Imitation of Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

if…”
     
    “As if what, Catherine?” The tender use
of her first name surprised her so much, she had no chance to question if it
was proper. All she knew is that she liked the way he said it in his deep
tones.
     
    “I’m being silly. And ungrateful. I’m
sorry.”
     
    “You feel as if you’d like to run away
from them all, and go somewhere quiet.”
     
    “Yes. How did you know?”
     
    “It’s how I sometimes feel. Seeing the
same people time after time. Hearing the same gossip. It all gets rather
boring. But you are far too new to this to be tired of it yet. You’re young and
beautiful, and should be surrounded by eager admirers. In fact I intend to take
my friends to task about their lack of manners. I fully expected to be having
to warn them all to stop crowding you.”
     
    “I think Alyssa outshines every other
woman in the room far too much for that.” She looked across to her sister, who
was indeed surrounded by several handsome young men.
     
    “And yet you don’t seem to mind? Most
women would be vying for attention. Like Mrs. Somerson.”
     
    As he said it, Phoebe Somerson laughed loudly,
but without any real humour, drawing all eyes away from Alyssa and to herself.
     
    “I’ve already told you, I’ve no wish to
enter into the marriage market. I just want Alyssa to be happy.”
     
    “And I’ve told you that you’re far too
young and beautiful to make that decision. Unless like many women in this room
you’re waiting for the Captain to jump through your window and propose.”
     
    “Now you’re mocking me. Besides, from
what I hear, the Captain has more than enough admirers.”
     
    “True. It’s a wonder he gets anything
done.”
     
    Catherine laughed. “I’ve often thought
the same. And if he kisses every woman he saves, he’s clearly not very
discerning. But he is very brave and noble and his cause is a good one.”
     
    “You should beware of fairy stories,
Miss Willoughby. Sometimes people are not what the legends say they are.”
     
    “You sound as if you know him.” The
thought hadn’t occurred to Catherine before, but she supposed that if Jimmy had
known the Captain then Mr. Oakley might have too. In fact, he could be in the
room now. She scoured the faces of all the man, wondering, before her eyes
naturally fell upon Oakley.
     
    “I have never met the man,” said Oakley,
firmly. “And I doubt very much he’s here. He is, by all accounts, the son of a
tradesman.”
     
    “Now I’m disappointed in you,” said
Catherine.
     
    “Why?”
     
    “I did not think you were a snob.”
     
    “I’m not, but many of the people here
are. And whilst they may cheer on the Captain’s adventures, I can assure you,
he would not be allowed to set foot in their drawing rooms.” There was
something harsh about the way he spoke, as if such snobbery mattered to him
personally. “Which reminds me. You and I need to…”
     
    “Xander…” Phoebe Somerson stepped
forward and put her hand on Oakley’s arm, her pretty lips set in a pout.
“You’re neglecting me after I’ve come all this way. What are you and Miss
Willoughby talking about? Were you teaching her some new nursery rhymes?”
     
    “Actually,” said Mr. Oakley, “we were
discussing fairy stories.”
     
    Mrs. Somerson laughed, obviously
relieved to hear it. “Well I refuse to let you tuck her in. Leave that to the
servants. Come, I wish to play your wonderful piano, and you must turn the
pages.”
     
    Catherine felt as though she’d been
slapped. Whilst she didn’t care what Mrs. Somerson thought of her, Mr. Oakley’s
words put her very much in her place. To him she was nothing more than a child.
If only he knew the truth! She bit her lip to stop some tears that threatened
to fall, wondering why it mattered so much to her what he thought. A few weeks ago
she hadn’t even liked him.
     
    She glanced up to find him looking down
at her, with a quizzical look in his eyes.  Phoebe was already on her way