how could she when Great-aunt Tameson wanted him. And, anyway, one didn’t behave like that toward relations. And it would look as if we wanted all the money if Mr. Peate was got rid of.”
“Got rid of!”
“I should like to push him in a canal on a dark night,” Flora said broodingly. “I don’t like him. He looks at Mamma, too. It’s a pity Great-aunt Tameson is so rich.”
“Is she?”
“Oh, yes, dreadfully. But I’m sure she doesn’t care a bit about money now. She only wants to be under the stone angel with little Tom. I pray I am never rich in case someone like Mr. Peate stands by my bedside.”
Chapter 5
M R. PEATE WAS NOT standing at his aunt’s bedside when Lavinia was there. The old lady lay alone in the vast room. A servant had shown Charlotte and Lavinia in, and had then left. All the windows set in their medieval Gothic arches were shut and the room was stiflingly hot. Candles burning in a branched chandelier of Venetian glass added to the warmth. Their light was reflected in several mirrors so that the room seemed overilluminated, and yet curiously dark. The darkness came from the dark red damask walls and the heavy curtains. The face of the old woman in the bed was almost the color of the candle flames, a pale yellow, in which gleamed a pair of berry-black eyes. There was a strong smell of violets, which, blended with the heat and the candle smoke, was a little sickening.
“How are you this evening, Aunt Tameson?” Charlotte asked. “It’s very hot in here. Don’t you think you should have a window open?”
“And be poisoned by the smell of the canals!” For all her look of frailty the old lady had a surprisingly strong voice.
“After all these years you must have grown immune to that. Did you eat your supper?”
“Such as it was. Who is that?” She pointed a forefinger at Lavinia.
“This is Miss Hurst, whom I was telling you about. She will be helping me with your packing. She agrees with me that we can’t travel laden like camels.”
“What’s it to do with her?” the old lady asked tartly.
Charlotte sighed. “I’m only pointing out that you’ll have to discard some of your belongings. Almost all your clothes must be given away. You really can’t keep ball dresses from the eighteen-thirties.”
“How would you like to throw away the dear treasures of a lifetime? Don’t be too overriding, Charlotte, or I will be sorry I sent for you.”
“I’m not being overriding, aunt. Merely practical. We have filled three trunks already. Tomorrow, with Miss Hurst’s assistance, we will finish.”
“Is this young woman trustworthy? Where does she come from? Why haven’t I seen her before?”
“I explained all that to you. She has agreed to look after Flora.”
“I have a great many valuables,” the old lady grumbled. “I shall wear what I can, but the rest—”
“The rest are locked in your jewel case, which I personally am looking after. Please don’t be difficult, Aunt Tameson. You know that Daniel and I want to move you as soon as possible. This can only be done with some assistance. So you must make up your mind to trust Miss Hurst.”
As I have had to, she might have added, from the resentful glance she gave Lavinia.
The old lady held out a hand to Lavinia. It was the sad hand of an old woman, blue-veined and knotted with age. It was also heavily be-ringed. Lavinia noticed that, although the hand was emaciated, the rings seemed strangely tight, pressing into the flesh.
“You won’t be too cruel, will you, Miss Hurst?”
“Aunt Tameson, are you suggesting I am cruel!” Charlotte exclaimed. “That’s unfair. I couldn’t be doing more to help you. But someone has to be a little practical.”
“Practical people are so dull. I was never one of those, thank goodness. I don’t believe Miss Hurst looks very practical either. She’s too pretty. Why isn’t she married?”
“Now that’s her business, aunt.” There was an edge to Charlotte’s
“Got rid of!”
“I should like to push him in a canal on a dark night,” Flora said broodingly. “I don’t like him. He looks at Mamma, too. It’s a pity Great-aunt Tameson is so rich.”
“Is she?”
“Oh, yes, dreadfully. But I’m sure she doesn’t care a bit about money now. She only wants to be under the stone angel with little Tom. I pray I am never rich in case someone like Mr. Peate stands by my bedside.”
Chapter 5
M R. PEATE WAS NOT standing at his aunt’s bedside when Lavinia was there. The old lady lay alone in the vast room. A servant had shown Charlotte and Lavinia in, and had then left. All the windows set in their medieval Gothic arches were shut and the room was stiflingly hot. Candles burning in a branched chandelier of Venetian glass added to the warmth. Their light was reflected in several mirrors so that the room seemed overilluminated, and yet curiously dark. The darkness came from the dark red damask walls and the heavy curtains. The face of the old woman in the bed was almost the color of the candle flames, a pale yellow, in which gleamed a pair of berry-black eyes. There was a strong smell of violets, which, blended with the heat and the candle smoke, was a little sickening.
“How are you this evening, Aunt Tameson?” Charlotte asked. “It’s very hot in here. Don’t you think you should have a window open?”
“And be poisoned by the smell of the canals!” For all her look of frailty the old lady had a surprisingly strong voice.
“After all these years you must have grown immune to that. Did you eat your supper?”
“Such as it was. Who is that?” She pointed a forefinger at Lavinia.
“This is Miss Hurst, whom I was telling you about. She will be helping me with your packing. She agrees with me that we can’t travel laden like camels.”
“What’s it to do with her?” the old lady asked tartly.
Charlotte sighed. “I’m only pointing out that you’ll have to discard some of your belongings. Almost all your clothes must be given away. You really can’t keep ball dresses from the eighteen-thirties.”
“How would you like to throw away the dear treasures of a lifetime? Don’t be too overriding, Charlotte, or I will be sorry I sent for you.”
“I’m not being overriding, aunt. Merely practical. We have filled three trunks already. Tomorrow, with Miss Hurst’s assistance, we will finish.”
“Is this young woman trustworthy? Where does she come from? Why haven’t I seen her before?”
“I explained all that to you. She has agreed to look after Flora.”
“I have a great many valuables,” the old lady grumbled. “I shall wear what I can, but the rest—”
“The rest are locked in your jewel case, which I personally am looking after. Please don’t be difficult, Aunt Tameson. You know that Daniel and I want to move you as soon as possible. This can only be done with some assistance. So you must make up your mind to trust Miss Hurst.”
As I have had to, she might have added, from the resentful glance she gave Lavinia.
The old lady held out a hand to Lavinia. It was the sad hand of an old woman, blue-veined and knotted with age. It was also heavily be-ringed. Lavinia noticed that, although the hand was emaciated, the rings seemed strangely tight, pressing into the flesh.
“You won’t be too cruel, will you, Miss Hurst?”
“Aunt Tameson, are you suggesting I am cruel!” Charlotte exclaimed. “That’s unfair. I couldn’t be doing more to help you. But someone has to be a little practical.”
“Practical people are so dull. I was never one of those, thank goodness. I don’t believe Miss Hurst looks very practical either. She’s too pretty. Why isn’t she married?”
“Now that’s her business, aunt.” There was an edge to Charlotte’s
Similar Books
