The Cash Countess by Samantha Hastings & Samantha Larsen
Author:Samantha Hastings & Samantha Larsen [Hastings, Samantha & Larsen , Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scribbling Pens
Published: 2023-06-30T16:00:00+00:00
23
On Cordeliaâs way home from delivering tins to the poor, she passed the village school. She saw the schoolmarm carrying a stack of tattered readers and trying to lock the door. Cordelia asked the driver to stop and got out of the carriage to help her.
âAllow me, Agnes,â she said, and reached for the books.
âYouâre too kind, my ladyâCordelia,â she said as she pushed up her wire-rimmed spectacles. âI was just taking the readers home to try and rebind them. Theyâre falling apart.â
Cordelia picked up the top book; the cover was no longer attached to the pages. âIt looks as if you could use some new books.â
âThereâs no money for them,â Agnes said. âThereâs never enough books to go around to all the children, and the ones we own have been here since I was a student.â
âWhy donât you make me a list of what you need and Iâll send for them at once. And some new sheet music too. We have a spring concert to prepare for, after all.â
âThe children are so excited. They love your singing time on Fridays. They look forward to it all week.â
âAs do I.â Cordelia leaned forward conspiratorially. âI like the children much better than any of the adults Iâve met in Englandâsave yourself, of course.â
Agnes giggledâa sound that Cordelia didnât know the proper schoolmarm could make. It was charming. âI am glad. I have practiced the piano every morning this week before school and after.â
âI also look forward to our lesson,â Cordelia said, and then got back into her own carriage.
She shivered as she wrapped her arms around herself. When she arrived at Ashdown, she went straight to the sitting room. There were logs in the fireplace, but the fire wasnât lit. She could go to another room, but she knew that her mother-in-law and Penelope would be in the parlor, and sheâd rather freeze than answer a dozen questions about living in America.
At least Blanche meant well. She was thoughtlessly kind. Nothing about her own mother was thoughtless. Everything she did was planned and executed with emotionless precision.
Cordelia pulled the cord to call for a servant and waited. The door opened and Hibbert entered, bowing.
âAh, Hibbert,â she said. âWould you please light the fire?â
He blinked. âI will pass your request on to a footman.â
Lighting fires must be beneath an English butlerâs dignity, Cordelia thought with a sigh. âNever mind, Iâll do it myself.â
Hibbert gave her a stiff bow and left the room.
Shedding the gloves that pinched her fingers, she knelt down in front of the fireplace. She picked up the tinder and flint, striking them together to form sparks until the wood caught flame. Cordelia blew softly on the sparks to spread them, and soon the logs were covered in warm orange-and-blue flames. She was close enough to feel the warmth of the fire spread through her cold fingers and onto her arms. She knew she ought to stand up and go sit on the sofa, but she didnât want to leave the warmth of the fire.
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