Larken Read Online Free PDF Page B

ago.”
    A spark of interest. “How’d they die?”
    “In a train accident. I don’t like to talk about it, really.”
    “My mama was run down by a carriage. I don’t like to talk about that either.”
    A nod. “I’m so awfully sorry. I expect it hurts terribly to be without her.”
    His face crumpled. “Go away. You’re not my mother, and you’re not even as pretty as she was.”
    Myles turned over so he was facing away from her again.
    “I expect she was incredibly beautiful, if she looked anything like you,” Larken said. “But you’re quite mistaken if you think I want to take her place.” She lowered her voice. “The thing is, I’m lonely. I was hoping very much you and I could be friends.”
    “I’ve never been friends with a girl before.”
    “Outside of a few months in the orphanage, I’ve never been friends with much of anybody. In fact, I always make up pretend friends so I have someone to talk to. Would you like to meet them?”
    “That’s stupid. I can’t meet pretend friends.”
    “Why not? There’s Lord Topper, who’s always in formal attire because he doesn’t want anyone to realize he’s lost all his money, and Lady Peabody, who’s exceptionally nervous and constantly fainting about one thing or another. I left poor Mr. Marmalade back in Rugby, so you can’t meet him—sorry. But Lord Apollo is waiting to meet you, and Miss Josie, the beautiful debutante. She may steal your heart, I warn you.”
    Myles was giggling by then.
    “I have all sorts of scrumptious things to eat in my sitting room,” she said. “Will you join me?”
    He sat up. “I am hungry.”
    She stood and beckoned him toward the door. “Come on, then. So am I. And if we’re late, Lord Topper might just wrap all the biscuits up for himself to eat later, and then what will we do?”
    Another giggle. “You’re funny.”
    The boy slid off the bed and joined her in the hallway. They crossed into her sitting room, where their tea was waiting. Myles’ eye grew wide at the array of treats on the table, but before Larken would let him sit, she introduced him to all her pretend friends, pointing to each chair in turn. Lord Topper’s hat was hanging over his chair from a string stuck into the rafter overhead. A silk shawl was wrapped around Lady Peabody’s chair, and a dainty parasol was propped up in Miss Josie’s seat, along with an old pair of lace gloves and a dried nosegay.
    Myles slid into a chair, and Larken clapped her hand to her forehead in dismay. “Oh, dear. You’re sitting on Lord Topper’s lap!”
    He laughed out loud and jumped up. “Where should I sit, then?”
    She pointed to one of the three unoccupied chairs. “There will do.”
    As he sat, Myles reached for a pastry and stuffed it into his mouth.
    “Manners, young gentleman,” Larken admonished. “What will Miss Josie think?”
    He grinned, and some of the creamy filling spilled out onto his chin. “Oops.”
    Larken flicked her eyes skyward and handed him a napkin.
    “You haven’t introduced me to Lord Apollo yet,” he mumbled through the food.
    “Don’t speak with your mouth full.” Her manner was overly supremely prim and proper so he would know she wasn’t completely serious. She nodded toward the painting. “That’s Lord Apollo. Lord Apollo, meet Myles. He’s my new friend, from…”
    “New York City.”
    “New York City!” Larken was amazed. “Do you mean to say you traveled all the way across the Atlantic?”
    Myles nodded. “It was rather horrible. The ocean went up and down a lot and the air inside smelled like sick almost the whole time, but there was no way to get off the ship.”
    She wrinkled her nose and shuddered. “Was Mr. King kind to you at least?”
    A shrug. “He doesn’t talk much. We played checkers and he read me stories in the ship’s library. When we landed in Liverwurst, my legs were wobbly.”
    “Liverpool, I think you mean.”
    “Yes, that’s it. Then we took trains, and after that a