A Rake Reformed (A Gentleman of Worth Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page B

more than a touch of guilt when it came to his friend. He looked at his dismal surroundings, and their situation hadn’t turned out quite as he had expected. He had to admit their circumstances were far better than what they had been only a few hours earlier, and that was saying a lot. He could even have called it a Christmas miracle.

Chapter Four

     
    R osalind, are you causing that infernal racket?” her father complained from the corridor leading to the main parlor.
    Rosalind Harris’s immediate reaction was to remove her hands from the keyboard and stand, stepping away from the pianoforte. She would be the first to admit her skill was not the best, but it was not for want of trying. The few years of instruction were enough of a foundation for her to go off on her own, but she would have liked more. Her family’s financial circumstance was not the same then as it was now.
    “Father! That is no way to speak to Rosalind when she practices,” Clare scolded their parent. “She had every intention of performing for our guests last night.”
    “I cannot say how fortunate they are that our Christmas gathering was canceled.” Mr. Harris entered the room, moving through as if the only purpose for his presence was to aggravate his daughters. “I’m certain that enduring an evening of your sister’s talent is not worth sitting at our table for a holiday meal.”
    “Not only have you been unkind to Rosalind, you have also insulted Cook.” Clare replaced her sewing in the basket and set the whole aside. Their father had successfully ruined the mood. Not only would Rosalind’s practice cease, the mending for the poor would come to an end as well.
    “I’m certain you could improve if you only had proper lessons.” He passed a hand over his brow in a calculated gesture. Rosalind truly doubted he cared a fig.
    “You know we cannot countenance lessons, sir.” She straightened the pages of her sheet music and placed them flat on the pianoforte.
    “It is not beyond your reach if you wished to make it so.” Another plea for her benefit? She imagined it was her father who wished to divert some interest she received from an untouchable inheritance in his direction, seemingly by the ruse of improving her skill. “You must have some to spare from our generous food budget, no doubt.”
    “Do you not see the conditions of the neighbors around us? They are poor, most of them are hungry, and some barely have a roof over their heads. No, Father, I cannot see that music lessons have any place in my life.” If it were up to Rosalind she would spend every shilling of that money to help those she cared for.
    “Then you’d best put more time into practice, my girl.” He rounded upon his eldest. “Perhaps that will make a difference. I expect you will have another opportunity to play before them when Twelfth Night is upon us.”
    “That is the exact reason why she continues.” Clare came to her sister’s defense. “You may not recognize her talent, but there are others to whom it would bring much joy.”
    “Ah, my dearest Clare!” He reached out to pull his youngest daughter near and draped his arm around her in what he would, no doubt, consider a display of affection. “You have a most sympathetic heart.”
    “Rosalind and I intend to deliver food baskets.” Though Clare mentioned her sister’s name with her own, Rosalind knew her participation would not improve her standing in his eyes.
    “And I, too, will be calling on some of our good neighbors as well,” he added. Rosalind knew all too well Clare’s words would make no impression on him. “Perhaps I will not be as welcome as you with your offerings.”
    “That is good to know, Father.” Rosalind believed his dislike of her was not personal. However, he would continue to display an obvious bias between the sisters and subject Rosalind to sporadic, unkind treatment until he could extract the additional funds he so dearly craved. She would never fuel his vice.