The House Of Secrets

скачать книгу бесплатно


“Did no one give a thought to decor?” Alma asked, shaking her head disapprovingly.

Evelyn glanced around the vast, mostly empty parlor. There were no curtains on the windows, no rugs over the dark wood floors. The furniture had been placed haphazardly in the middle of the room.

“Mother redecorates constantly,” Will said. “She believes a room is not fit to live in until every piece of furniture has been draped in fabric and every surface invaded by china figurines.”

“One’s house is a reflection of oneself,” Alma said, ignoring him. “If a home appears neglected, one may assume the owner is as well.”

“I agree,” Evelyn said. “That’s why I was anxious to talk to you. I need guidance on so many things. Decorating is certainly one of them. Also, which activities I might occupy myself with, while Charles is at work.”

“My dear, I cannot be your nursemaid,” Alma said. “I lead a very busy life. In fact, I canceled another engagement to come here today.”

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize—”

“However,” Alma interrupted, “I can share a few thoughts.” From her tone, it was clear she was issuing orders, not suggestions. “You’ll want to start with the house. My secretary can give you a list of workmen and suppliers—the people to see about wallpaper and drapes and whatnot. They are mostly in Baltimore, but I assure you it’s worth the journey. Did Charles hire a driver for you?”

Evelyn shook her head. “I don’t think so. He hasn’t mentioned it.”

“How irresponsible of him.” Alma sighed in annoyance. “I suppose you could use one of our carriages, when they are not otherwise engaged.”

“Or I could take you in my motorcar,” Will offered.

Evelyn smiled. “I’ve never ridden in one.”

“Then I insist,” Will said. “Tell me the day.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Alma scolded. “You’ll do no such thing, Evelyn. It’s no way for a lady to travel.”

“Ladies in London and Paris travel by motorcar all the time, Mother,” Will said.

“I’ll arrange for a driver,” Alma insisted, looking at Evelyn. She reached into her embroidered bag and pulled out a piece of paper. “This is a list of families we socialize with. I took the liberty of ordering visiting cards for you. You’ll have a few weeks to settle in, but then you’ll need to make calls and introduce yourself. Lavinia will host a lunch next week where you may get acquainted with the young married women in her circle. You’ll be expected to hold dinner parties at least once a month, although you must coordinate with my secretary to make sure we’re not entertaining the same day. And don’t forget to speak with Charles’s secretary at the office. He usually spends a few nights each week in the city.”

“Oh, I hadn’t realized,” Evelyn murmured, trying to keep up with Alma’s admonitions.

“I do encourage charity work,” Alma continued, “but it must be an appropriate cause. We can discuss that another time. It’s nearly four o’clock, and I still have errands in town. Charles did tell you I’m having you both to dinner this evening?”

“No, he didn’t,” Evelyn said, flustered. “Thank you, that sounds lovely. Oh—before you go, there was one other thing I wanted to ask. About Beatrice. Since she is now without a governess, and I’m not very busy at the moment, I thought we might continue our lessons.”

Alma stared at her in horror.

“Only until you can find her a new governess,” Evelyn offered.

“Absolutely not!” Alma exclaimed. “What a preposterous idea!”

“Seems rather convenient to me,” Will said.

“It would never do,” Alma said sternly. “Perhaps you do not understand your new position, Evelyn. You are Mrs. Brewster now. Soon enough, God willing, you’ll have your own children to tend to.”

“Of course,” Evelyn said, trying to hide her disappointment. “It’s only—I miss her. We used to spend so much time together.”

“You may call on Lavinia whenever you please,” Alma said. “She is your sister now, not your employer.” She stood up and walked toward the front door. Without looking back, she called for Will to join her.

Will remained in the foyer next to Evelyn. “Mother, I’d rather walk back to the house. I have no reason to go into town.”

“Very well,” Alma said. “But I won’t have you moping around much longer. It’s time you were out, being seen.”

“Yes, Mother,” Will said. “A Brewster must always be seen. Otherwise, he might as well not exist.”

Evelyn and Will watched from the front doorway as Alma’s carriage took off down the drive.

“Thank goodness she’s gone.” His eyes sparkled with mischief. “Now we can have a real talk!”

Evelyn smiled in relief.

“No doubt you’ve heard I’m a terribly bad influence,” Will said in a mock-serious tone.

Evelyn shrugged, unsure how to respond, and Will leaned toward her.

“It’s all true, I’m afraid,” he confided. “Come—I want to show you something.” He took her by the hand and led her back through the parlor. Although she barely knew him, Evelyn felt immediately at ease with Will—just as she had at her wedding reception. With him, she could be simply Evelyn, not Mrs. Brewster.

They walked through the conservatory, a glass-walled room lined with potted palm trees and ferns. Opening a door at the far end, Will led Evelyn outside. They emerged onto a patio, facing a marble fountain. Beyond them, a wide lawn extended down a hill, framed by flower beds along either side. Gravel walkways led off to the right and left, disappearing behind evergreen hedges as tall as Evelyn.

“This way.” Will pulled her along behind him, following the walkway to the right as it curved along the hedges. They passed a stone bench shaded by trees, then stepped into a field of wildflowers.

“Look over there.” Will pointed across the field, toward a grove of trees in the distance.

“Oh!” Evelyn exclaimed as she spotted the gray stone walls of Alma’s house in the distance.

“It only takes about five minutes to walk from here,” Will said. “Not that I’d suggest traipsing through the fields before dinner. Mother would not approve.”

“She most definitely would not,” Evelyn agreed.

They stood together quietly for a few moments, listening to the wind rustle through the tall grass. Evelyn felt cut off from the rest of the world. From everything that made her life so complicated.

“I was wondering…” Will began, then paused.

Ask me anything, Evelyn wanted to say. Instead, she waited in silence.

“How are you settling in?” Will asked finally.

“Very well,” Evelyn said. “Or—I should say, as well as could be hoped.”

“Mother’s a terrible snob. But you know that already. Don’t let her lectures discourage you.”

“There’s a lot to live up to,” Evelyn said. “The Brewster name and all it entails.”

“The Brewsters,” Will snorted. “We’re lucky to have you. Charles should be grateful.”

Charles. The name hovered between them like a warning sign.

“He’s my brother, and I probably shouldn’t be saying this,” Will continued, “but he can’t be an easy man to live with.”

Evelyn thought back to her wedding night. Charles pinning her to the bed as she lay silently.

“Charles plans on spending much of his time in Baltimore,” she said slowly. “Perhaps that will make things easier.” She smiled to show she was joking, but Will looked at her seriously.

“There you have it,” he said. “Charles, with a lovely young wife, is never at home. And I, a hopeless bachelor, am at home too much.”