Read Online Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris-Theo 2 by R. L. Lafevers, Yoko Tanaka - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: R. L. Lafevers, Yoko Tanaka
Tags: Fiction, General, Social Science, Juvenile Nonfiction, Action & Adventure, Juvenile Fiction, Magic, Mummies, Animals, cats, Adventure and Adventurers, Great Britain, London (England), Families, Archaeology, Blessing and Cursing, Museums, London (England) - History - 20th Century, Great Britain - History - Edward VII; 1901-1910, Family Life - England
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twitching slightly.
"Miss Chittle—" Grandmother's loud voice had the governess flinching, and I wondered if she was related to Edgar Stilton—"this is my granddaughter, Theodosia."
"How d'you do?" I bobbed the most polite curtsy I could muster. It was hard with thoughts of mummies and research running through my head. A governess was the last thing I needed right now. "I'm very pleased to meet you."
She stared down her small, thin nose at me and gave a stiff nod.
The admiral moved forward to shake Father's hand. "Good morning, Throckmorton. We heard you had a dustup this morning."
Father ran his hand through his hair, making it stand up on end. "Yes, a bit of a pickle, I'm afraid. We've no idea how all these mummies got here and the inspector seems determined to find it our fault."
"Mummies?" Miss Chittle's pale white hand flew to her mouth, as if to hold back a scream. Honestly! What did she think was housed in a museum, anyway?
"That is inexcusable," Grandmother snapped. "I will not have the Throckmorton name dragged through the mud.
Give me this inspector's name and I will have the admiral look into the situation immediately."
Then the admiral did something quite astonishing. He reached out and patted Grandmother on the arm. "Now, Lavinia. I told you, your name is quite safe. I'll be sure of it."
I watched open mouthed, expecting Grandmother to bean the man with her cane for taking such liberties. But instead, her face softened and she patted him back.
Miss Chittle caught sight of the mummies lined up against the back wall, and she took two small steps backward.
"Don't worry. Father didn't steal them," I reassured her.
"Steal them?" Miss Chittle's gaze fluttered from the mummies to me, then to Grandmother. "You didn't mention anything about the police, ma'am. Or stealing."
Grandmother gave her a withering look. "You told me you had a strong constitution and nerves of iron. I would hope you haven't been lying to me. A woman in my position could make things very difficult for a governess who has lied."
Miss Chittle's throat bobbed as she swallowed once before speaking. "Of course not, madam. I never lie."
Grandmother gave a satisfied nod, then whipped her head around to me, as if she thought I'd been up to something while she wasn't looking. "This isn't
your
doing, by some chance, is it?"
"Now, Lavinia," the admiral said, "what could a young girl possibly do to create a mess like this?"
Have I mentioned I was growing rather fond of Admiral Sopcoate?
Grandmother relaxed a bit. "Very well. I suppose you're right."
Anxious to change the subject, I turned to my new governess. "What sorts of things will you be teaching me, Miss Chittle?"
"None of your impertinence now," Grandmother interjected. "Miss Chittle has been trained in the classics, so you won't suffer from an inferior education."
"Really?" My hopes grew.
Her eyes still on the mummies, Miss Chittle nodded absently.
"Plus," Grandmother continued, "she'll be teaching you all the things you lack. Etiquette, manners, comportment—"
Knowing better than to interrupt, I raised my hand to let Grandmother know I had a question.
"What?" she barked.
"What exactly is comportment, again?"
Admiral Sopcoate made a strange noise, then began coughing. Grandmother narrowed her eyes. "Comportment is how you behave, how you acquit yourself in public. It is
something you are sadly lacking, as the disaster at Lord Chudleigh's illustrated."
I lowered my head. "Yes, ma'am."
Grandmother leaned closer to Miss Chittle. "Don't let her fool you. Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth."
It was quiet while I felt both of them studying me. After a long moment, Miss Chittle spoke. "Although I have no doubt I can teach your granddaughter, I would like to suggest we don't conduct our lessons here." She looked around the foyer, her eyes lingering briefly on the mummies before she continued. "There are far too many distractions, and it is quite unhealthy."
Grandmother thumped
"Miss Chittle—" Grandmother's loud voice had the governess flinching, and I wondered if she was related to Edgar Stilton—"this is my granddaughter, Theodosia."
"How d'you do?" I bobbed the most polite curtsy I could muster. It was hard with thoughts of mummies and research running through my head. A governess was the last thing I needed right now. "I'm very pleased to meet you."
She stared down her small, thin nose at me and gave a stiff nod.
The admiral moved forward to shake Father's hand. "Good morning, Throckmorton. We heard you had a dustup this morning."
Father ran his hand through his hair, making it stand up on end. "Yes, a bit of a pickle, I'm afraid. We've no idea how all these mummies got here and the inspector seems determined to find it our fault."
"Mummies?" Miss Chittle's pale white hand flew to her mouth, as if to hold back a scream. Honestly! What did she think was housed in a museum, anyway?
"That is inexcusable," Grandmother snapped. "I will not have the Throckmorton name dragged through the mud.
Give me this inspector's name and I will have the admiral look into the situation immediately."
Then the admiral did something quite astonishing. He reached out and patted Grandmother on the arm. "Now, Lavinia. I told you, your name is quite safe. I'll be sure of it."
I watched open mouthed, expecting Grandmother to bean the man with her cane for taking such liberties. But instead, her face softened and she patted him back.
Miss Chittle caught sight of the mummies lined up against the back wall, and she took two small steps backward.
"Don't worry. Father didn't steal them," I reassured her.
"Steal them?" Miss Chittle's gaze fluttered from the mummies to me, then to Grandmother. "You didn't mention anything about the police, ma'am. Or stealing."
Grandmother gave her a withering look. "You told me you had a strong constitution and nerves of iron. I would hope you haven't been lying to me. A woman in my position could make things very difficult for a governess who has lied."
Miss Chittle's throat bobbed as she swallowed once before speaking. "Of course not, madam. I never lie."
Grandmother gave a satisfied nod, then whipped her head around to me, as if she thought I'd been up to something while she wasn't looking. "This isn't
your
doing, by some chance, is it?"
"Now, Lavinia," the admiral said, "what could a young girl possibly do to create a mess like this?"
Have I mentioned I was growing rather fond of Admiral Sopcoate?
Grandmother relaxed a bit. "Very well. I suppose you're right."
Anxious to change the subject, I turned to my new governess. "What sorts of things will you be teaching me, Miss Chittle?"
"None of your impertinence now," Grandmother interjected. "Miss Chittle has been trained in the classics, so you won't suffer from an inferior education."
"Really?" My hopes grew.
Her eyes still on the mummies, Miss Chittle nodded absently.
"Plus," Grandmother continued, "she'll be teaching you all the things you lack. Etiquette, manners, comportment—"
Knowing better than to interrupt, I raised my hand to let Grandmother know I had a question.
"What?" she barked.
"What exactly is comportment, again?"
Admiral Sopcoate made a strange noise, then began coughing. Grandmother narrowed her eyes. "Comportment is how you behave, how you acquit yourself in public. It is
something you are sadly lacking, as the disaster at Lord Chudleigh's illustrated."
I lowered my head. "Yes, ma'am."
Grandmother leaned closer to Miss Chittle. "Don't let her fool you. Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth."
It was quiet while I felt both of them studying me. After a long moment, Miss Chittle spoke. "Although I have no doubt I can teach your granddaughter, I would like to suggest we don't conduct our lessons here." She looked around the foyer, her eyes lingering briefly on the mummies before she continued. "There are far too many distractions, and it is quite unhealthy."
Grandmother thumped
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