Read Online THE MAGIC TOUCH (Historical Romance) by PATRICIA KEYSON - Free Book Online
Authors: PATRICIA KEYSON
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and I’m sure she will enjoy them. Aunt Constance has given me the run of the library here, but also let me look through Uncle Eustace’s special books which are mainly travel accounts and include Pictures from Italy by Charles Dickens. It is fascinating.
Yesterday Aunt Constance told me that she would like you, Papa, to have Uncle Eustace’s pocket watch and it is now in my care. It will be a lovely reminder of your dear brother-in-law.
Hope stopped again. She didn’t want to write anything further about Uncle Eustace’s possessions. She would confess face to face. The silver pocket watch sat on the escritoire next to the blotter. A watch would be a useful addition to her disguise. She shook her head. No, she would not go out in Uncle’s clothes anymore. But then again…
I am already looking forward to your return and hearing more about your travels. Maybe one day I too will have the opportunity to explore the continent.
Your loving daughter, as always, Hope
“It is time for luncheon , Hope,” Edna announced, after knocking gently on the door.
“Will I do?” Hope asked as she stood and smoothed down her dress. Edna was smiling sheepishly. “What is it, Edna? Tell me, what’s wrong?”
“It’s your hair again. It’s difficult to get it to look natural at this length.”
“I think you have been doing it very well. I doubt that anyone has noticed with the added hair pieces. Certainly Aunt Constance hasn’t remarked on it. I’ll sit here at the escritoire and you can see to it.” A picture of Beaumont flitted into her mind and she recollected his long, dark hair curling over his collar. Bringing herself back to the present, she noticed Edna glancing at the letter. “I’ve written to my parents.”
“It’s beautiful.”
Hope laughed. “My writing is terrible. I have been in trouble many times for my untidiness.”
“But, my lady ...”
“What is it, Edna, what’s wrong?”
“It’s beautiful to me because I can’t write at all. Not one word, not even one letter of the alphabet.”
Hope was sorry she’d been thoughtless. There she was complaining about her untidy scrawl and Edna was unable to write at all.
“Would you like to learn? I could teach you while I’m here. I taught my maid at home. She was able to read and write a little, but now she can write letters and read simple stories.”
Edna looked wistful. “It’s more than I could wish for.”
“Then we’ll start after luncheon if Aunt Constance is otherwise engaged.”
“I have already been asked by Her Grace to pack up His Grace’s clothes for distribution .”
“Then that’s what you must do and you will have a lesson another time. In another life I would have chosen to be a governess. Now, if my hair is acceptable I’ll join my aunt. Thank you, Edna.”
Hope cantered down the stairs excited at the thought of helping Edna to read and write. Should she let her aunt know of her plan? Sometimes she could be difficult to fathom. Whilst Hope was sure Aunt Constance’s intentions to help the poor and needy were well-founded, she thought perhaps it was on a more physical level such as giving them food and clothes. Also, she probably did not consider Edna to be needy as she was providing her with employment, a roof over her head and food for her stomach.
“May I ask you something?”
“Of course, my dear. What is on your mind?” Constance cut her pork and stabbed at it with her fork.
“At the wonderful dinner you hosted to welcome me to London , you…” here Hope had to be careful not to mention Beaumont, “…told Stevenson to distribute the leftover food to the underprivileged. Is that practice continuing?” She could feel the butler’s cold stare like an icicle on the back of her neck, but she ignored him.
“ Yes, it is. Not every day as we are quite a frugal household. And I am spending some time with Edna this afternoon sorting through your uncle’s belongings in order that some of
Yesterday Aunt Constance told me that she would like you, Papa, to have Uncle Eustace’s pocket watch and it is now in my care. It will be a lovely reminder of your dear brother-in-law.
Hope stopped again. She didn’t want to write anything further about Uncle Eustace’s possessions. She would confess face to face. The silver pocket watch sat on the escritoire next to the blotter. A watch would be a useful addition to her disguise. She shook her head. No, she would not go out in Uncle’s clothes anymore. But then again…
I am already looking forward to your return and hearing more about your travels. Maybe one day I too will have the opportunity to explore the continent.
Your loving daughter, as always, Hope
“It is time for luncheon , Hope,” Edna announced, after knocking gently on the door.
“Will I do?” Hope asked as she stood and smoothed down her dress. Edna was smiling sheepishly. “What is it, Edna? Tell me, what’s wrong?”
“It’s your hair again. It’s difficult to get it to look natural at this length.”
“I think you have been doing it very well. I doubt that anyone has noticed with the added hair pieces. Certainly Aunt Constance hasn’t remarked on it. I’ll sit here at the escritoire and you can see to it.” A picture of Beaumont flitted into her mind and she recollected his long, dark hair curling over his collar. Bringing herself back to the present, she noticed Edna glancing at the letter. “I’ve written to my parents.”
“It’s beautiful.”
Hope laughed. “My writing is terrible. I have been in trouble many times for my untidiness.”
“But, my lady ...”
“What is it, Edna, what’s wrong?”
“It’s beautiful to me because I can’t write at all. Not one word, not even one letter of the alphabet.”
Hope was sorry she’d been thoughtless. There she was complaining about her untidy scrawl and Edna was unable to write at all.
“Would you like to learn? I could teach you while I’m here. I taught my maid at home. She was able to read and write a little, but now she can write letters and read simple stories.”
Edna looked wistful. “It’s more than I could wish for.”
“Then we’ll start after luncheon if Aunt Constance is otherwise engaged.”
“I have already been asked by Her Grace to pack up His Grace’s clothes for distribution .”
“Then that’s what you must do and you will have a lesson another time. In another life I would have chosen to be a governess. Now, if my hair is acceptable I’ll join my aunt. Thank you, Edna.”
Hope cantered down the stairs excited at the thought of helping Edna to read and write. Should she let her aunt know of her plan? Sometimes she could be difficult to fathom. Whilst Hope was sure Aunt Constance’s intentions to help the poor and needy were well-founded, she thought perhaps it was on a more physical level such as giving them food and clothes. Also, she probably did not consider Edna to be needy as she was providing her with employment, a roof over her head and food for her stomach.
“May I ask you something?”
“Of course, my dear. What is on your mind?” Constance cut her pork and stabbed at it with her fork.
“At the wonderful dinner you hosted to welcome me to London , you…” here Hope had to be careful not to mention Beaumont, “…told Stevenson to distribute the leftover food to the underprivileged. Is that practice continuing?” She could feel the butler’s cold stare like an icicle on the back of her neck, but she ignored him.
“ Yes, it is. Not every day as we are quite a frugal household. And I am spending some time with Edna this afternoon sorting through your uncle’s belongings in order that some of
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