Lessons in Seduction: Cambridge Fellows Mysteries, Book 6 by Charlie Cochrane

Author:Charlie Cochrane [Cochrane, Charlie]
Language: deu
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Gay-Lesbian Romance, Historical Romance
Published: 2011-04-14T20:57:31+00:00

Lessons in Seduction

glorious smile, almost up to anything that Mrs. Stewart could generate. “You’re dangerous, Dr. Stewart and I’m glad you have my dear boy to keep you under control.”

Jonty blushed, unable to think of a word to say.

“Now, I don’t have that long to live. The doctors say they hope I’ll last a year, perhaps, but any more would be beyond expectation. When I’m gone I want Orlando to know the whole truth. He has no doubt told you about his father and how he died?”

Jonty nodded. “He has, although it cost him a great deal to do so, I believe. He has always found it hard to talk of his parents, although not of you. He’s told me often about the beach and the shells and the sweets.”

The lady smiled. “Such a stern and lonely little boy. I hope that he had fun when he came to stay here—I suspect he had precious little at home. I have heard of your family, Dr. Stewart, and Orlando has told me much in his letters, also. You are truly blessed to have such a home to return to—my Orlando was not so fortunate.” There was a twinkle in Mrs. Coppersmith’s eye. “Although he seems to have acquired a foster mother in your mother, if one reads between the lines of what he says.”

“My mother adores him. More than she loves me, I suspect, and that’s an enormous amount to begin with. I’m very pleased.” Jonty hoped the uncomfortable lump in his throat was overindulgence in crumble rather than impending tears.

“And I am too. Believe me, Jonty—I may call you Jonty, I hope, as you feel like a member of the family—there has been precious little love and understanding among the Coppersmiths. Am I correct to say your father has a title and chooses not to use it?”

“Indeed he does, although he refuses to tell me why.” Jonty smiled. “And feel free to call me by my Christian name, it would be an honour.”

Mrs. Coppersmith beamed her glorious smile again, looking the image of her grandson when he deigned to smile, which was quite often when Jonty was in the offing. “Now that expression has rubbed off onto you from him. I’m glad to see things haven’t been all one way. Now, Jonty, my father too had a title.

He was the son of a baron—Orlando knows nothing of any of this—and inherited the title and lands. I was his youngest child and only daughter and he called me his pet until I was seventeen. At that point I was no longer the favoured one.”

Jonty didn’t know what to say, settling for just looking solemn and interested. Suddenly the quality of the things on display, the excellent watercolours, the elegant china, made sense. Orlando should have spotted it for himself, if he was half the detective he thought he was, but it was like the needle mark. If you weren’t looking…

“I had a child, Orlando’s father, out of wedlock. I refused to marry the father, indeed even to name him, and so I was disowned.

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