Cousin Kate by Georgette Heyer Read Free Book Online Page B

whispered Ellen, opening a door, and walking across the room on tiptoe to where heavy curtains veiled an archway. She pulled one back a little way, signifying, with a jerk of her head and a frightened grimace, that Kate was to pass through the archway.
    There were only two people in the Long Drawing-room, neither of whom was known to Kate. She hesitated, looking inquiringly from one to the other.
    Standing before the fire was a well-preserved gentleman of uncertain age; and lounging on a sofa was the most beautiful youth Kate had ever seen. Under a brow of alabaster were set a pair of large and oddly luminous blue eyes, fringed by long, curling lashes; his nose was classic; his petulant mouth most exquisitely curved; and his pale golden hair looked like silk. He wore it rather long, and one waving strand, whether by accident or design, fell forward across his brow. He pushed it back with a slender white hand, and favoured Kate with the look of a sulky schoolboy.
    His companion came forward, bowing, and smiling. 'Miss Malvern, is it not? I must make myself known to you: I am Dr Delabole. Torquil, dear boy, where are your manners?'
    This was uttered in a tone of gentle reproof, and had the effect of making Torquil get up, and execute a reluctant bow.
    'How do you do?' said Kate calmly, putting out her hand. 'I shan't eat you, you know!'
    Light intensified in his eyes; he laughed delightedly, and took her hand, and stood holding it. 'Oh, I like you!' he said impulsively.
    'I'm so glad,' responded Kate, making an attempt to withdraw her hand. His fingers closed on it with surprising strength. She was obliged to request him to let her go. 'Even if you do like me!' she said, quizzing him.
    The cloud descended again; he almost flung her hand away, muttering: 'You don't like me!'
    'Well, I find you excessively uncivil,' she owned. 'However, I daresay you are subject to fits of the sullens, and, of course, I don't know what may have occurred to put you out of temper.'
    For a moment it seemed as if he was furious; then, as he looked at her, the cloud lifted, and he exclaimed: 'Oh, your eyes are laughing! Yes, I do like you. I'll beg your pardon, if you wish it.'
    'Torquil, Torquil!' said Dr Delabole, in an admonishing voice. 'I am afraid, Miss Malvern, you find us in one of our twitty moods, eh, my boy?'
    She could not help feeling that this was a tactless thing to have said; but before she could speak Sir Timothy, with her aunt leaning on his arm, had come into the room, and Lady Broome had exclaimed: 'Oh, you are before me! Torquil, my son!' She moved forward, in a cloud of puce satin and gauze, holding out her hands to him. He took one, and punctiliously kissed it; and she laid the other upon his shoulder, compelling him (as it seemed to Kate) to salute her cheek. Retaining her clasp on his hand, she led him up to Kate, saying: 'I will have no formality! Kate, my love, you will allow me to present you to your Cousin Torquil! Torquil, Cousin Kate!'
    Kate promptly sank into a deep curtsy, to which he responded with a flourishing bow, uttering: 'Cousin Kate!'
    'Cousin Torquil!'
    'Dinner is served, my lady,' announced Pennymore.
    'Sir Timothy, will you escort Kate?' directed her ladyship. 'She has yet to learn her way about!'
    'It will be a pleasure!' said Sir Timothy, offering his arm with a courtly gesture. 'A bewildering house, isn't it? I have often thought so. I should warn you, perhaps, that the food comes quite cold to table, the kitchens being most inconveniently placed.'
    Kate gave a gurgle of laughter, but Lady Broome, overhearing the remark, said: 'Nonsense, Sir Timothy! When I have been at such pains to introduce chafing dishes!'
    'So you have, Minerva, so you have!' he replied apologetically.
    The dining-room, which was reached by way of the picture gallery, the Grand Stairway, a broad corridor, and an anteroom, was an immense apartment on the entrance floor of the mansion, panelled in black oak, and hung with crimson