widened.
"Now, Harriet, your face is as easy to read as print; you have neither the experience nor the character for dissimulation. You were thinking that it is absurd to expect a butler to choose dress materials for a pair of young ladies, weren't you? But you will discover that William can do anything. Tell him color and type of fabric and he will astound you with his taste. We can find someone in Middleham to make the garments up for you."
"Yes, sir," I said.
"I know-you will miss the fun of choosing the things yourselves. That isn't fair. But just now . . . perhaps later we can manage a shopping expedition. By the way, you will not, I hope, be buying more black? It does not suit either of you."
"It seems hardly proper to abandon mourning so soon."
"If anyone criticizes you, say
She put her pricked finger in her mouth and looked at me wistfully. I laughed and stroked her hair.
"Can you remember anything about it?"
"Well ... I had given her that gown-you know, the pink muslin that is too large for me. She liked it very much. Later she came back with the flower-she called it a flower, but it is not very pretty, is it? At any rate, she said I must always keep it by me. Why is this important, Harriet?"
"It is not important, I suppose. I was curious."
"Some Yorkshire superstition, no doubt," said Ada placidly. "Perhaps if I place it under my pillow, I will dream of my future husband." She giggled and then sighed. "Oh, dear. I shall never mend this properly. My fingers are all thumbs."
"Let me try-although my efforts are not apt to be much better. Ada, you need some new frocks-and probably another shawl, when I finish running this one. We had so little time for shopping in London. ..."
"It would be fun to shop." Ada's face brightened. "Just to visit a large town would be a change. We see no one here."
"I'll speak to Mr. Wolfson. Perhaps he will take us to York."
I could not help thinking, as I walked back down the corridor, that she was right. We have no visitors, except for Mr. •Wolfson's occasional business acquaintances, and he does not entertain them socially. Of course the Abbey is isolated; in all our rides I have not seen another house. But surely there must be some neighbors? We are not accustomed to society-Grandmother's friends having been elderly ladies and gentlemen-but Mr. Wolfson's abilities and position ought to command a wide circle of acquaintances. I suppose the explanation is to be found in Mr. Wolfson's affliction. I can see him fending off would-be sympathizers with savage remarks and contempt. Julian certainly seems to find life at the manor dull. He is frequently absent on visits to friends. But none of his friends ever come here.
May 22
I spoke with Mr. Wolfson today about a journey to York. To my surprise-for he has acquiesced to almost every whim either of us has expressed-he was not agreeable to the idea. As he pointed out, he cannot travel easily, and there is no one else suitable to chaperone Ada and myself in the shops and inns.
I thought of arguing with him. He can travel quite well when he wishes to-witness our trip to Middleham-but I suspect it is a case of "will not" rather than "cannot." He does not like to display his handicap to the world. I can hardly blame him, and yet it does seem as if some arrangement could be made. Ada and I can hardly spend the rest of our lives here.
He did say, however, that if we would make up a list of what we wanted, he would have William purchase the things for us on his next trip; he visits York monthly to buy commodities which cannot be procured locally. A typically masculine suggestion, I thought angrily.
"A typically masculine suggestion," said Mr. Wolfson, grinning-there is really no other word for that white-toothed smile of his. I thought I was used to his mind-reading abilities, but this time I literally and actually started. His smile widened.
"Now, Harriet, your face is as easy to read as print; you have neither the experience nor the character for dissimulation. You were thinking that it is absurd to expect a butler to choose dress materials for a pair of young ladies, weren't you? But you will discover that William can do anything. Tell him color and type of fabric and he will astound you with his taste. We can find someone in Middleham to make the garments up for you."
"Yes, sir," I said.
"I know-you will miss the fun of choosing the things yourselves. That isn't fair. But just now . . . perhaps later we can manage a shopping expedition. By the way, you will not, I hope, be buying more black? It does not suit either of you."
"It seems hardly proper to abandon mourning so soon."
"If anyone criticizes you, say
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