[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Dean House. She was already grown very fond of both
81
the girls and their gentle mother.
Did he imagine a certain wistfulness when she
mentioned that she had had no occasion to go into
Brighton, or to view the Royal Pavilion? Ned hated to
think that she was still pining for the Russian.
Slowly he folded the letter and put it away in a desk
drawer. The figures he ought to be working on stared
up at him. A cup of coffee would clear his head, he
thought.
He was in the hall on the way to the kitchen when
the front door-knocker sounded. Hearing the kitchen
door open, he called to Ella, I ll see who it is.
He opened the front door. On the step stood Kolya
Volkov.
Chapter 11
Ned Howard stared. Kolya could not tell from his
face whether he was pleased or annoyed, or simply
surprised, to see his erstwhile pupil.
I beg pardon that I disturb you so late.
Not at all. His response appeared to be automatic
rather than heartfelt but he stood aside and said,
Won t you come in? Your business in Brighton is
finished? He led the way into the drawing room.
No, I must return tomorrow. Kolya glanced around
the empty room. His impatience was not to be
contained. If you please, I may see Miss Howard?
Polly is not here.
I will wait, unless is better I come back in the
morning?
She s not out, she has gone away. I m surprised no
one mentioned it at the manor if they knew you were
coming here.
Limp with disappointment, Kolya dropped into the
nearest chair. I have not been yet to manor. She is
gone? To where?
Ned avoided his question. Will you take a glass of
brandy? Or coffee, perhaps; I was about to have some.
Coffee, thank you. He waited while Ned rang the
bell and gave Ella the order. The maid curtsied to
Kolya with a nod and a smile. She, at least, was glad
to see him.
You said you have not been to the manor yet, Ned
said abruptly. Have you dined?
Na samom delye as matter of a fact no.
82
There s some cold pigeon pie, sir, and Mrs. Coates
could heat up the rest of the sparrowgrass soup.
Ask her to do that, Ella. His duty as a hospitable
host carried out, Ned seemed to relax.
Please, where is Miss Howard? Kolya ventured to
repeat.
She has been commissioned to paint a portrait.
His unwillingness to say where Polly was suggested
the answer to Kolya. In Brighton?
Ned s affirmation was reluctant.
Already! Is better than I hope. You will give me the
address, please? I wish to pay my respects.
I ll have to think about it. You must understand
that my only concern is for my sister s welfare.
Kolya conceded temporary defeat. I will come in the
morning, he said philosophically, and proceeded to
enquire about various matters concerning the Loxwood
estate.
When, an hour or so later, he rose to leave, Ned
said, You will find that Lady John is still much
occupied in organizing her new household. I know you
will be welcome at the manor, but she was not best
pleased when Lord Fitzsimmons appeared a day or two
ago.
Fitz came back? Nor did the news please Kolya. Is
not my business, but I beg you will tell me, you gave
Miss Howard s address?
No, said Ned shortly, sighing. I shall see you
tomorrow.
Kolya rode on to the manor, well fed and in good
spirits. Ned Howard was a good fellow, and their
parting had definitely been more amicable than their
meeting. Besides, he had a plan. If Polly s address was
still withheld in the morning, he would suborn
Nicholas. The lad was bound to know the name of his
sister s patron if he did not know the address.
~ ~ ~
John and Rebecca Ivanovna were happy to see him.
They sat up late discussing John s plans to stand for
election to Parliament. Nonetheless, they were all at
breakfast when Ned Howard arrived at the manor at
nine the next morning.
Ushered into the dining room by the new butler, the
nephew of the stately individual who had tyrannized
over the Five Oaks staff for decades, Ned accepted a
seat and a glass of ale. He apologized to Lady John for
83
introducing business at her breakfast table.
My lord, he continued, I mentioned to you the
necessity of finding a buyer for the timber which is to
be cut down. I have heard that Mr. Nash, the architect,
is purchasing materials for building the king s new
chapel at the Brighton Pavilion, and it occurred to me
that, being so close, we might make an advantageous
sale.
Sounds like a good notion. His lordship cast a
knowing glance at Kolya. You ll want to go down to
Brighton, I daresay, to make arrangements. You will
stay at his Grace s house, of course.
Thank you, my lord. I wondered whether& that is,
do you suppose it would cause any difficulty if I took
my brother with me?
I doubt one more will seriously disrupt the
household. Want to keep your eye on young Nicholas,
do you?
He s a good lad, sir, and I wouldn t want you to
think otherwise. It s just that, well, my mother s nerves
are not of the strongest&
Kolya and John laughed. I seem to remember when
I was that age her Grace never set eyes on me without
suffering a spasm, said John understandingly. By all
means take the boy.
I shall call on Mrs. Howard while you are gone,
Lady John promised, to make sure she wants for
nothing.
Thank you, my lady, you are very kind. Ned looked
at Kolya.
We shall travel together, of course, Kolya assured
him. His heart was light. The cautious brother would
not be going to Brighton to keep an eye on his sister if
he did not mean to reveal her whereabouts. I am at
your service.
Ned had a few matters of estate business to deal
with before their departure, but travel was swift on the
fine June day. It was shortly after four by the time the
three reached the outskirts of Brighton and walked
through the gates of Dean House.
Why can t I wait till tomorrow to see Polly? Nick
demanded, not for the first time. If I m going to join
the Navy, the sea is much more important.
The sea will still be there tomorrow, Ned pointed
out.
So will Polly. Heaving a big sigh, Nick abandoned
84
the argument as his brother raised the gleaming door-
knocker.
I m Miss Howard s brother, he told the maid who
opened the door. Pray inform her that I am here.
She looked flustered. I ll ave to ask Mrs. Borden,
sir, she said, and scurried off.
They waited several minutes on the doorstep, Kolya
increasingly impatient, Nick muttering remarks of
which waste of time were the only audible words. At
last a grey-haired woman approached.
Miss Polly s out, sir, but if you ll step this way her
ladyship ll see you in the garden.
Kolya had no desire to meet her ladyship, but
politeness forbade retreat. Apparently agreeing
wholeheartedly with the first part of this reflection,
Nick stepped backwards. Kolya seized his arm and
propelled him after his brother. In the wake of the
housekeeper, they crossed the hall and a sitting room
to emerge through French doors onto a terrace.
Far from strolling the walks of the garden, or taking
her ease on one of the benches scattered about it,
Lady Sylvia was on her knees by one of the flowerbeds,
planting out seedlings.
Here s Mr. Howard, my lady, Mrs. Borden
announced.
Her ladyship cast a quick, scared glance up at them
from under the wide brim of her hat, then returned to
her task with dogged determination. As Ned went
down the brick steps towards her, Kolya held Nick
back. If for some reason the pretty young woman was
afraid of them, it was better if she had only one to deal
with.
Kolya heard her say in a hurried, breathless voice,
You are Miss Howard s brother?
He could not make out Ned s words, but his tone
was soothing. A moment later he helped Lady Sylvia to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl szkicerysunki.xlx.pl
Dean House. She was already grown very fond of both
81
the girls and their gentle mother.
Did he imagine a certain wistfulness when she
mentioned that she had had no occasion to go into
Brighton, or to view the Royal Pavilion? Ned hated to
think that she was still pining for the Russian.
Slowly he folded the letter and put it away in a desk
drawer. The figures he ought to be working on stared
up at him. A cup of coffee would clear his head, he
thought.
He was in the hall on the way to the kitchen when
the front door-knocker sounded. Hearing the kitchen
door open, he called to Ella, I ll see who it is.
He opened the front door. On the step stood Kolya
Volkov.
Chapter 11
Ned Howard stared. Kolya could not tell from his
face whether he was pleased or annoyed, or simply
surprised, to see his erstwhile pupil.
I beg pardon that I disturb you so late.
Not at all. His response appeared to be automatic
rather than heartfelt but he stood aside and said,
Won t you come in? Your business in Brighton is
finished? He led the way into the drawing room.
No, I must return tomorrow. Kolya glanced around
the empty room. His impatience was not to be
contained. If you please, I may see Miss Howard?
Polly is not here.
I will wait, unless is better I come back in the
morning?
She s not out, she has gone away. I m surprised no
one mentioned it at the manor if they knew you were
coming here.
Limp with disappointment, Kolya dropped into the
nearest chair. I have not been yet to manor. She is
gone? To where?
Ned avoided his question. Will you take a glass of
brandy? Or coffee, perhaps; I was about to have some.
Coffee, thank you. He waited while Ned rang the
bell and gave Ella the order. The maid curtsied to
Kolya with a nod and a smile. She, at least, was glad
to see him.
You said you have not been to the manor yet, Ned
said abruptly. Have you dined?
Na samom delye as matter of a fact no.
82
There s some cold pigeon pie, sir, and Mrs. Coates
could heat up the rest of the sparrowgrass soup.
Ask her to do that, Ella. His duty as a hospitable
host carried out, Ned seemed to relax.
Please, where is Miss Howard? Kolya ventured to
repeat.
She has been commissioned to paint a portrait.
His unwillingness to say where Polly was suggested
the answer to Kolya. In Brighton?
Ned s affirmation was reluctant.
Already! Is better than I hope. You will give me the
address, please? I wish to pay my respects.
I ll have to think about it. You must understand
that my only concern is for my sister s welfare.
Kolya conceded temporary defeat. I will come in the
morning, he said philosophically, and proceeded to
enquire about various matters concerning the Loxwood
estate.
When, an hour or so later, he rose to leave, Ned
said, You will find that Lady John is still much
occupied in organizing her new household. I know you
will be welcome at the manor, but she was not best
pleased when Lord Fitzsimmons appeared a day or two
ago.
Fitz came back? Nor did the news please Kolya. Is
not my business, but I beg you will tell me, you gave
Miss Howard s address?
No, said Ned shortly, sighing. I shall see you
tomorrow.
Kolya rode on to the manor, well fed and in good
spirits. Ned Howard was a good fellow, and their
parting had definitely been more amicable than their
meeting. Besides, he had a plan. If Polly s address was
still withheld in the morning, he would suborn
Nicholas. The lad was bound to know the name of his
sister s patron if he did not know the address.
~ ~ ~
John and Rebecca Ivanovna were happy to see him.
They sat up late discussing John s plans to stand for
election to Parliament. Nonetheless, they were all at
breakfast when Ned Howard arrived at the manor at
nine the next morning.
Ushered into the dining room by the new butler, the
nephew of the stately individual who had tyrannized
over the Five Oaks staff for decades, Ned accepted a
seat and a glass of ale. He apologized to Lady John for
83
introducing business at her breakfast table.
My lord, he continued, I mentioned to you the
necessity of finding a buyer for the timber which is to
be cut down. I have heard that Mr. Nash, the architect,
is purchasing materials for building the king s new
chapel at the Brighton Pavilion, and it occurred to me
that, being so close, we might make an advantageous
sale.
Sounds like a good notion. His lordship cast a
knowing glance at Kolya. You ll want to go down to
Brighton, I daresay, to make arrangements. You will
stay at his Grace s house, of course.
Thank you, my lord. I wondered whether& that is,
do you suppose it would cause any difficulty if I took
my brother with me?
I doubt one more will seriously disrupt the
household. Want to keep your eye on young Nicholas,
do you?
He s a good lad, sir, and I wouldn t want you to
think otherwise. It s just that, well, my mother s nerves
are not of the strongest&
Kolya and John laughed. I seem to remember when
I was that age her Grace never set eyes on me without
suffering a spasm, said John understandingly. By all
means take the boy.
I shall call on Mrs. Howard while you are gone,
Lady John promised, to make sure she wants for
nothing.
Thank you, my lady, you are very kind. Ned looked
at Kolya.
We shall travel together, of course, Kolya assured
him. His heart was light. The cautious brother would
not be going to Brighton to keep an eye on his sister if
he did not mean to reveal her whereabouts. I am at
your service.
Ned had a few matters of estate business to deal
with before their departure, but travel was swift on the
fine June day. It was shortly after four by the time the
three reached the outskirts of Brighton and walked
through the gates of Dean House.
Why can t I wait till tomorrow to see Polly? Nick
demanded, not for the first time. If I m going to join
the Navy, the sea is much more important.
The sea will still be there tomorrow, Ned pointed
out.
So will Polly. Heaving a big sigh, Nick abandoned
84
the argument as his brother raised the gleaming door-
knocker.
I m Miss Howard s brother, he told the maid who
opened the door. Pray inform her that I am here.
She looked flustered. I ll ave to ask Mrs. Borden,
sir, she said, and scurried off.
They waited several minutes on the doorstep, Kolya
increasingly impatient, Nick muttering remarks of
which waste of time were the only audible words. At
last a grey-haired woman approached.
Miss Polly s out, sir, but if you ll step this way her
ladyship ll see you in the garden.
Kolya had no desire to meet her ladyship, but
politeness forbade retreat. Apparently agreeing
wholeheartedly with the first part of this reflection,
Nick stepped backwards. Kolya seized his arm and
propelled him after his brother. In the wake of the
housekeeper, they crossed the hall and a sitting room
to emerge through French doors onto a terrace.
Far from strolling the walks of the garden, or taking
her ease on one of the benches scattered about it,
Lady Sylvia was on her knees by one of the flowerbeds,
planting out seedlings.
Here s Mr. Howard, my lady, Mrs. Borden
announced.
Her ladyship cast a quick, scared glance up at them
from under the wide brim of her hat, then returned to
her task with dogged determination. As Ned went
down the brick steps towards her, Kolya held Nick
back. If for some reason the pretty young woman was
afraid of them, it was better if she had only one to deal
with.
Kolya heard her say in a hurried, breathless voice,
You are Miss Howard s brother?
He could not make out Ned s words, but his tone
was soothing. A moment later he helped Lady Sylvia to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]