The Velvet Glove Read Online Free PDF Page A
Author: Mary Williams
cousin. She is your cousin, isn’t she?’
‘ A sort of adopted one. But it isn’t really your business, is it? Or the dress. Or Jon. Or me.’ She spoke haughtily to disguise her discomfort.
‘ No,’ he agreed. ‘Not yet.’
They were walking down a narrow path between hedges of some night-flowering shrub. The scent was overpowering, almost hypnotic. She stopped walking for a second.
‘What do you mean, not yet?’
‘ Simply that I hope we can be friends in the future. Perhaps more. Who knows?’
She brushed a curl away from her cheek. ‘It takes time to become friends – real friends, Mr Ferris.’
‘ Not for some people. I’m not the patient sort. Neither I’m sure are you. And for Heaven’s sake, less of the “Mr Ferris”. Rick’s my name, short for Richard. And I’m damned if I’m going to go on calling you “Miss Barrington”. Oh, don’t worry’ – he lifted a hand with a negative gesture – ‘I’m not about to ravish or even kiss you, nothing familiar, although I’ve a shrewd idea some of the old girls – pardon me, ladies – in the lounge will be thinking so – that’s inevitable, looking like you do, and me being what I am.’
She glanced at him speculatively, then remarked, feeling more at ease, ‘You speak like some kind of brigand. Not the murderous kind, exactly, but rather wicked.’
‘ I can be, if the occasion warrants it. There are things I don’t like which rile me. Seeing an attractive girl like you for instance, hurt by some conceited aristocratic young bounder like the Honourable Jon.’
She pulled her arm sharply from his.
‘Don’t.’
‘ Oh, I have to if we’re to understand each other. I’ve been quite content for you to use me for the one evening, Kate, but after this any sharing basis wouldn’t be my cup of tea. I hope that’s clear.’
She shook her head.
‘Nothing’s clear tonight. I’m just – can’t we talk about something else instead of feelings ?’
He laughed. ‘Of course . Choose the subject. I’ll listen.’
She pulled herself together. ‘It would be nice to go for a walk – a real walk, but of course, it would be stupid, wouldn’t it – dressed like this? I mean—’
‘ Slightly. We could share my coat, of course. But if you don’t like tongue-wagging it would be better not. Come along now; we’d better get back. Take a good sniff of fresh air then we’ll brave the crowd again.’
She stood for a moment, turned her head and stared into the soft damp dusk. ‘I expect Beacon Hill’s that way. You could see it I expect from the tump where the gazebo is.’
‘ Yes.’
‘ And your home is at Woodgate, quite near here. Near the Beacon, I mean. Ours is—’
‘ Why the geography lesson?’
She shrugged, and gave a short laugh. ‘Oh, I don’t know. I just – think we’re very lucky to live round here.’
‘ There are more spectacular parts of the country.’
‘ But not like this. This is different, mysterious – secret somehow – perhaps because it’s so old. Funny, isn’t it, to think that all the rocky tumps of hills were once great volcanic mountains. Fancy! and right in the middle of England. They say it became King Lear’s land. Did you know that?’
‘ My dear young lady! – enough of history. There’s another waltz starting. Listen!’ From within, above the confused murmur of movement and voices, the rhythmical sounds of Strauss beckoned. ‘And I’ve a fancy to have my arm round your waist.’
His fancy took over almost immediately and minutes later when Kate had tidied her hair they were entering the ballroom.
The birthday event continued until two in the morning, and during the remaining hours Kate, for the sake of appearances, danced twice with Jon. It was quite clear to her that his thoughts were elsewhere; at moments his eyes strayed from her searching for – well, of course, for Cassandra – Kate told herself bitterly – pale, colourless Cassie who’d been invited to
‘ A sort of adopted one. But it isn’t really your business, is it? Or the dress. Or Jon. Or me.’ She spoke haughtily to disguise her discomfort.
‘ No,’ he agreed. ‘Not yet.’
They were walking down a narrow path between hedges of some night-flowering shrub. The scent was overpowering, almost hypnotic. She stopped walking for a second.
‘What do you mean, not yet?’
‘ Simply that I hope we can be friends in the future. Perhaps more. Who knows?’
She brushed a curl away from her cheek. ‘It takes time to become friends – real friends, Mr Ferris.’
‘ Not for some people. I’m not the patient sort. Neither I’m sure are you. And for Heaven’s sake, less of the “Mr Ferris”. Rick’s my name, short for Richard. And I’m damned if I’m going to go on calling you “Miss Barrington”. Oh, don’t worry’ – he lifted a hand with a negative gesture – ‘I’m not about to ravish or even kiss you, nothing familiar, although I’ve a shrewd idea some of the old girls – pardon me, ladies – in the lounge will be thinking so – that’s inevitable, looking like you do, and me being what I am.’
She glanced at him speculatively, then remarked, feeling more at ease, ‘You speak like some kind of brigand. Not the murderous kind, exactly, but rather wicked.’
‘ I can be, if the occasion warrants it. There are things I don’t like which rile me. Seeing an attractive girl like you for instance, hurt by some conceited aristocratic young bounder like the Honourable Jon.’
She pulled her arm sharply from his.
‘Don’t.’
‘ Oh, I have to if we’re to understand each other. I’ve been quite content for you to use me for the one evening, Kate, but after this any sharing basis wouldn’t be my cup of tea. I hope that’s clear.’
She shook her head.
‘Nothing’s clear tonight. I’m just – can’t we talk about something else instead of feelings ?’
He laughed. ‘Of course . Choose the subject. I’ll listen.’
She pulled herself together. ‘It would be nice to go for a walk – a real walk, but of course, it would be stupid, wouldn’t it – dressed like this? I mean—’
‘ Slightly. We could share my coat, of course. But if you don’t like tongue-wagging it would be better not. Come along now; we’d better get back. Take a good sniff of fresh air then we’ll brave the crowd again.’
She stood for a moment, turned her head and stared into the soft damp dusk. ‘I expect Beacon Hill’s that way. You could see it I expect from the tump where the gazebo is.’
‘ Yes.’
‘ And your home is at Woodgate, quite near here. Near the Beacon, I mean. Ours is—’
‘ Why the geography lesson?’
She shrugged, and gave a short laugh. ‘Oh, I don’t know. I just – think we’re very lucky to live round here.’
‘ There are more spectacular parts of the country.’
‘ But not like this. This is different, mysterious – secret somehow – perhaps because it’s so old. Funny, isn’t it, to think that all the rocky tumps of hills were once great volcanic mountains. Fancy! and right in the middle of England. They say it became King Lear’s land. Did you know that?’
‘ My dear young lady! – enough of history. There’s another waltz starting. Listen!’ From within, above the confused murmur of movement and voices, the rhythmical sounds of Strauss beckoned. ‘And I’ve a fancy to have my arm round your waist.’
His fancy took over almost immediately and minutes later when Kate had tidied her hair they were entering the ballroom.
The birthday event continued until two in the morning, and during the remaining hours Kate, for the sake of appearances, danced twice with Jon. It was quite clear to her that his thoughts were elsewhere; at moments his eyes strayed from her searching for – well, of course, for Cassandra – Kate told herself bitterly – pale, colourless Cassie who’d been invited to