Lessons in Discovery by Charlie Cochrane Read Free Book Online

away from the noisy masses so that the recovering
    invalid shouldn’t be overwhelmed. She’d asked, with great
    concern, about Orlando’s condition, gently talking him through
    the times he’d been her guest, the pleasure it had given her to
    receive him. “Because it has always been a delight to us whenever Jonathan has brought you home. I think of you rather like a son
    now, which of course must seem very odd today when you no
    doubt regard me as a stranger. But one day you’ll remember
    everything, dear, and then it will be like old times.” She beamed.
    Orlando thought how much Mrs. Stewart resembled Jonty
    and how lovely she must have been at the same age. A sudden,
    small voice in his head informed him that his friend was beautiful now and when he looked at Jonty he realised it was quite true, which was another terrible shock. He had never really considered before whether anyone was eye-catching and he’d now done it for
    two people within a minute.
    They finished their meal with a wealth more gossip and
    made their way back to Stewart’s set for a cup of tea to refresh them and to give Orlando a chance to collect his thoughts.

    Helena Stewart insisted that there was nowhere better to take
    a cup than in front of one’s own fire. She was now ensconced on
    Jonty’s sofa and her thoughts ran to old acquaintances.
    “So you met old George Le Tissier on Jersey. I wonder if he
    remembers me?”
    “I don’t think that anyone would ever forget you, Mama.”
    Jonty smiled affectionately. His mother, once met, was never to
    be expunged from the memory.

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    Charlie Cochrane
    “Especially true in this case. Not my most shining moment,
    Jonathan, I positively disgraced myself.” Mrs. Stewart blushed,
    something that seemed out of character.
    “Whatever did you do?” Their interest was piqued, their
    appetite whetted at the thought of what revelation might come
    from this lady’s lips. Jonty in particular was intrigued at the
    thought of his mother disgracing herself in any way.
    “It was a grand ball. A very big occasion, all the handsomest
    young men were going to be there, including George who was a
    subaltern at the time. Not that I had eyes for any of them except your father—that’s why I was so excited. Richard Stewart was
    going to be present and we’d arranged in advance to have several dances together. Got out my best bib and tucker and set off.
    Within a quarter of an hour of arriving there, a young man I’d
    taken a waltz with, I can’t remember his name, the ill-favoured
    surly thing.” She glanced surreptitiously at the often surly thing on her left but he was looking remarkably sweet and kind today.
    “Anyway, he drew me off into a corner, said he’d never loved
    anyone the way he adored me, proposed a marriage within three
    months and when I refused to take up his offer, threatened to kill himself. I spent twenty-five minutes trying to talk him out of it.
    Meant that I missed my first dance with your father, so I was
    rather miffed. When I tracked Richard down to apologise he
    hooted with laughter. He said he knew the chap and that he’d
    done the same thing numerous times—the suicide threat was all a
    big bluff of course. I was livid. Your father had to hold my hand and try to get me to calm down. I was all for going and tweaking the chap’s ear, but I suppose the hand-holding made it all
    worthwhile.”
    “It always does.” Jonty smirked slightly and there was a
    suggestion of a blush on Orlando’s cheeks. How odd ,Jonty reflected, wondering if the embarrassment was due to
    subconscious memories.
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    Lessons in Discovery
    Mrs. Stewart sailed on undaunted. “Then blow me down if
    three dances later a similar thing didn’t happen, though I
    remember the chap’s name this time. Samuel Parker, and he was a
    toerag. We were walking through the portrait gallery at the back of the house en route to get an ice when he plighted his