The Song of the Siren Read Online Free PDF Page B

some strange quirk of nature I might have been Harriet’s daughter. I was dark though not quite as dark as she was; I had blue eyes and they were deep blue rather than violet; but I did have similar black lashes and brows. There the resemblance ended, it was true. My oval face and high cheekbones, full lips and straight nose were pure Eversleigh. My nature resembled Harriet’s and perhaps that, as much as our looks, made us seem alike.
    However, we were in harmony and I could talk to Harriet more easily than to anyone else. My mother must have felt the same Because it was to Harriet she had gone when she knew she was going to have me and was afraid to face her family.
    “My poor Benjamin,” she said. “He has long loved you. From the he learned that you were not his sister the idea began to
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    1 form in his mind. He has lived for the day when he will take you to the altar.
    And I must say that I should very warmly welcome my new daughter.”
    “Dear Harriet, it is an alluring prospect to have you as my motherin-law, but even so it is not a strong enough reason for marriage.”
    “It would be good for you, Carlotta. Benjie will be good for you. He’s like his father, and a woman could not have a better husband than my Gregory.” She looked at me seriously:
    “You would have been very unhappy with Beaumont Granville,” she added.
    I turned away and she went on: “Yes, you would. Oh, I admit he is a fascinating creature.
    I can picture him now living in splendour, congratulating himself on his cleverness.
    He cannot return to England. His creditors would descend on him like vultures. I wonder where he is. I don’t think it is Venice. I have written several times to a very dear friend of mine, the Contessa Carpori who owns the palazzo where you were born. She knew Beau. He was quite a well known figure in Venice. She says he is not there. If she hears of his turning up in any other Italian city she will let me know.
    Stop thinking of him. Get him out of your thoughts. It was fun while it lasted, was it not? Can you look on it as experience.”
    “It was such a wonderful experience, Harriet.”
    “Of course it would be. He would be a superb lover. But there are others in the world.
    It was your fortune he wanted, Carlotta.”
    “Then why did he not stay to take it?”
    “It could only be because some more attractive proposition presented itself. That is the only thing I can think of. He owed money all round. He could not stay and face his creditors. It might be that your grandfather threatened him. Carleton Eversleigh has great influence at Court. He could ruin Beau if he set out to. But I don’t think Beau is the type to give way lightly. You should face the facts, Carlotta, even when they’re not very pleasant. The only solution seems that he scented a better proposition somewhere else and went off to pursue it.”
    “Harriet, it is nearly three years.”
    “And you have come of age. Forget him. Strike out anew. You have everything a girl could ask for. Beauty of the kind which will make you irresistible to almost any man; you have wealth; my dear child, what would I have done for your fortune when I was your
    age!’
    36”You managed very well without it.”
    “I had to face years of struggle. I enjoyed it, yes. It’s the adventure in my bones, but sometimes I had to do certain things which I had rather not. Carlotta, turn away from the past. Look ahead. The future’s bright. Don’t take Benjie if you don’t want to. But I hope you will for many reasons “
    “The fortune being one.”
    “The fortune being one. But let me tell you that doesn’t count with Benjie. He’s a good boy, my Benjamin. He takes after his father, and believe me if it’s a husband and not a demon lover you are looking for, you couldn’t find a better man.”
    Harriet kissed me and showed me what she was going to wear to the banquet which was to celebrate my coming of age.
    She had had an effect on me as she always did.