Minor Indiscretions by Bárbara Metzger Read Free Book Online Page B

Dower House a sturdy, dark-haired boy was tossing a ball in the air. "What, sent down again, Harry?"
    Melody and a chastened Angie had walked down the tree-lined aisle the Oaks was named for and through the home woods toward the smaller building that used to be the estate's dower house, which now was home to the orphans. That is, Melody walked. Angie hop-toed and scampered, woofing at every moving branch and snapping twig.
    "I didn't do it, Miss Melody, I swear. Is that your dog? It's a prime 'un, all right. Can I play with it?"
    Angie would not go near the boy, until Melody made it clear they were to be friends, at which Angie stole the ball and ran for the woods, to Harry's delight. Harry was chased in turn by an unkempt urchin in a bedraggled pinafore. The other twin had to be somewhere close. And Philip, sitting on the steps, put down the book he was reading to duck his head, take Melody's outstretched hand, and welcome her home, stammering.
    "I brought you a book, Pip. McWorly's
Dissertations on Heavenly Bodies
was highly recommended at the academy, although I could not make heads nor tails of it. I'm sure you'll breeze through it, clever lad that you are." She ignored his blushes by kneeling down to the level of the pale little girl sitting next to him, all swaddled from head to toe in Nanny's woolens, with the palest of blonde curls peeking out of her cap. "Hello, Meggie. My, how big you've grown since last summer." For just a moment, as the child smiled at her, she was reminded of Lord Corey. Melody gave herself a mental shake. Only a noddy would see that rake's image in every innocent blond babe. Only a clunch would think of him at all. She went inside.
    "Nanny, who pays for the children?" Nanny was feeding Ducky, who only wanted to play with the spoon, filled with porridge or not. Angie scrambled into the kitchen, her hound's nose leading her unerringly through the house to her mistress, or toward food, anyway. Nanny started to grumble when the dog licked up the spills on the floor, on the chair, on Ducky. But Ducky clapped his pudgy hands and grinned, so more food went into his mouth at a faster rate.
    "A fine question to be asking, missy. Better you be asking who pays for the clothes on your back and the roof over your head. The children do, that's who. Who did, leastways. Rob Peter to play pool, like always."
    "You mean I'm taking food away from the orphans?" Melody gasped at the thought.
    "Not you,, this rugrat you brought into my kitchen. He's eating the ham I was saving for the children's supper! You ever hear of mince-mutt pie?"
Chapter Seven
    « ^ »
     
    Felice insisted on accompanying Melody to Mr. Hadley's office the next morning. "Didn't they teach you anything at that place? A lady can't go traipsing off by herself, you know. Of course, schoolgirls needn't mind their reputations so carefully," she added spitefully, from her two years' advantage, as though no one would be interested in Melody anyway. If the little cat only knew of the interlude in West Fenton with that regular out-and-outer, her rosebud mouth would purse right up with jealousy and freeze that way, like a cod!
    Of course, Melody was not about to mention West Fenton. "I don't think one need be so strict in the countryside. After all, I have known everyone hereabouts my entire life." She tied her bonnet strings and pulled on her gloves.
    "I'll just walk along with you anyway, to be on the safe side. I'm anxious to hear Mr. Hadley's opinions."
    She was most likely anxious to show off her ensemble. Melody was dressed for the early spring morning and the serious nature of her errand. She wore a serviceable blue merino gown with high collar and long sleeves, and a plain chip-straw bonnet. Felice, on the other hand, wore a flimsy short-sleeved, low-necked, Pomona-green striped muslin and a satin bonnet decorated with artificial cherries dangling charmingly just over her brow. The petite blonde tossed a fringed linen square over her shoulders as a