Candlelit Christmas Kisses. Anne Herries

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ

      ‘Please do not remind me,’ Selina begged. Her face was tight with grief. Their mama’s rapid decline and sudden death had happened no more than six months after their father had shot himself, having gambled away his fortune at the tables. ‘Something needed to be done even if Mama …’ She swallowed hard because the tears were so very close.

      Only two days had passed since they’d buried their beloved mother, and the girls had been left to care for their younger sister, Millicent, who was just twelve years of age. ‘We have her jewels. We could sell those, I suppose, or some of the silver—but that will not solve the problem of where we shall live. Cousin Joshua owns the house now. It only remained Mama’s home while she lived.’

      ‘We both have a little money that Grandmama Robinson left us,’ Amy said. ‘Is it enough to purchase a house, do you think?’

      ‘One hundred pounds might buy us a small cottage, but if we spent that we should have nothing left to live on.’ Selina bit her lower lip. ‘We might be able to rent a cottage somewhere.’

      ‘What about your season? You were to find a rich husband so that we did not need to worry about money.’

      ‘Had Mama not been taken ill, we should have all gone to London next spring, and you would have been sure to find a husband, but …’ Selina sighed. ‘You know what happened. There is no point in weeping over it, Amy. All thought of a season must be forgotten now. We shall just have to look for somewhere else to live. One of us must care for Millie, and the other … should look for work as a companion or something of the sort.’

      ‘Oh, Selina … no,’ Amy protested. ‘Look at us. Who would employ either of us as a governess?’

      ‘I said as a companion. There must be plenty of ladies who need a pretty, intelligent girl as a companion—I would employ you had I the money, dearest.’

      ‘You mean some crotchety old dear who wants me to run after her all day?’ Amy looked mutinous. ‘I couldn’t bear it, Selina. No, you must marry a rich man and rescue our fortunes. You are so beautiful it must be easy for you.’

      ‘Do you feel it fair to marry someone entirely for the sake of money? Should one not at least feel some sort of affection for one’s husband?’

      ‘Well, yes, if one could choose,’ Amy said practically. ‘But what else can we do—short of selling ourselves off as slaves?’ She hesitated, then, ‘You wouldn’t consider marrying Cousin Joshua, I suppose?’

      Selina shuddered. ‘I would rather hire myself out as a scullery maid,’ she said. ‘I would marry if I could find someone I could live with—but Cousin Joshua? Would you wish to live with him, Amy?’

      ‘No!’ Amy made a wry face. ‘He might let us stop here for a while if you were nice to him, Selina. He likes you.’

      ‘He is angry with me at the moment because I refused his offer of marriage. It is unfortunate that he is our only relative on Father’s side. The elder of Papa’s brothers, Sebastian, and his son, Simon, were drowned ten years ago. I believe they might have allowed us to stay here, for Uncle Sebastian was always kind to us, but Cousin Joshua is different. Mama had only her aunt Mabel, who died two years ago, as you know. She left Mama what she had but it was very little—just that pearl necklace and a thousand pounds, which is what has paid for our clothes this past two years—yours, mine, Mama’s, Millie’s and the servants’. I daresay there isn’t above two hundred pounds left in Mama’s account.’

      ‘Well, we shall soon know.’ Amy glanced at the beautiful mantel clock. ‘Mr Breck will be here in an hour, and he will tell us how much we have to live on now that Mama …’

      Once again Amy almost dissolved into tears.

      ‘If we have to sell some things, that mantel clock should be worth several guineas—enough to keep us for six months, I daresay,’ Selina said thoughtfully.

      ‘You cannot sell that, Selina.’ Amy was shocked. ‘It was one of Mama’s favourite things. Her father gave it to her for her last birthday before he died.’

      ‘I know that.’ Selina sighed. ‘I want to keep all Mama’s things when we move, but if we do not have enough to live on …’ Her words died away as she heard the sounds of a carriage drawing up outside.

      Amy went to the window of their small parlour, then turned to look at her. ‘It’s Cousin Joshua.’

      ‘Oh, no, why did he have to come today? Surely he cannot be so impatient to move in? He has a perfectly good house of his own.’

      ‘Which is why he may sell this one.’

      ‘Yes, I know. He did speak of it.’ Selina drew her shoulders back as the parlour door opened and the housekeeper announced the arrival of their visitor. ‘Good morning, cousin. How pleasant to see you. Will you not come to the fire? I am sure it is cold out.’

      ‘Thank you, Selina.’ Her cousin nodded and moved to the fire to warm his hands. ‘I knew you were expecting your father’s lawyer this morning. I have some news for you myself, but I shall wait until the lawyer has had his say.’ He paused to clear his throat. ‘You must not expect good news, cousin. Sir Richard had little left but this house and a few fields, which I understand bear a mortgage. Since the house and what remains of the estate are entailed, I fear they come to me, which means I must provide for you in some way.’

      ‘You are very kind, cousin,’ Selina said stiffly. ‘But Mama had a little money of her own, and I hope it will not be necessary for us to become a burden on your purse.’

      He had the grace to look awkward as he said, ‘I know you girls are of an independent mind, but I’m not short of a bob or two—neither am I insensitive to your grief. I should certainly not ask you to move out of this house for at least a month—and even then you know you may all have a home with me.’

      ‘But that means we must leave before Christmas!’ Selina exclaimed, and then turned away before she could lose her temper.

      ‘You are so very kind,’ Amy said, because Selina was still turned away, her hands clenching at her sides as she struggled against her emotions. ‘But truly Selina speaks for us all—we shall be independent if we can.’

      ‘If you can, of course,’ he agreed, much mollified by Amy’s sweet smile. ‘I am not made of stone, Miss Amy. I could not see my cousins starve or be deprived of all their precious things. I know some of the furnishings belonged to your mama, and I’ve already told him he will have to furnish part of the house himself.’

      Selina turned, her eyes wide and startled. ‘Whom do you mean? Have you already let the house to a tenant? It is only a few weeks until Christmas. I did not think you would expect us to move so soon, cousin.’

      ‘Well, I shouldn’t, of course—except that I think you would all do better staying with me for the festivities. This house is expensive to keep up, you know. Your mama could scarcely afford it these past few months, and some of the necessary repairs have not been done.’ There was a hint of reproach in his voice. ‘I did offer to do them for her, but she said she would not trouble me and intended to see to them herself—though we both knew she could not afford the iniquitous prices these builders charge. Ladies will have their way, but now that the house has passed to me, I shall, of course, be sending someone to do the repairs quite soon.’

      Selina СКАЧАТЬ