The London Belle by Kennedy Shirley

Author:Kennedy, Shirley [Kennedy, Shirley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shirley Kennedy
Published: 2012-04-04T21:00:00+00:00

“What do you want?” Lady Cavendish and Hortense were seated in the small salon, both stitching their embroidery. “Can’t you see we are busy?” The older woman raised eyes filled with annoyance.

Jane took a deep breath and stepped inside, making sure her misgivings didn’t show. “I have come to have a word with you concerning David.”

Lady Cavendish eyed her shrewdly. “Only David? So everything else is to your satisfaction then?”

Jane returned an arched glance. “If you are referring to my room, hardly. As for my eating arrangements, as you may have heard, Lord Harleigh has kindly invited me to take my meals with him.” She could not prevent herself from adding, “I am delighted. I could not ask for better company.”

Jane watched, secretly amused, as Lady Cavendish’s eyebrows flew together in a scowl. “Lord Harleigh good company? Bah!”

“He is a bit gruff, but I find him—”

“That man is the bane of my existence.” A muscle flicked angrily in her ladyship’s jaw. “Heaven only knows the sacrifices I made in order to come here and care for David, not the least of which is having to put up with that rude, uncouth old man.”

Hortense chimed, “He does not have good manners,” bobbing her head up and down in smug agreement with her mother.

“No, he does not,” echoed Lady Cavendish. “And furthermore, he spends his days in unnatural pursuits, such as pouring over those filthy old manuscripts from the ruined abbey. They’re not even in English—a complete waste of time.”

“Perhaps,” said Jane. She had not been asked to sit, and thus was anxious to end her ladyship’s ranting. “But be that as it may, I have come to discuss David.”

“What now?” Lady Cavendish threw her embroidery hoop aside in disgust. “Haven’t I done all I can to accommodate Lord Dashmont’s wishes? You’ve seen the classroom. You had all day yesterday to get acquainted with the child, so by now you must be aware of how frail and delicate he is. Surely you realize he must not be burdened by lengthy hours of study.” She sniffed and raised one side of her upper lip disagreeably. “If only I’d had the opportunity to discuss this with Anthony before he . . .” a fleeting look of fury crossed her face “ . . . but never mind. I have done his bidding and that’s that. So what more did you want, Jane?”

Jane wanted very much to scream at this strident woman, not Jane, Lady Jane, but that was not the purpose of her visit, so she refrained. “Yesterday David was terribly withdrawn and hardly spoke to me, in contrast to that day in the park when I saw him smile and heard him laugh. But no wonder. He’s all cooped up most of the time, and according to Hortense, hardly ever goes outside. That’s what I’m here about. The child needs fresh air and sunshine.”

“Out of the question.”

“No, it is not.” Here came the hard part, not unexpected by any means. She had known she would have a difficult time with Dashmont’s mother-in-law.

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