Fenella J. Miller by A Dangerous Deception Read Free Book Online Page B

what she saw there made her cheeks colour for the second time that night. She dropped her gaze and drunk her soup in silence. It was impossible to converse normally, the lurking presence of the butler and footman made her feel uncomfortable.
    They didn’t eat entirely in silence, however, Mr Anderson made suitable remarks, and she answered politely. But she was relieved when the final dish was finished and she could excuse herself.
    ‘I shall leave you to your port, sir, thank you for inviting me to dine with you, it has been a most enjoyable experience.’
    He stared thoughtfully over the rim of his class. She noticed it had been refilled many times during the meal. ‘The evening is not over yet, Miss Roberts. I shall join you very shortly in the drawing-room. I shall expect you to be there .’
    The ever present footman pulled back her chair and she sailed from the room, hoping her nervousness was not apparent. She was tempted to make good her escape whilst she still could, but didn’t want to risk her employer’s wrath. Nervously she paced up and down the carpet when in the corner she spied a pianoforte. Why hadn’t she seen the instrument before? She supposed it was because she had only been in to the room the once, when Amanda had taken he on a grand tour of the house.
    She hurried over to the instrument and raised the lid, running her hands lovingly along the polished surface. She glanced over her shoulder, the dining room door was still closed. Perhaps she had time to play something before Mr Anderson joined her.
    Music had been her one escape from the drudgery of living with her uncle and aunt at Upton. There was a music room, no warmer than anywhere else she was allowed to go, but when she was free, she retreated there and lost herself in melody. She sat down and closed her eyes, deciding what to play. She didn’t need to find any sheets, she had a repertoire of many pieces she could play from memory. As soon as her fingers touched the keys she forgot where she was, who she was, and let the beauty of the sonata carry her away .
    She was unaware that he had come into the room, drawing his chair up close to sit behind her, resting his head back and closing his eyes, to enjoy the rare treat of hearing such a wonderful performance. Cassie’s hands were finally still, she sat relaxed and smiling on the piano stool blissfully unaware he was watching her so intently, a mere yard or two behind her. She was jerked from her reverie by his mild enquiry.
    ‘I do not remember seeing on your résumé, Miss Roberts, that you are such an accomplished pianist. Why is that, I wonder?’
    Cassie carefully closed the lid of the instrument, giving herself time to think of an appropriate answer. The reason it hadn’t been on the résumé was because Ann didn’t have a musical bone in her body. As she was supposed to be her friend, music should not be part of her repertoire.
    She didn’t know what to say, she hated telling untruths, had disliked the necessity of becoming an impostor, but the only way she could remain safe until she reached her majority was by impersonating her friend. She came to a decision. There was something about this man that made her believe she could trust him, and in spite of her deception, he might just possibly see why she’d been forced to do it and allow her to stay.
     Cassie stood up and walked round him, returning to the upright chair she’d sat on before they dined. She waited until he joined her, he placed his own chair disconcertingly close. She took a few steadying breaths then raised her head.
    ‘I have something to tell you, sir, something that I’m ashamed of, and I know that you will be most displeased. I just pray you can understand my motives.’ She watched him lean back in his chair folding his arms across his chest; he didn’t speak, but he did not look angry, merely interested.
    ‘I am not Ann Roberts, I am Miss Cassandra Forsythe, I am masquerading as my own governess. It is