The Poetics of Passion by Delphine Ross

Author:Delphine Ross [Ross, Delphine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Muse Publications LLC

Chapter 22

The tall grandfather clock in the hall was chiming five as Musa arrived home. How had a full day passed at Chassen & Sons? It felt like only an hour or two. All had gone so well with Atkinson. Better than well, really. Beautifully. She couldn’t believe how lovely his drawings were, and how easily they’d worked together. Poems of Morality and Goodness for Children to Abide would truly be something special. She was certain Atkinson arranged for the presence of Mr. Chassen to avoid any awkwardness after their near-kiss in Green Park. She was grateful for his consideration . . . until she wasn’t.

“Do you want to kiss me?” she’d asked Atkinson. What had she been thinking? It was lucky Chassen awakened when he did. Who knew what might have happened otherwise?

I should be happy we didn’t kiss, Musa thought as she took off her bonnet. Why aren’t I?

Henry. She hadn’t thought of him once all those hours while she’d been with Atkinson. Instead, she’d found herself staring at Atkinson’s hands as he’d sketched. His long fingers curled along his pencil, so sensitive and skilled. To her horror, she’d felt a warm curl of arousal rise from her stomach even before he’d asked to kiss her. She’d imagined him caressing her body. Sensitive. Skilled . . .

“Musa? Is that you?”

Her mother’s voice drifted from the dining room, accompanied by the rise of laughter and chatter. Beyond it, Musa made out the clatter of meal preparation from the kitchen. The scent of lamb, potatoes roasting. Her stomach growled in response.

Nearly time for dinner. She and Atkinson hadn’t paused for even a cup of tea.

“Here, Mama!” Musa called, hanging up her coat.

Inside the dining room, Musa found her entire family assembled around the table. Great-aunt Minerva had brought Angela to visit—Angela, who looked lovelier than ever. Hope suited her, Musa decided. Next to Angela, the twins were playing a tapping game with spoons as though they were still children, not adolescents of fifteen. Clio sat majestically at the head of the table, dressed elegantly in a simple blue gown adorned with a strand of amber beads.

Save for the presence of Aunt Minerva, everything appeared as it might have been before Papa’s disappearance.

Clio rose from her seat to embrace Musa. “I’m so glad you’re home! We’re celebrating the article about your children’s book. We’ll even have cake! Though I do wish the article could have been kinder about Papa—”

“It’s the best news you could have hoped for, Clio,” Aunt Minerva cut in. “What can you expect, given the situation? Best to acknowledge the scandal, get it out of the way.” To Musa: “I assume you read it, miss?”

“I did, Aunt,” Musa replied, forcing a smile into her voice she didn’t feel. “Good news indeed! I’ll be right back.”

She needed to be alone for a moment, to catch her breath. To quiet her thoughts. Her emotions; if she wasn’t careful, she’d end up a slave to them, like her parents.

What about Henry? Again, she thought of the letter he’d sent warning of gossip about Felicity.

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