Read Online The Landower Legacy by Victoria Holt - Free Book Online
Authors: Victoria Holt
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He should know you need a little rest after that journey.”
Miss Bell looked uncomfortable. Her code would never allow her to listen to criticism of her employers. I did not feel the same compunction to hear my father spoken of in this way, and I was rather intrigued by Cousin Mary, who was quite different from what I had been imagining.
We were taken into a sitting room and almost immediately hot soup was brought in.
I think Miss Bell would have preferred to wash first, but she knew that one in her position did not go against the wishes of people in authority and there was no doubt that Cousin Mary was accustomed to command.
The room was cosy and panelled, but I was too uncertain and tired to notice very much and in any case I should have plenty of time to discover my surroundings. The soup was served immediately and we did need it. There was cold ham to follow and apple pie with clotted cream—and cider to drink.
Cousin Mary had left us while we were eating.
I whispered to Miss Bell: “I do wish you could have stayed for a day or so.”
“Never mind. Perhaps it is better thus.”
“Just think. You’ll have that long journey again tomorrow.”
“Well, I shall have the satisfaction of knowing that you are here.”
“I am not sure that I am going to like it. Cousin Mary is rather … rather …”
“Hush. You don’t know what she is like yet. She seems to me very … worthy. I am sure she is a lady of great integrity.”
“She is like my father.”
“Well, they are first cousins. There is often a family resemblance. It is better than being among complete strangers.”
“I wonder what Olivia is doing.”
“Wondering what you are doing, I imagine.”
“I wish she were here.”
“I daresay she wishes she were.”
“Oh, Miss Bell, why did I have to go away so suddenly?”
“Family decisions, my dear.”
Her lips were clamped together. She knew something which she was not going to tell me.
I was surprised that I could eat so heartily, and as we were finishing the meal Cousin Mary came back.
“Ah,” she said. “That’s better, eh? Now, if you’re ready I’ll take you to your rooms. You’ll have to be up early in the morning, Miss Bell. Joe will take you to the station. You should get a good night’s sleep. We’ll give you a packed lunch and return you to my cousin in the good order you left. Come with me now.”
We mounted the staircase. The long gallery was on the first floor. As we passed through it, long dead and gone Tressidors looked down on me. The fast fading light gave it an eerie look.
There was a staircase at the end of the gallery and this we mounted. We were in a corridor in which there were many doors. Cousin Mary opened one of them.
“This is yours, Caroline, and Miss Bell’s is next to it.” She patted the bed. “Yes, they’ve aired it. Oh, there’s your trunk. I shouldn’t unpack it until tomorrow. One of the maids can help you then. There’s hot water. You can wash off the train smell. Always think you carry that with you for a while. And then I should think a good night’s sleep—and in the morning you can start to explore … get to know the house and our ways. Miss Bell, if you’d step along with me
At last I was alone. My bedroom was high-ceilinged, the walls panelled; a little light filtered through the thick glass of the windows. I noticed the candles in their carved wooden sticks over the fireplace. My trunk had been placed in one corner; my hand-case was on a chair. I had a nightgown and slippers in it so I could well leave unpacking until the morning. The floor sloped a little and mats covered the boards; the curtains were heavy grey velvet; and there was a court cupboard which looked solid and ancient, and an oak chest on which stood a Chinese bowl. On a dressing table with numerous drawers was a sling-back mirror. I took a look at myself. I was paler than usual and my eyes looked enormous. There was no mistaking the apprehension in them. Who
Miss Bell looked uncomfortable. Her code would never allow her to listen to criticism of her employers. I did not feel the same compunction to hear my father spoken of in this way, and I was rather intrigued by Cousin Mary, who was quite different from what I had been imagining.
We were taken into a sitting room and almost immediately hot soup was brought in.
I think Miss Bell would have preferred to wash first, but she knew that one in her position did not go against the wishes of people in authority and there was no doubt that Cousin Mary was accustomed to command.
The room was cosy and panelled, but I was too uncertain and tired to notice very much and in any case I should have plenty of time to discover my surroundings. The soup was served immediately and we did need it. There was cold ham to follow and apple pie with clotted cream—and cider to drink.
Cousin Mary had left us while we were eating.
I whispered to Miss Bell: “I do wish you could have stayed for a day or so.”
“Never mind. Perhaps it is better thus.”
“Just think. You’ll have that long journey again tomorrow.”
“Well, I shall have the satisfaction of knowing that you are here.”
“I am not sure that I am going to like it. Cousin Mary is rather … rather …”
“Hush. You don’t know what she is like yet. She seems to me very … worthy. I am sure she is a lady of great integrity.”
“She is like my father.”
“Well, they are first cousins. There is often a family resemblance. It is better than being among complete strangers.”
“I wonder what Olivia is doing.”
“Wondering what you are doing, I imagine.”
“I wish she were here.”
“I daresay she wishes she were.”
“Oh, Miss Bell, why did I have to go away so suddenly?”
“Family decisions, my dear.”
Her lips were clamped together. She knew something which she was not going to tell me.
I was surprised that I could eat so heartily, and as we were finishing the meal Cousin Mary came back.
“Ah,” she said. “That’s better, eh? Now, if you’re ready I’ll take you to your rooms. You’ll have to be up early in the morning, Miss Bell. Joe will take you to the station. You should get a good night’s sleep. We’ll give you a packed lunch and return you to my cousin in the good order you left. Come with me now.”
We mounted the staircase. The long gallery was on the first floor. As we passed through it, long dead and gone Tressidors looked down on me. The fast fading light gave it an eerie look.
There was a staircase at the end of the gallery and this we mounted. We were in a corridor in which there were many doors. Cousin Mary opened one of them.
“This is yours, Caroline, and Miss Bell’s is next to it.” She patted the bed. “Yes, they’ve aired it. Oh, there’s your trunk. I shouldn’t unpack it until tomorrow. One of the maids can help you then. There’s hot water. You can wash off the train smell. Always think you carry that with you for a while. And then I should think a good night’s sleep—and in the morning you can start to explore … get to know the house and our ways. Miss Bell, if you’d step along with me
At last I was alone. My bedroom was high-ceilinged, the walls panelled; a little light filtered through the thick glass of the windows. I noticed the candles in their carved wooden sticks over the fireplace. My trunk had been placed in one corner; my hand-case was on a chair. I had a nightgown and slippers in it so I could well leave unpacking until the morning. The floor sloped a little and mats covered the boards; the curtains were heavy grey velvet; and there was a court cupboard which looked solid and ancient, and an oak chest on which stood a Chinese bowl. On a dressing table with numerous drawers was a sling-back mirror. I took a look at myself. I was paler than usual and my eyes looked enormous. There was no mistaking the apprehension in them. Who
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