The Rake Enraptured by Amelia Hart Read Free Book Online Page B

completely disregarded my own clearly expressed wishes, tried to manipulate me and now you say 'You must' as if I owed you something. I do not."
    "Goodness, Miss Preston, you look very fierce," came Mrs Trent's falsely cheerful voice as she bore down on them. "What are you saying to Mr Holbrook with such ferocity?"
    Julia turned cold, and took a deep breath, trying to think.
    "Miss Preston is a passionate crusader, it seems. I spoke slightingly of the education of young women, and she defended her cause most vehemently. Your own daughters were held up as examples. I think you must be very proud to have such clever girls."
    "Oh, I hope you will not think they are bookish," said Mrs Trent, sounding vaguely alarmed, "for they are nothing of the sor t, whatever Miss Preston may say. They are accomplished in music and embroidery and watercolors, and Amy is a credit on the pianoforte. But really, Miss Preston, you must not talk out of turn. Thank you for attending us this evening, but I'm sure you would prefer to take some rest in your own room."
    "You are too thoughtful, Ma'am," Julia murmured, and waited.
    But Mrs Trent waited also, obviously determined to see the misbehaving Miss Preston out of the way rather than monopolizing the dashing young Mr Holbrook. Julia stood and gathered up the pages of her music folio with unwilling hands. Still Mrs Trent waited.
    "Mr Holbrook, goodnight," said Julia, and curtsied. He bowed. Julia left the room feeling very disgruntled.

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    "When will they leave? Surely he . . . they don't intend to stay out the summer?"
    Mrs Goodall shot her a look, and for a moment Julia had the sinking feeling she was the subject of gossip among the staff. Had someone noted Mr Holbrook's unwelcome attentions? But the doughy housekeeper only shrugged a single shoulder and continued to pull drooping blooms from the flower arrangement on the table.
    "That I can't say, Miss Preston. No one has seen fit to tell me. I understand the Trent's are expected at the Riversham Ball on the first of August, so they'll likely go South to stay at Riversham house for a couple of days ahead of time as usual."
    "But that's still more than a fortnight away."
    "That it is. Are the guests disrupting the young ones in their studies?"
    "A little. It's more the general . . . turmoil within the house. It's so distracting, I wonder when we'll be done with it."
    "Not past the end of July, I daresay. It's such a congenial party, and everyone finds the house so comfortable," said the woman with some complacency, "people stay longer than they intended. And the Trents do set such a fine table." Unquestionably she accounted this to her own credit.
    "Yes, you are to be congratulated."
    "Oh, I don't know about that, though it's kind of you to say, Miss Preston. I do my best, and I've never heard any complaints."
    "There's no doubt your expert hand is to be seen everywhere. And I'm told you narrowly averted a crisis at supper time last night."
    "Did you hear about that, then? Well, people shouldn't gossip, but I suppose it was a good thing I was there. I can't imagine what Cook was thinking. Tripe, when all the menus had been agreed with Mrs Trent, and everyone's tastes taken into account. That's the problem with importing one of those Frenchies. They may make all the la di da sauces and whatnot to impress the guests, but then they fancy themselves as arteests and above such paltry worries. Well Lord Grayson abominates tripe, as his valet was at pains to let us all know, and there's Mrs Trent so concerned that everything should be done for his comfort. I'm sure I don't know why Mister Lacroix," she mangled the French pronunciation, "took it into his head tripe would be more fitting than trout. Not that there wasn't plenty else to enjoy on the table, for of course there was, but I should have cringed to see Lord Grayson's face when that salver was lifted, nor Mrs Trent's, for that matter. I told Mister Lacroix it