The Spinster & The Coquette by Caylen McQueen Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Caylen McQueen
dogs. Truly, I do,” Hester began, “but they do require some guidance. They can either be your greatest friend or greatest foe.”
They heard Cordelia groan, so they stopped their conversation and turned in her direction. When she caught them staring at her, she yawned and said, “Oh, don’t mind me. I am simply tired. And bored.”
To Frank, Hester explained, “My sister’s need for excitement is constant and never-ending. Unlike you and me, she is not content to simply while away the day with trivialities.”
“I would defend myself against your words, but it is true. I bore easily.” Cordelia plunked on the pianoforte a few more times, treating her companions to more sour notes. “And I am a bit tired. My lack of sleep is Mr. Snowley’s fault. Every time I find myself dozing, his handsome face invades my mind. However, I did sleep for part of the night… long enough to have a dream. As it happens…” Cordelia turned away from the pianoforte and clasped her hands in front of her. “I dreamt of you , Frank.”
Frank’s eyes swelled. “Of me ?”
“Indeed. I dreamt that you were flying. I saw you soar into the sky, higher than the clouds! Even if it was a dream, it was an incredible sight to see.” Nomad approached Cordelia and sat at her feet, but she ignored him. “If you could fly, would that not be the most amazing thing? You would not even need to walk!”
“Why would you dream such a thing?” Frank asked.
“Perhaps your condition troubles me?” Cordelia shrugged. “Perhaps I wanted to see you freed from those infernal walking sticks? I cannot control my dreams any more than I can control the weather!”
Frank could feel Hester’s eyes on him. The older sister was more intuitive and empathetic; she must have known the conversation made him uneasy. He did not want Cordelia pitying him, nor did he want to be thought of as infirm.
“If I could have one wish, I would wish for you to be as healthy and strong as any man.” In Cordelia’s mind, her words were a kindness. In truth, they had a debilitating effect on Frank’s heart. She thought of him as weak, and it was a crushing revelation. “If you had the legs of a normal man, you could ask me to dance. It is such a shame that we shall never dance.”
“Cordelia…” Hester uttered her sister’s name, a bit sharply. “That is quite enough!”
“Why am I being chided? I only want the very best for Frank. Is that such a difficult thing to grasp?” Cordelia finally noticed the admirer sitting beside her feet. She scooped Nomad from the ground and cradled him to her chest like a baby. “Obviously this is a topic that neither of you wishes to discuss. I did not mean to offend you, Frank, if I did.”
“No offense was taken,” he lied. Though her opinions were difficult to hear, he knew Cordelia was not a malicious girl. She was attempting to be thoughtful, not thoughtless. “I like to think I am not that easily offended.”
“What did you think of Mr. Snowley?” Cordelia suddenly asked.
“He seemed… decent,” Frank grumbled through his reply.
“Decent!” Frank’s uninspired choice of word made Cordelia chuckle. “You did not think he was kind?”
“He seemed amiable enough.” As Frank replied, he saw Hester wincing.
“I wonder what it would be like to kiss him.” Cordelia gently touched her lips as she tried to imagine it. “His lips are so full and lovely… almost like a lady’s lips. And I bet they are soft, even softer than mine.”
Hester groaned her sister’s name. “Cordelia…”
“Oh… hush, Hes! I cannot tolerate your endless objections. Am I really so terrible that you need to assess and criticize my every word? I am sure every young woman dreams of kissing Alexander Snowley. He is, after all, so very, very handsome.” Nomad licked her chin, so she returned the dog to the floor and said to Frank, “ You are very handsome and you have lovely lips. Perhaps I should wonder what it would be
They heard Cordelia groan, so they stopped their conversation and turned in her direction. When she caught them staring at her, she yawned and said, “Oh, don’t mind me. I am simply tired. And bored.”
To Frank, Hester explained, “My sister’s need for excitement is constant and never-ending. Unlike you and me, she is not content to simply while away the day with trivialities.”
“I would defend myself against your words, but it is true. I bore easily.” Cordelia plunked on the pianoforte a few more times, treating her companions to more sour notes. “And I am a bit tired. My lack of sleep is Mr. Snowley’s fault. Every time I find myself dozing, his handsome face invades my mind. However, I did sleep for part of the night… long enough to have a dream. As it happens…” Cordelia turned away from the pianoforte and clasped her hands in front of her. “I dreamt of you , Frank.”
Frank’s eyes swelled. “Of me ?”
“Indeed. I dreamt that you were flying. I saw you soar into the sky, higher than the clouds! Even if it was a dream, it was an incredible sight to see.” Nomad approached Cordelia and sat at her feet, but she ignored him. “If you could fly, would that not be the most amazing thing? You would not even need to walk!”
“Why would you dream such a thing?” Frank asked.
“Perhaps your condition troubles me?” Cordelia shrugged. “Perhaps I wanted to see you freed from those infernal walking sticks? I cannot control my dreams any more than I can control the weather!”
Frank could feel Hester’s eyes on him. The older sister was more intuitive and empathetic; she must have known the conversation made him uneasy. He did not want Cordelia pitying him, nor did he want to be thought of as infirm.
“If I could have one wish, I would wish for you to be as healthy and strong as any man.” In Cordelia’s mind, her words were a kindness. In truth, they had a debilitating effect on Frank’s heart. She thought of him as weak, and it was a crushing revelation. “If you had the legs of a normal man, you could ask me to dance. It is such a shame that we shall never dance.”
“Cordelia…” Hester uttered her sister’s name, a bit sharply. “That is quite enough!”
“Why am I being chided? I only want the very best for Frank. Is that such a difficult thing to grasp?” Cordelia finally noticed the admirer sitting beside her feet. She scooped Nomad from the ground and cradled him to her chest like a baby. “Obviously this is a topic that neither of you wishes to discuss. I did not mean to offend you, Frank, if I did.”
“No offense was taken,” he lied. Though her opinions were difficult to hear, he knew Cordelia was not a malicious girl. She was attempting to be thoughtful, not thoughtless. “I like to think I am not that easily offended.”
“What did you think of Mr. Snowley?” Cordelia suddenly asked.
“He seemed… decent,” Frank grumbled through his reply.
“Decent!” Frank’s uninspired choice of word made Cordelia chuckle. “You did not think he was kind?”
“He seemed amiable enough.” As Frank replied, he saw Hester wincing.
“I wonder what it would be like to kiss him.” Cordelia gently touched her lips as she tried to imagine it. “His lips are so full and lovely… almost like a lady’s lips. And I bet they are soft, even softer than mine.”
Hester groaned her sister’s name. “Cordelia…”
“Oh… hush, Hes! I cannot tolerate your endless objections. Am I really so terrible that you need to assess and criticize my every word? I am sure every young woman dreams of kissing Alexander Snowley. He is, after all, so very, very handsome.” Nomad licked her chin, so she returned the dog to the floor and said to Frank, “ You are very handsome and you have lovely lips. Perhaps I should wonder what it would be