Read Online THE MAGIC TOUCH (Historical Romance) by PATRICIA KEYSON - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: PATRICIA KEYSON
Ads: Link
those may be given away. Eustace hated to see anyone cold or hungry. It upset him greatly.”
How very satisfactory to hear of the food distribution. Hope couldn’t wait to impart the news to Beaumont. Perhaps she could risk mentioning his name. “Does Beaumont know of your donations?” Constance raised her eyebrows. “What I meant is, you and he conversed about it, I remember. Giving the leftover food to the poor.”
“That is so. And yes, Beaumont knows what happens here. We talked about it when he called to discuss the charity.”
“So Beaumont supports the fallen women? Oh, what I mean is the charity organisation, the Female Aid Society.”
“Hope.” Constance’s tone was sharp. “This is not appropriate conversation for luncheon. Perhaps this afternoon you should practise your pianoforte skills if you are to accompany Beaumont’s slides.”
“It’s strange he asked for me to play. He has a pianist who usually performs for him, doesn’t he?” Hope compressed her lips quickly and firmly. What had she said?
“And how do you know that?” asked her aunt, putting another forkful of food into her mouth.
“It’s what I suppose takes place. From what my parents have told me about the magic lantern shows.” Whatever had happened to her resolve to tell the truth whatever the consequences? The pudding was brought in. Although trifle was one of her favourite treats, she found her appetite had vanished.
* * *
The afternoon was interminably long and tedious. Hope didn’t enjoy rehearsing her scales and wasn’t very good at sight-reading music. She derived more pleasure from the covers of the scores than the printed notes inside. But Beaumont needed a proficient musician and she would do her best to provide him with one. Running her fingers up and down the keys, Hope’s thoughts turned to teaching Edna how to read and write. That captivated her far more than the music she was trying to play. It would open up a completely new world for her maid, just as it had done for Ruth. Without realising it until she hit the final note, Hope had continued through a complete piece of music and was singing along with it.
It was at that point she decided that if she was not betrothed by the time she was thirty years old, she would ask Mama and Papa if she could be a governess. It was possible her parents might allow her if she explained it was her deepest desire, even though it was not the done thing for an earl’s daughter. With that happy thought embedded in her mind, Hope raced up the stairs to her rooms. The rest of the afternoon would be spent with Uncle Eustace’s books. Or she might sketch. The result wouldn’t be as wonderful as her mother’s art, of course, but she would try and improve that skill while she was in London.
Thoughts of her uncle had Hope scrabbling about in the cupboard for her masculine disguise. Uncle Eustace’s clothes weren’t there. Panic set in and her heart beat faster. Then she remembered the clothes hadn’t been put away. Edna had come to the room, neatened her hair, and then Hope had gone down to luncheon. What had become of the clothes? Either Edna had tidied them away or she had returned them to their rightful place.
There were not many hiding places where Edna could have secreted them, but Hope made sure she looked everywhere she could think of. It was to no avail. As Aunt Constance was busy with the maid, Hope could not summon her and she spent a long time pacing the room wishing Edna would walk through the door.
In her mind dressing up as Richard was deeply connected to Beaumont and she couldn’t bear missing any opportunity to see him. As Hope there might be one or two occasions when she could mix with him, but they would be few and far between. She did begin to wonder if she was suffering from a malady as Aunt Constance had suggested, but had no idea what it would be called or how treated. With no sign of Edna, Hope made her way yet again to Uncle Eustace’s rooms. She
How very satisfactory to hear of the food distribution. Hope couldn’t wait to impart the news to Beaumont. Perhaps she could risk mentioning his name. “Does Beaumont know of your donations?” Constance raised her eyebrows. “What I meant is, you and he conversed about it, I remember. Giving the leftover food to the poor.”
“That is so. And yes, Beaumont knows what happens here. We talked about it when he called to discuss the charity.”
“So Beaumont supports the fallen women? Oh, what I mean is the charity organisation, the Female Aid Society.”
“Hope.” Constance’s tone was sharp. “This is not appropriate conversation for luncheon. Perhaps this afternoon you should practise your pianoforte skills if you are to accompany Beaumont’s slides.”
“It’s strange he asked for me to play. He has a pianist who usually performs for him, doesn’t he?” Hope compressed her lips quickly and firmly. What had she said?
“And how do you know that?” asked her aunt, putting another forkful of food into her mouth.
“It’s what I suppose takes place. From what my parents have told me about the magic lantern shows.” Whatever had happened to her resolve to tell the truth whatever the consequences? The pudding was brought in. Although trifle was one of her favourite treats, she found her appetite had vanished.
* * *
The afternoon was interminably long and tedious. Hope didn’t enjoy rehearsing her scales and wasn’t very good at sight-reading music. She derived more pleasure from the covers of the scores than the printed notes inside. But Beaumont needed a proficient musician and she would do her best to provide him with one. Running her fingers up and down the keys, Hope’s thoughts turned to teaching Edna how to read and write. That captivated her far more than the music she was trying to play. It would open up a completely new world for her maid, just as it had done for Ruth. Without realising it until she hit the final note, Hope had continued through a complete piece of music and was singing along with it.
It was at that point she decided that if she was not betrothed by the time she was thirty years old, she would ask Mama and Papa if she could be a governess. It was possible her parents might allow her if she explained it was her deepest desire, even though it was not the done thing for an earl’s daughter. With that happy thought embedded in her mind, Hope raced up the stairs to her rooms. The rest of the afternoon would be spent with Uncle Eustace’s books. Or she might sketch. The result wouldn’t be as wonderful as her mother’s art, of course, but she would try and improve that skill while she was in London.
Thoughts of her uncle had Hope scrabbling about in the cupboard for her masculine disguise. Uncle Eustace’s clothes weren’t there. Panic set in and her heart beat faster. Then she remembered the clothes hadn’t been put away. Edna had come to the room, neatened her hair, and then Hope had gone down to luncheon. What had become of the clothes? Either Edna had tidied them away or she had returned them to their rightful place.
There were not many hiding places where Edna could have secreted them, but Hope made sure she looked everywhere she could think of. It was to no avail. As Aunt Constance was busy with the maid, Hope could not summon her and she spent a long time pacing the room wishing Edna would walk through the door.
In her mind dressing up as Richard was deeply connected to Beaumont and she couldn’t bear missing any opportunity to see him. As Hope there might be one or two occasions when she could mix with him, but they would be few and far between. She did begin to wonder if she was suffering from a malady as Aunt Constance had suggested, but had no idea what it would be called or how treated. With no sign of Edna, Hope made her way yet again to Uncle Eustace’s rooms. She
Similar Books
