A Bloodsmoor Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

She adjusted the luxuriant tulle veil that dropped from the brim of her hat, and picked up her needlepoint; but showed very little inclination to apply herself to her work. “A pity, though, that, as the tea commenced, and the terrace grew o’ercrowded, Father grew so warm; and his birthmark so pronounced.”
    â€œI did not think the birthmark so very pronounced,” Octavia said, taking up her sandalwood fan, and staring at Malvinia with an expression of startl’d perplexity. “Indeed, it seemed to me that Father was unusually handsome this afternoon.”
    â€œOh, yes—yes—yes, of course,” Malvinia said hurriedly. “I did not mean that he was not handsome; please do not misunderstand!”
    Plump, frowning Octavia began to fan herself, as she had been taught, in slow decorous movements. It may well have been that, as a consequence of numerous tidbits, consumed at the tea, she was rather uncomfortably warm, in her sturdy whalebone corset, with its innumerable metal eyelets and crossed lacing. She sighed, and said: “Ah, but the hot shortcake was delicious! Did you think so, Samantha? Deirdre? How very quiet you two are! But you did enjoy the afternoon, I hope?”
    Samantha murmured a near-inaudible assent, without glancing up from her work; but Deirdre, her pale face pinched and stubborn, made no reply at all.
    â€œYour sister has asked you a question, Deirdre,” Malvinia said sharply. “Though neither Mother nor Father is here and, I suppose, you need not o’erexert yourself, so far as courtesy is concerned, you might at least have replied, and not sit there as if you were deaf!”
    â€œThe hot shortcake—the strawberry jam—the new China tea off Uncle Vaughan’s ships—” Octavia chattered nervously. “And, yes, the exquisite fresh honey! You did have something to eat, Deirdre, I hope? Otherwise you will be feeling very faint.”
    â€œThank you,” Deirdre whispered. “It is kind of you to be solicitous of me; but, I assure you, I am altogether well.”
    So saying, the youngest Miss Zinn lapsed into a stony silence and, staring fixedly at the crocheting in her lap, resumed her rapid mechanical work, as if she were indeed alone. I cannot think it a reasonable observation, that startling commentary of Grandmother Sarah Kidde­master, as to this young lady’s possessing a sort of secret beauty; for, if you were to closely observe the narrowed and downturned eyes, in which naught but a froward spirit glowed, and if you were to gaze all unjudging upon the high pale forehead, marred by the untidy widow’s peak, you would have very little hope that this child might one day blossom into a beauty, to be placed beside our legendary Bloodsmoor beauties. For, harking back to Dutch and Colonial times, this fertile Valley was famed for its lovely young women, of aristocratic family; and a fair number of them were Kidde­masters, as I hardly need add.
    It may have been to forestall some reiterated criticism, by Malvinia, of their youngest sister’s behavior, both at the present time and at the tea (when, it seems, she had spent an inordinate amount of time hiding in a corner, and was too tongue-tied even to converse with her cousins Basil and Steven), that Octavia said warmly: “Yes, it did seem to me, that Father was particularly handsome, and eloquent, this afternoon. I felt my heart begin to beat hard, when he spoke of the future—of the next century—and his eyes shone—and his beard looked so fine, and bold—and his voice did not quaver—” She paused, fanning herself, now more hurriedly. “The professors from Boston will elect him to their Society, will they not? For it would be so cruel now—after so much anticipation, and talk—”
    â€œI cannot think that they would not, ” Samantha said.
    â€œNo,” said Constance Philippa at once, “I cannot think