Summerset Abbey by T. J. Brown Read Free Book Online Page B

a father, but upon the painting itself. Like most of the Buxtons, the Duke had thick, black hair, a strong jaw, and green eyes, but whereas the living Buxtons’ eyes were as changeable as the ocean, the artist had caught the Duke’s eyes exactly as Victoria remembered them. Flat green, like a lizard’s, with no emotion whatsoever.
    “I only met him a few times when I was very small and don’t remember him much at all. Was he as frightening as I recall?” she asked Elaine.
    Elaine had drawn closer to her as they studied the portrait and now leaned in to whisper. “Worse. Mother used to take me to his rooms after he became infirm. It’s funny how she would never let my nurse or a governess take me, but always did it herself, and she stood right next to us the entire time. He really had as little use for us as we did for him, but Mother was determined to do her duty. I don’t think she ever went to see him other than that, which is odd considering how ambitious she was.”
    Elaine slipped her arm through Victoria’s and they turned toward the Rose Room. “Don’t tell anyone, but that old man used to pinch Mother’s backside whenever she got too close.”
    Startled, Victoria laughed at the mental picture and banished the disturbing portrait from her thoughts as she entered her bedchamber. It was actually a suite of three rooms, a small sitting room in the front with a large dressing room and bathroom on one side and the bedroom on the other. The room got its name from the border of painted blue roses running just under the highly detailed crown molding on the ceiling. An Empire dressing table and ornate mirror sat between two enormous windows on the back wall, while a pair of blue-and-white-striped chaise lounges sat in front of a small white fireplace. A soft Axminster rug softened the parquet floors, and fresh flowers from the conservatory stood on the tables.
    Victoria unpinned her hat and took it into the bedroom. The blue and white color scheme continued into this room with the French blue coverlet and crisp white eyelet embroidered pillows. She’d spent many lazy summer days reading and dreaming in this delicately feminine space. If she couldn’t be in her ownroom at home, there was no place she would rather be than here.
    “Is there anything else I can do for you? I can ring the maid for some tea if you like.”
    Victoria laid her hat on the vanity and faced her cousin. “That would be lovely, but first I want you to take me to the servants’ quarters.”
    Elaine blinked. “The servants’ quarters? Whatever for?”
    Victoria stared her down and Elaine had the grace to blush, letting Victoria know she had been right. Somehow Elaine knew more about Prudence’s situation than she was letting on. Did that mean her uncle had sent a telegram about it? She wasn’t sure what was happening at Summerset, but Victoria intended to find out.

CHAPTER
FOUR

    P rudence followed Mrs. Harper’s bony, disapproving back through a dark maze of hallways. “That’s the servants’ hall right there,” she said, indicating a long, narrow room where the only light came from small windows just below the ceiling. “The kitchen is on the other side, but you won’t need to go there very often unless your young mistresses require tea at odd hours.” A cacophony of pots and pans banging and raised voices sounded from the kitchen. “I will show you the kitchen later. They’re busy preparing dinner. Here is the sewing room.” She opened another door to the right. The windowless room had a long table in the middle, a sewing machine off to one side, and the shelves lining one wall were stacked with bolts of cloth. “You’ll find everything you need to mend your mistresses’ dresses and underthings.”
    Prudence was surprised into replying. “Oh, I don’t know how to sew.”
    Mrs. Harper looked down her long nose at Prudence. “Well, you’d best learn. Hortense is too busy with Lady Summerset and Lady Elaine to do your