Read Online The Lorimer Line by Anne Melville - Free Book Online

consider such prices. But the bank, I believe, often lends money to its customers for the purchase of their houses. I have come to ask you whether you would be willing to visit the estate in my company and give your opinion on the price: whether it is reasonable, and whether our fund could expect to raise the necessary amount.’
    She saw him hesitate and took pains to conceal her disappointment.
    â€˜This is a matter for a professional valuation,’ he said. ‘And you would need an estimate from a builder with regard to the alterations.’
    Margaret had known all that. This was the moment when she had to recognize what she had not admitted earlier, even to herself - that she had used the property as an excuse to visit a young man whom she had found interesting. It seemed he was not willing to make use of the same excuse.
    â€˜Yes, of course,’ she said. ‘And you have so little free time. I could hardly expect …’
    He was quick to interrupt her.
    â€˜I was meaning that my opinion would be of no great value, Miss Lorimer,’ he said. ‘But since, as your treasurer, I may one day have to pay the bill for your purchase, I would certainly be glad of the opportunity to inspect it with you.’
    She had accused him at their first meeting of being too direct. Now he was expressing himself in the formal politenesses appropriate to a conversation between two people who were still almost strangers. But his eyes were as straight-forward at this moment as his words had been earlier and showed clearly the sincerity of his pleasure at the invitation. He was smiling at her as though they were friends. Margaret tried to keep the triumph out of her own smile, but she must have been unsuccessful, for his darkeyes sparkled with amusement as he accepted the arrangments for the expedition.
    â€˜Do you always get what you want, Miss Lorimer?’
    â€˜Until now I have never had what I want,’ she said. ‘I hope that perhaps my fortune is about to change.’
    She said goodbye and returned to her carriage, hardly able to believe her own boldness. The next stage was to obtain her mother’s permission for the visit, and this proved simpler than she might have expected. Georgiana had been shocked by the necessity of inviting Mr Gregson to her house, but did not object to her daughter being accompanied by one of the bank staff for business reasons when she went on her tour of inspection. They both knew that Margaret ought to be chaperoned by a married woman on such an occasion, but Sophie was confined to her house after the birth of her second baby and Georgiana was too lazy to make the effort herself. She merely gave strict instructions that Betty should go in the carriage with her mistress.
    The estate which had attracted Margaret was a large one on the far side of the river, bordered by Leigh Woods. After its buildings had been inspected she and David took advantage of the September sunshine to walk in its woods and gardens, while Betty remained behind to improve her acquaintance with the coachman. Margaret felt a kind of happiness which she had never known before as they talked together, abandoning all pretence of further interest in the charity’s affairs, and comparing their own childhoods. The end of the visit came all too soon for her.
    â€˜I have promised to take tea at my brother’s house,’ she said. ‘I have a new niece waiting to be inspected, and my sister-in-law to congratulate. Before we part, will you give me your opinion of what we have seen?’
    â€˜Your judgement of the house, as a house, could not be criticized,’ he said. ‘And its position in the sun and wind is undoubtedly healthy. But the park is larger than would beneeded. And I cannot help wondering whether the situation might not prove inconvenient. To bring the mothers and children so far from their homes would be an expense, and the lack of public transport would deter their