A Dangerous Melody, page 10
Susannah gave Amelia a rather incredulous look. “What did you say to her that caused her to run over here as quickly as she possibly could?”
Amelia’s cheeks flushed pink. “I simply told her that you had fallen ill quite suddenly, and that it reminded me of when Mother became so sick, and—”
Susannah collapsed against her pillows with a groan. “Amelia, you frightened her half to death!”
“I am sorry!” Amelia said. “But at the time, you were so unwell, and it frightened me because Mother became ill so quickly, too.”
Susannah shook her head. “Juliana, there was no need for you to come. It is nothing more than a cold. My fever has all but passed, and I am mending. Amelia seems to have allowed her fear to get the better of her and not her good sense to govern her actions,” she said, glaring at Amelia. She then glanced up at me. “I am sorry to trouble you so, sister. Though I am quite flattered to see the depth of your affection for me.”
I squeezed her hand affectionately.
“Well, it isn’t as if you are up and dancing, though, is it?” Mr. Thorne said. “These sorts of illnesses still must be taken very seriously. When Dr. Williams arrives, he shall give you a thorough examination to ensure that you are healing well enough.”
Susannah’s eyes snapped to Amelia once more. “Did you hear that, sister? A doctor is coming to call on me. All because of you. Juliana, do you see what has happened to us in your absence?”
“Do not get so overworked, sister,” I said, patting Susannah’s hand affectionately. “Otherwise you surely will aggravate that fever.”
“Father, someone is at the door,” came Isabella’s voice from downstairs.
“I imagine that would be the good doctor,” Mr. Thorne said with a smile.
I followed him from the room, my heart beating rather erratically. “Mr. Thorne, I feel I must apologize for my sister’s negligence,” I said. “If I had known that the situation was not nearly as dire as she had made me to believe, then—”
“It’s quite all right, Miss Honeyfield,” he said. “It is always better to err on the side of caution, is it not? I, for one, am quite relieved to find her on the mend, for it could have quite easily been the opposite.”
“Indeed,” I said. “I am simply ashamed that you have come all this way for such an insignificant thing.”
He stopped suddenly in the narrow hall to look down at me.
I nearly bumped into him.
“Things that are important are never insignificant,” he said in a low voice. “Least of all those we love.”
I was shortly thereafter introduced to Dr. Williams, who was a very amiable gentleman with great knowledge and experience. His thinning white hair gave him a gentle expression, and he seemed all too happy to attend to Susannah.
I waited outside her door while the doctor gave her diagnosis. He also deemed it nothing more than a cold that should pass with plenty of rest and some hearty meals to strengthen her when she felt up to it. He also gave her some herbs to add to her tea to soothe her aches and settle her stomach and promised to be back within the week to check in on her once again.
I breathed a great sigh of relief and made my way back downstairs where Father and Mr. Thorne were waiting.
“…so late after all, I cannot imagine you would wish to travel at this hour,” Father was saying. “You would, of course, be welcome to stay here for the night.”
I felt my breath catch, and I hesitated just outside the room, awaiting Mr. Thorne’s answer. Now that the danger had passed, the truth was, we had nowhere to go that evening.
“That is a very generous offer, Mr. Honeyfield, one that I shall gladly accept,” he said. “We shall join you for breakfast tomorrow, and then Miss Honeyfield and I shall be on our way back to Northington Park. My daughter will be quite relieved to have us back so soon, especially Miss Honeyfield. Oh, how she does dote on her.”
“Wonderful,” Father said. “Shall I fetch you something to eat? I imagine you must be hungry after such a long carriage ride over here.”
“Perhaps something small would suffice,” Mr. Thorne said kindly. “I should not wish to burden you.”
“You do no such thing, good sir,” Father said. “It is a pleasure having your company.”
Father left the room for the kitchen, and I stepped out into the sitting room.
Mr. Thorne turned his eyes toward me, his face set in deep contrast in the dim candlelight.
“Dr. Williams says that Susannah will be fine,” I said, taking a seat in a chair at the small, round table. “She needs rest, though, and he said he would return to see her progress in a few days.”
“Splendid,” Mr. Thorne said. “I am pleased to hear it.”
“As am I,” I said, smoothing out the wrinkles in the tablecloth. It was one Mother and I had stitched together when I was young; the lilies along the hem had held up nicely over the years, their color only fading slightly.
“Your father has kept a fine home for your sisters,” Mr. Thorne said.
“Do not mock me, Mr. Thorne,” I said. “You may be my superior, but I shall not have you speak ill of my family.”
His eyebrows arched toward his hairline. “My heavens, it seems I have found some passion buried beneath all that sensibility.” A smile crept onto his face. “I hope you know I meant no harm in my words. I meant them. Money does not always end in happiness, and just from looking around this quaint cottage, I can see that it was filled with nothing but love. You were quite blessed to have grown up in such a place.”
I gave him a steady look, trying to discern the seed of truth hidden amongst his words. “Were you not so fortunate as a child?”
He gave a harsh laugh. “Hardly. My father was not the sentimental type, and my mother seemed more interested in the gossip at her parties. My brother and I were often left to our own devices while they doted on my sisters, all of whom were married off to men of great fortune. In my father’s opinion, our fate had been sealed as soon as we were born, and we would never struggle finding a suitable wife. We were raised by our governess, which is why I took such care in finding a good one for Elizabeth.” He smiled. “I bore you now, surely.”
“Not at all,” I said. “I had no idea you thought so little about your upbringing.”
“I don’t think little of it,” he said. “I am simply aware that there are those who were given a great deal more affection than I was, and that I want that for my own family.”
“I think that is admirable,” I said.
“Thank you,” he said. “And I hope your father knows how grateful I am to him for offering us a place to stay for the night. You are all right with this, I assume?”
“Oh, of course,” I said. “We shall find room. It will be no trouble at all.”
After Dr. Williams left, we spent the next hour or so enjoying a meal with my father, Amelia, and Isabella. Both of my sisters could not seem to keep their eyes off Mr. Thorne, and when the meal had been cleared and Father took Mr. Thorne to the study to show off his book collection, they both turned on me with blaring gazes and pointed stares.
“Sister, you must tell us the meaning of this,” Isabella said, folding her arms.
“The meaning of what?” I asked as I carried more plates toward the kitchen.
“These long, lingering glances between you and Mr. Thorne, of course,” Isabella said, coming quickly behind me.
“There are no such expressions,” I said, almost laughing.
“I daresay Isabella is onto something,” Amelia said. “He is quite handsome. No one would fault you if you did find him attractive.”
“Though I hear him speak of a daughter,” Isabella said. “Is he widowed?”
“Yes,” I said.
Both Isabella and Amelia gasped.
“You are being ridiculous,” I said, turning to them with my hands on my hips.
“Are we, though?” Amelia asked.
“Yes, are we?” Isabella said. “What sort of man would travel all this way with his daughter’s tutor just to ensure her sister is well if it was nothing as she believes it to be?”
I stared between them. “I…”
“She hadn’t thought of that,” Amelia said, her eyes widening.
“There must be something there,” Isabella said. “You must admit that you have considered the possibility.”
“I am nothing more than a tutor,” I said. “And a much older woman than he would surely want in a wife now.”
“Yet to hear the way he speaks to you, it isn’t as if you are on unequal footing at all,” Isabella said. “It is as if he sees you are someone worth knowing.”
My face turned scarlet as I did my best to push those thoughts aside.
“What’s the matter?” Amelia asked. “You look cross about something.”
I glanced over their shoulders out into the sitting room. It seemed Father and Mr. Thorne had not yet returned from the study. I dropped my voice and leaned in toward them. “There are… rumors circulating Northington Park, and I have my fears about them.”
I told them quickly what the servants had told me and about how I had seen this room that he was determined to hide.
“I have never seen him look so hardened,” I said. “He was certainly being secretive about something.”
“If you have questions, then perhaps you should confront him,” Isabella said.
“Are you out of your mind?” I asked. “Ask the master of Northington Park if he really did kill his own brother?”
“She’s right, you know,” Amelia said. “And it isn’t as if he would ever admit to it in the first place.”
“Precisely,” I said.
“Don’t you want to know the truth?’ Isabella asked.
“Of course I do,” I said sharply, my brow furrowed.
“And what do you really think?” Isabella asked. “Do you think a man like Mr. Thorne, who has gone so far out of his way for you, would be capable of something so cruel?”
“You do have a great sense about people, sister,” Amelia said. “What say you?”
I only hesitated but a moment. “I don’t think he did it,” I said.
“Well, then believe it,” Isabella said. “And continue to search for the truth if you are so determined.”
13
We stayed for breakfast the next morning with my father and sisters. It was a much more lighthearted affair, and I felt confident, yet also somewhat sad, as I waved to them from the carriage window.
“I have great comfort in knowing your sister is doing better,” Mr. Thorne said. “As I am certain you are as well.”
“Indeed, sir,” I said, turning to him. “You have shown such kindness to me. How can I ever thank you for allowing me this great blessing?”
“You owe me nothing,” he said. “I feel as if I still owe you a great deal for all the time and effort you have put into the lessons with Elizabeth.”
He smiled, yet I saw that it did not quite brighten his face.
“You miss her,” I said.
“I do, in fact,” he said. “I have been gone from her longer than this before, yet this time feels different for some reason.”
“I have missed her, too,” I said. “I shall be glad to return to normalcy once again.”
We made it back to Northington Park just before dinner, and Miss Elizabeth greeted us at the door with loud shouts of excitement and welcome.
“Father! Miss Honeyfield! You have returned!”
Ignoring a scolding Mrs. Frampton, Miss Elizabeth dashed out of the house toward her father, throwing herself into his arms.
He laughed heartily, picking her up easily and spinning her in the air so her curls swung. “My dear, there you are. My, have you grown in the last few hours?”
She giggled. “Father, you were only gone for one night.”
“And that was one night too long,” he said, placing her back on her feet on the ground.
Miss Elizabeth then turned her attention to me, her eyes so similar to her father’s looking up at me. “Miss Honeyfield,” she said, curtsying.
I curtsied in return, trying my best to hide my amusement at her very ladylike behavior.
“How is your sister feeling?” she asked as I knelt down in front of her.
“She is feeling much better now,” I said. “Dr. Williams came to see her and promised us all that she needed only rest and some love to get well once again.”
Miss Elizabeth nodded. “Dr. Williams is very kind. I like him very much.”
“As do I,” I said.
“Father, you are just in time for dinner,” Miss Elizabeth said, taking his hand in her own.
“Wonderful, for I am famished,” he said.
“Thank you again, Mr. Thorne,” I said. “I cannot thank you enough.”
“You have already,” he said with a low laugh.
I curtsied to him as well and started for the stairwell.
“Where are you going, Miss Honeyfield?” he asked.
“Oh, to my room, sir,” I said. “I shall return to the kitchens for a meal once I am finished unpacking.”
“Why don’t you join Miss Elizabeth and me for dinner this evening?” he asked.
I could feel the stares of Mrs. Frampton on the back of my head, as if I had been the one to ask to dine with them instead of the other way around.
“I… would be honored to,” I said.
Mr. Gibbs stared at me as I passed, too. Everyone was just as aware as I was that this was very unconventional, treating me as if I were a guest as opposed to a member of his employed staff.
Mr. Thorne arranged for another seat at the table to be brought up, which the servants obeyed readily. I did my best not to look them in the eye, for I knew they must be wondering the same thing that I was; why was I receiving such special treatment?
“Miss Honeyfield, you need not look so downcast,” Mr. Thorne said. “You are my guest this evening, and I do hope that you will enjoy your meal with us.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” I said. “I shall be glad to.”
Miss Elizabeth sat in her seat as patiently as she could, her legs swinging as she looked back and forth between us. “Miss Brown was telling me of the ball,” Miss Elizabeth said. “She told me stories last night to help me fall asleep about how wonderful it will all be.”
“Ah, yes. I had almost forgotten about this ball of yours,” Mr. Thorne said. He turned and looked over at me. “I feel rather foolish now. We were just with your sisters. We certainly missed our opportunity to tell them about the ball, didn’t we?”
“We certainly did,” I said.
“Will your sisters like to come to the ball?” Miss Elizabeth asked. “Will your sister be well enough?”
“I believe so,” I said. “And trust me, my sister Susannah will not miss a ball, even if she would have to dance with a fever.”
Miss Elizabeth giggled. “I look forward to meeting your sisters. If they are like you, I am certain I will like them.”
“Oh, you certainly will, Elizabeth,” Mr. Thorne said. “Her sisters are very amiable young ladies. And Miss Honeyfield could not stop telling them all about you when we were with them, telling them how lovely you were.”
Miss Elizabeth turned her large eyes on me. “Did you really, Miss Honeyfield?”
“I certainly did,” I said.
“What did you tell them of me?” she asked.
“Well, I told them how wonderfully you played the pianoforte,” she said. “I also told them how you were considering taking up the harp, as well. You see, my sister Amelia is rather good at playing the harp, though she does not take great pleasure in it.”
Miss Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “Whyever not? The harp is such a lovely instrument.”
“Indeed it is,” I said.
Miss Elizabeth suddenly turned to her father, clutching the table. She gasped. “Father! Will you allow Miss Honeyfield to play at the ball?”
Mr. Thorne turned his attention to me just as the doors to the kitchen opened, and the servants came in with our food. “Well, I certainly think it’s a wonderful idea. Miss Honeyfield, what say you?”
“Oh, Mr. Thorne, I am certain you could find a more competent player than I,” I said. “I have no experience playing for large crowds, and I am certain I would disappoint you.”
“And I am quite certain there is nothing you could do that would disappoint me,” Mr. Thorne said. “In any regard.”
I met his gaze as one of the servants laid a plate of food in front of me, the aroma tantalizing, reminding me how very little I had eaten that day. But it was not enough to pull me away from his eyes.
He meant something more with his words. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it might be, but he did not simply mean my ability to play music.
“Oh, please, Miss Honeyfield, you must play at the ball,” Miss Elizabeth said. “You play better than anyone else I have ever heard. And it would be such a pleasure for everyone else to hear you play, as well.”
“She is right, you know,” Mr. Thorne said.
I smiled. “Well… All right,” I said. “I suppose I will do my very best to live up to your expectations.”
“Father, you must ensure that Miss Honeyfield has a new dress, as well,” Miss Elizabeth said.
My eyes widened as I stared across the table at her. It was one thing to ask me to play for the ball, but it was entirely different to ask her father to pay for a dress for me. That was out of line, and I could not imagine her father would tolerate her asking something so flippantly as well.
“A new dress, you say?” her father asked, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Well, if she is to provide us all with some entertainment at the ball, then I suppose the very least I could do is ensure that she has a lovely dress to wear for it.”
“But, sir, you are already doing a great deal for me by allowing me to come to the ball in the first place,” I said. “A dress would be far too much.”
“I appreciate your opinion, Miss Honeyfield, but I believe a dress is a small thing to be concerned about. I shall send for the seamstress in the morning, and we shall have one made especially for you,” he said.
