Read Online The Girl in the Mask by Marie-Louise Jensen - Free Book Online
Authors: Marie-Louise Jensen
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plenty that will cheat you as soon as look at you.’
He bowed and withdrew to the dining room. My father bent his eye on me.
‘Climbing out of sedan chairs!’ he exclaimed angrily. ‘What the devil will you do next? Go and get changed and be quick about it. I want my dinner.’
My aunt was subdued over the meal, saying little. Every now and then she drew a shaky breath that still had something of a sob in it. I concentrated on appeasing my hunger, partaking of an entrée of woodpigeon in a sauce, followed by a roast of mutton, served with potato pie and a selection of vegetables.
‘You will be pleased to hear I’ve been busy,’ announced my father as the servants removed the main course, bringing in dishes of blancmange and jelly as well as sweetmeats and nuts. ‘I’ve been to Harrison’s and have subscribed. There’s a pretty tea room there, as well as a card room, and there’s also a private garden down along the river, which seemed a pleasant sort of place to walk. I’ve also subscribed to the balls at the Guildhall. Everything’s run by that damned fellow Nash,’ here my father cast a disparaging glance at my aunt, who looked nervous again. ‘But I’m told he does a decent job of conducting everything, and all’s proper, so there we are.’
‘You’re very good to us, Sir Edward,’ said my aunt, brightening at this news. ‘What a delightful time we shall have, to be sure.’
‘I imagine so,’ said my father drily. ‘You may make your own choice of coffee house, Amelia, as I have made mine, but take great care that Sophia doesn’t get hold of unsuitable books. I gather the coffee houses have libraries and booksellers attached.’
‘Yes, Sir Edward,’ said my aunt obediently. ‘Girls are not allowed into coffee houses in any case. Though they may browse the bookshops. And the concerts are … ?’
‘Also at the Guildhall, I understand,’ replied my father. ‘No one has, as yet, tried to get me to part with any money for those.’
‘There is a theatre here in Trim Street too, father,’ I said. ‘I should dearly love to see a play.’
‘Out of the question,’ said my father. ‘Playhouses are hotbeds of vice.’
I sighed deeply and ate a jelly, trying not to think about the sort of life that awaited me as soon as my new clothes were ready. Only the theatre had roused a spark of enthusiasm within me, but plays were forbidden, of course.
‘Sophia,’ said my father abruptly. I couldn’t help myself starting. ‘I take it you are not proficient in dancing?’
‘No, sir,’ I replied, very disappointed that he was asking now. I’d very much hoped to drop this bombshell at the first ball.
‘Then you’ll be delighted to hear I’ve engaged a dancing master to attend you every morning for the next two weeks,’ he said. ‘That should keep you out of trouble.’
I retired to my bedchamber on the top floor that night completely dispirited. Dancing, balls, promenades, tea parties, and at the end of it a husband of my father’s choosing. I could see no escape from my grim future and it seemed I didn’t even have the capability to rebel. I needed to do something disobedient at once, or my courage would fail me entirely. I climbed out of my window. It gave onto a low stone parapet that ran the length of the terrace of houses and came to a dead end. It was far too high to jump, indeed the long drop made me quite dizzy, and there were no convenient trees.
I scrambled up over the slate tiles onto the peak of the roof and slid down the other side to the back of the house, and here I was more fortunate. On this side the terrace ended in a block of stables built right up against the end house. After a walk along the parapet and a short but tricky descent of a drainpipe, I dropped lightly onto the stable roof and from there it was easy to climb down into the coach-house yard. Finding the door unlocked, I went in and found our own chaise standing with several others.
I climbed inside,
He bowed and withdrew to the dining room. My father bent his eye on me.
‘Climbing out of sedan chairs!’ he exclaimed angrily. ‘What the devil will you do next? Go and get changed and be quick about it. I want my dinner.’
My aunt was subdued over the meal, saying little. Every now and then she drew a shaky breath that still had something of a sob in it. I concentrated on appeasing my hunger, partaking of an entrée of woodpigeon in a sauce, followed by a roast of mutton, served with potato pie and a selection of vegetables.
‘You will be pleased to hear I’ve been busy,’ announced my father as the servants removed the main course, bringing in dishes of blancmange and jelly as well as sweetmeats and nuts. ‘I’ve been to Harrison’s and have subscribed. There’s a pretty tea room there, as well as a card room, and there’s also a private garden down along the river, which seemed a pleasant sort of place to walk. I’ve also subscribed to the balls at the Guildhall. Everything’s run by that damned fellow Nash,’ here my father cast a disparaging glance at my aunt, who looked nervous again. ‘But I’m told he does a decent job of conducting everything, and all’s proper, so there we are.’
‘You’re very good to us, Sir Edward,’ said my aunt, brightening at this news. ‘What a delightful time we shall have, to be sure.’
‘I imagine so,’ said my father drily. ‘You may make your own choice of coffee house, Amelia, as I have made mine, but take great care that Sophia doesn’t get hold of unsuitable books. I gather the coffee houses have libraries and booksellers attached.’
‘Yes, Sir Edward,’ said my aunt obediently. ‘Girls are not allowed into coffee houses in any case. Though they may browse the bookshops. And the concerts are … ?’
‘Also at the Guildhall, I understand,’ replied my father. ‘No one has, as yet, tried to get me to part with any money for those.’
‘There is a theatre here in Trim Street too, father,’ I said. ‘I should dearly love to see a play.’
‘Out of the question,’ said my father. ‘Playhouses are hotbeds of vice.’
I sighed deeply and ate a jelly, trying not to think about the sort of life that awaited me as soon as my new clothes were ready. Only the theatre had roused a spark of enthusiasm within me, but plays were forbidden, of course.
‘Sophia,’ said my father abruptly. I couldn’t help myself starting. ‘I take it you are not proficient in dancing?’
‘No, sir,’ I replied, very disappointed that he was asking now. I’d very much hoped to drop this bombshell at the first ball.
‘Then you’ll be delighted to hear I’ve engaged a dancing master to attend you every morning for the next two weeks,’ he said. ‘That should keep you out of trouble.’
I retired to my bedchamber on the top floor that night completely dispirited. Dancing, balls, promenades, tea parties, and at the end of it a husband of my father’s choosing. I could see no escape from my grim future and it seemed I didn’t even have the capability to rebel. I needed to do something disobedient at once, or my courage would fail me entirely. I climbed out of my window. It gave onto a low stone parapet that ran the length of the terrace of houses and came to a dead end. It was far too high to jump, indeed the long drop made me quite dizzy, and there were no convenient trees.
I scrambled up over the slate tiles onto the peak of the roof and slid down the other side to the back of the house, and here I was more fortunate. On this side the terrace ended in a block of stables built right up against the end house. After a walk along the parapet and a short but tricky descent of a drainpipe, I dropped lightly onto the stable roof and from there it was easy to climb down into the coach-house yard. Finding the door unlocked, I went in and found our own chaise standing with several others.
I climbed inside,
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