The House of Eliott by Jean Marsh

Author:Jean Marsh [Marsh, Jean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781447209164
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK

‘Good luck, Bea. I don’t envy you Arthur at nine o’clock in the morning.’ Evangeline stood at the front door groaning and put her hand to her head. ‘I’m never going to drink brandy again.’

‘Good. That’s why I let you drink so much. I knew it would put you off. I did the same thing when I was seven.’ Remembering the occasion Beatrice winced and put her hand to her face. She had drunk Papa’s port, sweet and delicious, but absolutely forbidden to everybody including Mama. But it was what she had done afterwards that was worse. The port had emboldened her to look into Bluebeard’s den, as she thought of it, Papa’s consulting room. Through the keyhole she had seen that peculiar thing, that contraption . . . What was Evie saying? ‘Molly and I will get on with everything, don’t worry.’

Evangeline shut the door. What a relief it was to have so much work to do. It would distract from the hammering in her brain and the pain in her heart. Bea had been so considerate and kind last night. Gently teasing, but concerned.

‘What is the matter, Evie? You have tears in your eyes. Something happened, didn’t it, in the restaurant?’

Evangeline had wanted to tell her but underneath her pain and anger she knew she might still go to Vienna with Hugo and it wouldn’t be wise to turn Bea against him. And what about Molly? Had Hugo lied to her to cover up or, Evangeline thought, did Molly lie to me? If so, it was absolutely humiliating and now she had to face her. They were going to finish taking everything from the kitchen to the workroom.

The doorbell rang, intruding on her day-dreaming. Good. Tilly or Letty were early, that would help distract her. How splendid of them to be so keen. Work. That was the answer to everything.

But it wasn’t either of the seamstresses, it was Hugo.

‘It’s only half past eight,’ Evangeline stammered. ‘What is it? What do you want? Did you leave something here?’

He regarded her steadily. ‘I want to speak to you. Has your sister gone?’ He came in and shut the door without waiting for a reply. ‘Let’s go to your room.’

Once inside the room he faced her. ‘All right. Tell me. What was wrong last night? Why did you behave so stupidly and drink so much?’

A part of me feels so angry and hurt I want to hit him, she thought, but it’s a small part. Looking at his face so near to hers and remembering his mouth so insistent and exciting . . .

‘I was hurt and angry.’

He put a hand on her shoulders and gazing directly into her face he put his other hand under her chin and started slowly to unbutton her high-necked blouse.

‘Why, Evangeline?’ He continued to unbutton her blouse until he reached her camisole. ‘Why were you hurt and angry?’

It was impossible to speak – she could hardly breathe. He slid his fingers between the buttons of the camisole and found her erect nipple, touching it firmly but gently.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.