Cold April by Phyllis A. Humphrey Read Free Book Online Page B

fine, with a blue sky and a few puffy white clouds but, other than that, nothing but blue-green ocean stretched out around them on all sides.
    Kathleen soon grew bored and yawned. “Will you read a story to me, Miss Beth?”
    “ Of course.”
    As they neared the entrance to the Grand Staircase, a young woman rushed forward and clutched at Richard’s sleeve. “Mr. Graham, is it you?”
    Beth stared openly at the person who’d approached, unable to take her eyes from the lovely vision standing before them. She was tall and slender, her thick, coppery-red hair scarcely contained beneath a wide-brimmed dark green hat that matched her fashionable outfit. Her pale complexion—like that of the porcelain face on an expensive doll—gave the girl an otherworldly look. Beth had never seen a more beautiful young lady.
    “ Miss Thornton—” Richard said, acknowledging her.
    Miss Thornton interrupted him. “Don’t tell me. This is your wife and daughter, is it not? You naughty boy! When we met last night you didn’t say you were married.”
    “ I’m not. That is ...” Richard hastened to explain. “May I introduce Miss Cecily Thornton?” To Miss Thornton, he said, “This is my daughter, Kathleen, and her governess, Miss Elizabeth Shallcross.”
    Beth could almost see a visible shift in the young lady’s attitude toward her. Nevertheless, she continued brightly. “I am so pleased to meet you, Miss Shallcross.” She hardly stopped for a breath. “Shall we all go to tea?”
    To Beth’s relief, Richard declined. “I’m afraid we cannot join you. We’re on our way—er—elsewhere.” He tipped his hat and took Beth’s elbow to steer her forward.
    “ Give my regards to your parents. Good day.”
    Her heart beating uncomfortably hard, and only dimly aware of her surroundings, Beth let him lead them back to their staterooms. Going through the connecting door to Beth’s cabin, Kathleen located the book she wanted read to her. She climbed onto the couch and patted the space beside her. Beth had barely finished reading the story out loud, when she discovered Kathleen’s head drooping and her eyes already closed.
    She set the book aside, gently eased Kathleen into a lying position and retreated to the chair in front of the desk, her thoughts already returning to the meeting with Miss Thornton.
    Within minutes, apparently because he no longer heard Beth’s voice, Richard entered the room and glanced at his sleeping daughter.
    “ Would you like to come into the sitting room to continue our conversation? Unless there’s something you’d rather do.”
    Not only did she wish to be polite, but also she desperately wanted to know Richard’s thoughts about the episode on the deck. She rose and followed him.
    Smiling, he stood before the round table at the other side of the room. “The steward left the tea service. May I bring you some?”
    “ Thank you. I’d like that.”
    She refused sugar and milk for her tea but accepted a scone, which he brought to her on a separate plate. The very act of him serving her made her face warm. Usually, if a woman were present, she would be expected to do the serving.
    Richard brought his lounge chair close to hers and said, “We must speak quietly so as not to wake Kathleen.” He leaned forward and cleared his throat.
    “ As you now know, Miss Thornton is the daughter of Sir Hubert, whose family was seated at my table last night.”
    He paused, and Beth tried to find the words to question him about the girl. He changed the subject.
    “ About last night ... When we spoke after dinner, I may have acted inappropriately by offering you a compliment. At home, most men feel free to comment on a woman’s beauty.”
    He paused briefly, as if expecting a response, but all she could think of was Cecily’s beauty, not her own, if, indeed, she was considered beautiful.
    “ I married soon after arriving in England and had very little opportunity to practice the local courting customs, so