Miss Gabriel's Gambit by Rita Boucher Read Free Book Online

guardian,” Caroline broke in. “Precious objects and things that their papa had collected in his travels as well as large sums of money, but upon Uncle’s death, not so much as a sou was found.”
    “Precious objects? Fiddle! Chess boards and trinket trash more like! If only John had been prudent enough to leave his children in my care,” Mrs. Gabriel declared with a sniff. “However, I suspect that poor Miles had lost it all upon the Exchange and that idiotish will was only a way of trying to excuse himself. To think that Sylvia is destined to remain forever on the shelf.”
    “Sylvia believes that the treasure is all hidden away somewhere and that the chess puzzle that Uncle set in his will contains the key,” Caroline added.
    “Nonsense,” Mrs. Gabriel said forbiddingly, deterring her daughter by taking firm hold of the course of the conversation. “Sylvia is hoping that wishes will turn to horses; for, of course, no stone has been left unturned in search of the money or this so-called treasure! But I am sure that Lord Donhill has heard enough of your poor cousin’s problems. Caroline, why do you not tell Lord Donhill of our plans to refurbish the house? Caroline has chosen the most delightful furnishings, a la chinoise, for this room, milord. I vow, I cannot match her taste.”
    “I find that difficult to believe, madame,” David said, repressing a shudder. Once the subject of modish decor was exhausted, the topic was forcefully turned to the doings of various members of the Ton. Luckily, as the woman prattled on endlessly about people that she obviously did not know, there was no need for David to do little more than nod in what he hoped were appropriate places. He pondered the mystery of the chess puzzle until he was roused by the mention of Brummel and his fashionable eccentricities. A surreptitious glance at the china clock upon the table showed that the hands were at half past one and he sent a grateful thought heavenward. Downing the last of his ratafia in a gulp, David rose and made his farewells, suddenly devoutly pleased that he was promised to Highslip, Brummel and the tailor at two.
    * * * *
    “‘Tis most unfair!” Miles exclaimed, kicking at the leg of a schoolroom stool. “’Twas me Lord Donhill came to call on.”
    “I know, Miles,” Sylvia said in soothing tones as she pulled a book from the shelf. “But we have both been sent upstairs and there is little we can do about it. Now, let us get back to our geography.”
    “No,” Miles declared with a pout, stamping his foot. “I won’t.”
    Sylvia sighed. There was no dealing with the boy in this moody state and, in truth, she could not blame him as she understood his feelings well enough. She, too, had been summarily dismissed. There had been no need for Aunt Ruby to articulate the warning in her eyes. Sylvia was not to return to the drawing room. She had little doubt that despite her obedience to her aunt’s unspoken wishes, the woman would ring a peal over Sylvia’s head. Still, it could be far worse, Sylvia thought, replacing the book of maps upon the shelf and going to the door of her chamber.
    The governess’ room was far more luxurious than most quarters of its kind. A thick carpet covered the floor and Sylvia had furnished her nook with the delicate Chippendale that her aunt had cast off in favor of more stylish accoutrements. The large attic windows commanded an incomparable view of Berkeley Square; the corner window overlooked the garden.
    Nonetheless, when Sylvia had found that she was to share the nursery with Miles, it had been a bitter blow. At least, in her uncle’s Northumberland home, she had been able to hold on to some shred of pretense. There the servants had still deferred to her as mistress, a matter of no small irritation to her aunt. In the shelter of Crown Beeches, she could still believe that the money would be found, her position restored and since she was past her majority, she would be completely free