Read Online Without a Summer by Mary Robinette Kowal - Free Book Online
Authors: Mary Robinette Kowal
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hired us to adorn the ballroom. We are glamourists.”
“Oh.” He looked back at Melody, the open expression fading from his face. “I did not know. Forgive me for presuming on your time.”
“Not at all.” Melody rose from her place behind the pianoforte. “I was very glad to make your acquaintance.”
“Likewise.” He bowed to her and to the Vincents. “Now, if you will excuse me, I need to find my parents and let them know that I am here.”
As he left, Jane stifled the urge to call him back and tell him that Melody was the daughter of a gentleman, and not merely the sister of an artisan. Regardless of the Irish reputation for being wastrels, Jane could not stand to see her sister slighted.
Six
Hades and Persephone
The following day, Melody stayed at home, which Jane could not help but think had something to do with Mr. O’Brien. Now that Melody had the use of the music room, Stratton House should have offered more diversion than their own. She complained of a headache, so Jane did not press her, but left Melody to recline in the relative darkness of her bedchamber with a damp rag over her eyes.
Though concerned about her sister, Melody’s absence left Jane and Vincent free to attend to the glamural. The work absorbed them to such an extent that, when they finally left Stratton House, Jane was surprised by the lateness of the hour. Dusk had fallen over the streets and painted deep shadows at the corners. It had begun to snow while they were inside and the walk home, while beautiful, was cold and damp.
When they arrived home, Melody met them in the foyer. She had a heavy cream envelope in her hands and was fairly dancing with excitement. Any sign of her prior affliction had vanished.
“Look! Oh, look! I never thought to see this.” Melody held it out so that the Prince Regent’s seal was visible on the paper. “Is it real? Is it really him?”
“It is.” Vincent exchanged a look of perplexity with Jane as he shed his coat, which made it clear that he had no more notion as to why the Prince Regent was writing to them than she did. “May I?” Melody passed him the envelope, but continued to describe an orbit about them, glowing as though she were lit by glamour. If Mr. O’Brien could see her now, he would not mind that she was the sister of an artisan.
Jane did not attempt to look over Vincent’s shoulder as he read the sheet inside the envelope. He would let her know soon enough what it contained, and at the moment, she was more interested in finding her way to her rooms and getting out of her wet clothes. “I am going up to dress for dinner.”
“Are you not curious, Jane?” Melody hugged herself. “La! I have been staring at it for most of the day. What Miss Baker at home will say when I tell her that we had a letter from His Royal Highness.”
“I am more damp than curious.” Jane displayed her dirty hem. “Mrs. Brackett will not approve of me dripping on her foyer, I think.”
Lifting his head, Vincent passed Melody the letter. “Allow me to relieve the curiosity, nevertheless. In light of the weather, we have been invited to a skating party on Monday.”
A squeak escaped from Melody as she regarded the letter. “All of us?”
“Yes.” Vincent tucked his chin in and compressed his lips. A faint whine escaped him as he stared at Melody. Taking a deeper breath, Vincent squeezed his eyes shut for a moment as though to brace himself. When he opened them, he said, “I shall write to accept.”
Her dear had never been one who enjoyed a press of people. Jane had thought she would have to convince him to accept for Melody’s sake. To voluntarily submit himself to an afternoon in the company of the peerage was a great sacrifice, which she doubted her sister fully understood.
Melody threw her hands in the air with a cheer of delight that would have been more suited to a schoolgirl than a young lady. “I must write to Miss Baker and Miss Downing. Oh! What shall I wear? I have
“Oh.” He looked back at Melody, the open expression fading from his face. “I did not know. Forgive me for presuming on your time.”
“Not at all.” Melody rose from her place behind the pianoforte. “I was very glad to make your acquaintance.”
“Likewise.” He bowed to her and to the Vincents. “Now, if you will excuse me, I need to find my parents and let them know that I am here.”
As he left, Jane stifled the urge to call him back and tell him that Melody was the daughter of a gentleman, and not merely the sister of an artisan. Regardless of the Irish reputation for being wastrels, Jane could not stand to see her sister slighted.
Six
Hades and Persephone
The following day, Melody stayed at home, which Jane could not help but think had something to do with Mr. O’Brien. Now that Melody had the use of the music room, Stratton House should have offered more diversion than their own. She complained of a headache, so Jane did not press her, but left Melody to recline in the relative darkness of her bedchamber with a damp rag over her eyes.
Though concerned about her sister, Melody’s absence left Jane and Vincent free to attend to the glamural. The work absorbed them to such an extent that, when they finally left Stratton House, Jane was surprised by the lateness of the hour. Dusk had fallen over the streets and painted deep shadows at the corners. It had begun to snow while they were inside and the walk home, while beautiful, was cold and damp.
When they arrived home, Melody met them in the foyer. She had a heavy cream envelope in her hands and was fairly dancing with excitement. Any sign of her prior affliction had vanished.
“Look! Oh, look! I never thought to see this.” Melody held it out so that the Prince Regent’s seal was visible on the paper. “Is it real? Is it really him?”
“It is.” Vincent exchanged a look of perplexity with Jane as he shed his coat, which made it clear that he had no more notion as to why the Prince Regent was writing to them than she did. “May I?” Melody passed him the envelope, but continued to describe an orbit about them, glowing as though she were lit by glamour. If Mr. O’Brien could see her now, he would not mind that she was the sister of an artisan.
Jane did not attempt to look over Vincent’s shoulder as he read the sheet inside the envelope. He would let her know soon enough what it contained, and at the moment, she was more interested in finding her way to her rooms and getting out of her wet clothes. “I am going up to dress for dinner.”
“Are you not curious, Jane?” Melody hugged herself. “La! I have been staring at it for most of the day. What Miss Baker at home will say when I tell her that we had a letter from His Royal Highness.”
“I am more damp than curious.” Jane displayed her dirty hem. “Mrs. Brackett will not approve of me dripping on her foyer, I think.”
Lifting his head, Vincent passed Melody the letter. “Allow me to relieve the curiosity, nevertheless. In light of the weather, we have been invited to a skating party on Monday.”
A squeak escaped from Melody as she regarded the letter. “All of us?”
“Yes.” Vincent tucked his chin in and compressed his lips. A faint whine escaped him as he stared at Melody. Taking a deeper breath, Vincent squeezed his eyes shut for a moment as though to brace himself. When he opened them, he said, “I shall write to accept.”
Her dear had never been one who enjoyed a press of people. Jane had thought she would have to convince him to accept for Melody’s sake. To voluntarily submit himself to an afternoon in the company of the peerage was a great sacrifice, which she doubted her sister fully understood.
Melody threw her hands in the air with a cheer of delight that would have been more suited to a schoolgirl than a young lady. “I must write to Miss Baker and Miss Downing. Oh! What shall I wear? I have
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