The Lorimer Legacy by Anne Melville Read Free Book Online

way in which her arrival was taken for granted was a relief. As the train chugged eastward that afternoon Alexa had felt a good many qualms of fear. She had no cause to distrust her guardian’s brother: yet the kindness of his offer seemed so much out of character that she continually searched her mind to discover some way in which he might be deceiving her. But she could not think of any reason why he should be unkind, any more than she understood why he had chosen to help her.
    She had concluded in the end that he was trying to make up for his elder son’s behaviour. Alexa had found it difficult to hide the fact that she was in love with Matthew. Perhaps his father had noticed it and, angry on her account as well as his own, resolved to make what amends he could. At least it seemed that her worst fear had not been realized – that she would arrive in London without a penny in her pocket to find that no one was prepared to receive her.
    When she was ready she went downstairs, as the butler had instructed her. She was wearing the new day dress that Sophie had bought her at Margaret’s request, and her long hair was coiled on top of her head. She hoped that the dignity it gave her would conceal her nervousness. It came as a second reassurance to hear, as she walked slowly down the curved staircase into the hall, that someone was playing the piano extremely well. It mightmean that the Honourable Duncan Glanville was an accomplished amateur musician, or else that he already had a protégé: in either case it confirmed the description of him as a patron of the arts.
    It was easy to choose between her guesses. The fashionable clothes and arrogant expression of the pianist marked him out at once as a rich man. He glanced at Alexa as she appeared in the doorway of the drawing room, but did not interrupt his playing, merely nodding his head to indicate that she should take a chair.
    As Alexa sat down, she saw that he already had an audience. A woman of about forty was lying on a chaise longue, her legs covered with a rug, although the afternoon was warm. She showed her weakness in the way she raised her fan as a gesture of applause as the piece came to an end.
    The pianist stood up and bowed formally over Alexa’s hand without troubling to introduce himself.
    â€˜Fanny,’ he said to the woman on the chaise longue. ‘May I present Miss Alexa Lorimer to you? Miss Lorimer, Lady Glanville.’
    Lady Glanville smiled as she acknowledged the introduction. Her expression was kind, but Alexa could tell from her eyes that she was in pain.
    Alexa turned back towards her host and found that he was looking her up and down in a way that no one had ever done before.
    Too thin!’ he said, and she flushed with shame and embarrassment.
    â€˜Really, Duncan!’ protested Lady Glanville. ‘What a way to greet the child! She has a most elegant figure.’
    â€˜For a lady of fashion, perhaps. But if her ambitions lie in the world of opera, she will have to put on some fat.’
    â€˜You are too coarse!’ This time Lady Glanville spokemore sharply. Her brother-in-law bowed in acknowledgement of the rebuke but made no alteration in the haughty tone of his voice.
    â€˜We will ask her to provide the finale to your little concert, my dear Fanny,’ he said. He turned back to Alexa. ‘I made it clear to Mr Lorimer that any help I was prepared to give you was contingent on an audition. I can hardly be expected to waste time and money on some young lady who is only fit to squawk to her mother’s friends after dinner. Did he warn you of that?’
    Alexa nodded her head: her throat was dry with nervousness.
    â€˜When I put the condition to Mr Lorimer, he merely laughed and commented that in such a case we might consider it settled,’ said Mr Glanville. ‘I take it that he admires your ability. Well, we will find out at once if he is right. If I give you time to prepare yourself you