Read Online The Lady in Yellow: A Victorian Gothic Romance by Alyne de Winter - Free Book Online
Authors: Alyne de Winter
Ads: Link
of it, and passed her hands over her eyes. She did not look at Veronica, but seemed to want to pretend she wasn’t there. Veronica sat back down, and pressed her lips together to stop herself saying something she might regret.
They sat quietly finishing their tea. The conversation was over. It was obvious Veronica would get nothing more out of Mrs. Twig.
Janet came in with a fresh breakfast platter and set it on the sideboard. The fragrance of eggs and warm scones filled the room. Veronica went to the window and waved to the twins to summon them in for breakfast. They smiled and began prodding the dog to follow them.
Mrs. Twig’s chair scraped back.
“Thank you, Janet,” she said to the maid. “Come, Miss Everly. Let me show you the classroom. Lessons begin at nine. I’m sure you’re anxious to get started.”
“Oh, yes, Mrs. Twig. I’m very much ready to begin.”
Assured the twins had come inside, Veronica followed Mrs. Twig upstairs.
On the third floor, they stopped at a door that seemed to have been closed forever. Mrs. Twig unlocked it and ushered Veronica into a cold, stale-smelling classroom. There was a chalkboard, a teacher’s desk, and three students’ desks. A pair of bookshelves flanked a small cast-iron fireplace. The windows looked out on a dark hedge of lofty Irish yews.
“It can be cozy with a fire,” Mrs. Twig said. “For some reason, the former governess had the carpet pulled up. Then she left with no explanation. If you want, we can lay another.”
“That would be lovely,” said Veronica. She quickly perused the textbooks. “These look quite good. I’ve brought some of my own as well.”
“Why don’t I order the carpet while you get acquainted with the room. The children should be finished with breakfast in an hour. Shall I have your books brought up as well?”
“Yes, of course. Thank you.” Veronica said. “Oh, Mrs. Twig? Why are there three desks? Is there another child?”
Mrs. Twig stopped short but did not turn around. “It’s just an extra desk.” She hurried out of the room.
Veronica hoped this wasn't going to be the pattern, this evasiveness of Mrs. Twig's. Then again, it was right that Mrs. Twig should hold the personal lives of the de Grimstons in strictest confidence. Accepting that, with time and trust, the housekeeper would be more open with her, Veronica turned her attention to the classroom.
There wasn’t much to see. Her desk was quite barren of teaching supplies. In a side drawer she found a book with a red leather cover and no title. She had a hunch it had been left behind by her predecessor. It didn’t feel right to open it.
Veronica shut the drawer and looked out at the yew trees. About ten yards away from the window, and very close-knit, the yews loomed up like a dense green wall. Though on the south side of the house, they blocked out the sun, leaving the classroom in shadow.
Those yews would keep anything out. The horseman would never find her in here.
In the process of looking for work and coming to Belden House, she'd been out in the world for three weeks. The dark green peaks of the yews against the sky reminded Veronica of the nun's cemetery at Saint Mary's. She'd never wanted to be a nun, but there were aspects to their divinely inspired way of life that had formed her character and would live within her forever. She'd been fortunate. Not many orphans had the chance to live in beautiful surroundings amongst people who, if they didn't especially care, were not exploitive or cruel. Except for the wolf girl, Tala, who had come from outside, Veronica had felt secure at Saint Mary's.
She went back out to the landing and looked down the stairs. The house was so quiet. The quietest place she'd ever been. A moth fluttering by could be heard in this house.
To the left was a long hallway. She followed it around a corner and came upon three doors: two facing across, and a third at the end.
Though the nuns had birched
They sat quietly finishing their tea. The conversation was over. It was obvious Veronica would get nothing more out of Mrs. Twig.
Janet came in with a fresh breakfast platter and set it on the sideboard. The fragrance of eggs and warm scones filled the room. Veronica went to the window and waved to the twins to summon them in for breakfast. They smiled and began prodding the dog to follow them.
Mrs. Twig’s chair scraped back.
“Thank you, Janet,” she said to the maid. “Come, Miss Everly. Let me show you the classroom. Lessons begin at nine. I’m sure you’re anxious to get started.”
“Oh, yes, Mrs. Twig. I’m very much ready to begin.”
Assured the twins had come inside, Veronica followed Mrs. Twig upstairs.
On the third floor, they stopped at a door that seemed to have been closed forever. Mrs. Twig unlocked it and ushered Veronica into a cold, stale-smelling classroom. There was a chalkboard, a teacher’s desk, and three students’ desks. A pair of bookshelves flanked a small cast-iron fireplace. The windows looked out on a dark hedge of lofty Irish yews.
“It can be cozy with a fire,” Mrs. Twig said. “For some reason, the former governess had the carpet pulled up. Then she left with no explanation. If you want, we can lay another.”
“That would be lovely,” said Veronica. She quickly perused the textbooks. “These look quite good. I’ve brought some of my own as well.”
“Why don’t I order the carpet while you get acquainted with the room. The children should be finished with breakfast in an hour. Shall I have your books brought up as well?”
“Yes, of course. Thank you.” Veronica said. “Oh, Mrs. Twig? Why are there three desks? Is there another child?”
Mrs. Twig stopped short but did not turn around. “It’s just an extra desk.” She hurried out of the room.
Veronica hoped this wasn't going to be the pattern, this evasiveness of Mrs. Twig's. Then again, it was right that Mrs. Twig should hold the personal lives of the de Grimstons in strictest confidence. Accepting that, with time and trust, the housekeeper would be more open with her, Veronica turned her attention to the classroom.
There wasn’t much to see. Her desk was quite barren of teaching supplies. In a side drawer she found a book with a red leather cover and no title. She had a hunch it had been left behind by her predecessor. It didn’t feel right to open it.
Veronica shut the drawer and looked out at the yew trees. About ten yards away from the window, and very close-knit, the yews loomed up like a dense green wall. Though on the south side of the house, they blocked out the sun, leaving the classroom in shadow.
Those yews would keep anything out. The horseman would never find her in here.
In the process of looking for work and coming to Belden House, she'd been out in the world for three weeks. The dark green peaks of the yews against the sky reminded Veronica of the nun's cemetery at Saint Mary's. She'd never wanted to be a nun, but there were aspects to their divinely inspired way of life that had formed her character and would live within her forever. She'd been fortunate. Not many orphans had the chance to live in beautiful surroundings amongst people who, if they didn't especially care, were not exploitive or cruel. Except for the wolf girl, Tala, who had come from outside, Veronica had felt secure at Saint Mary's.
She went back out to the landing and looked down the stairs. The house was so quiet. The quietest place she'd ever been. A moth fluttering by could be heard in this house.
To the left was a long hallway. She followed it around a corner and came upon three doors: two facing across, and a third at the end.
Though the nuns had birched
Similar Books
