Read Online The Roguish Miss Penn by Emily Hendrickson - Free Book Online

the thing, or else he would never construct one at his home. I daresay he is more fashionable and up to date than are we provincials.” With that little barb planted neatly in Amelia’s peabrain, Katherine gathered up her needlework. “I believe the rain is about to descend. We had best go into the house.”
    Drops began to fall as the door closed behind them.
    “Join us for nuncheon, Amelia,” Katherine invited as she neatly disposed of the yellow muslin. “We shall be just the three and may continue our coze.”
    Miss Amelia Bonner was deep in reflection, for she answered this invitation with the most absent of manner. “Indeed, I shall.” She continued to think, furrowing up her pretty brow in a way to horrify her mama, then said, “I suspect you have the right of it, Katherine. We must be careful not to offend Lord Ramsey with overly pious pronouncements about acting and the like.”
    With a supreme effort, Katherine kept her face perfectly calm.
    “How clever of you to come to that conclusion. Although the town and the university are forever at daggers drawn, it would never do to add to the problem.”
    “What about your papa? How will he accept your interest in the theater? And when do I get to read your play?” wailed Amelia as they strolled to the pretty breakfast room to sit down to the excellent nuncheon prepared by Cook.
    “Papa,” Katherine replied with a deal of caution, “presents a problem I still puzzle over. Perhaps he will be so taken up with the Fairfax library I shall not see him for weeks. That would admirably solve the dilemma most neatly.”
    She had not been best pleased that Amelia had learned about her writing. Teddy had blurted out the truth of the matter one summer day while the three had strolled along the path by the river. He had been distressed to hear Amelia mildly criticizing his dear sister and had championed her cause a bit too ably. Amelia had protested she would never breathe a word of the secret. Katherine wondered. There had been no gossip yet, but that did not mean the truth might be allowed to slip out at a crucial moment.
    “You would never say a word about it, would you, Melly?” Katherine inquired with seeming casualness. “His lordship might not like it.”
    “And what does his lordship have to do with it?” Amelia replied as quick as could be.
    Katherine bit her lip in vexation. She was no better than Teddy. For a peabrain, Melly was remarkably fast to catch on to some matters. There was nothing to do but reveal just enough to satisfy her. “He intends to sponsor a production.”
    “Oh,” Amelia cried, “that will mean you must consult him about the costumes and scenery and everything. Does he have the say about the people who act in the play as well?”
    “Why? Do you intend to audition?” Katherine laughed at Melly’s horrified expression. “I tease, dear girl.”
    “Well, and I think it a very poor sort. You must know that Mama would never permit such.”
    “I think you would do well,” Cousin Sophia commented. “You are a pretty girl and well able to express emotion.”
    Katherine choked on a bite of muffin and had to be pounded on the back. She took a long sip of water from her glass before giving her relative a scolding look.  “Enough. I shall have to give some thought to the costumes,” Katherine said at last when she could speak. “Perhaps Mrs. Cheney can assist me. She must be well up on what is in the London theaters.”
    “Lord Ramsey would know as well,” Amelia added slyly.
    “Amelia, my love, you overstep.” Katherine smiled at her friend with affection, for in spite of the little jealousies shown from time to time, they had been friends since their childhood.
    The shower had ended by the time the ladies had concluded their meal. Amelia bid her friends good day with what must have been mixed emotions. She had promised not to reveal the support given by Lord Ramsey to Katherine’s theatrical venture, and that must have made