Read The House of Lyall for Free Online Page B

convincingly, ‘Thank you for walking with me, Marianne, I have enjoyed your company, and no doubt I shall see you again some time. Good night.’
    She managed to hide her disappointment that he so clearly didn’t want to take her out again. ‘Good night, Stephen.’ She had to force her legs to move as she went into the house, only to find that her ordeal was just beginning, because the sisters were waiting eagerly to hear how she and Stephen had got on together. Too vain to say something had gone wrong, she told them about the first half of the evening, letting them believe that things had been the same on the way home, and, urged to tell them as much about his house as she could, she embellished her description until they were satisfied and she was free to go to bed.
    Miss Esther and Miss Emily retired to their room happy that their young friend had enjoyed her entire evening, but Miss Edith, sharper and more observant, had a feeling that this was not the case. Sorry for the girl, she kept her suspicions to herself.
    Marianne felt reluctant to go out with Andrew the following Sunday, but once away from the house, and sure that he would be sympathetic, she asked him if Stephen Grant had said anything to him about her.
    â€˜He didn’t say anything about anything. Why? Didn’t you get on together?’
    â€˜We did at first, then … oh, I dinna ken what happened. I couldna tell him the names of any books because I’ve never read any, and then he asked how old I was, and after that, he hardly spoke.’
    Andrew pursed his mouth for a moment. ‘Would you like me to tell you the novels my mother used to read?’
    â€˜Would you, Andrew? I hated having to read books when I was at the school, but I might enjoy novels with good stories. Another thing, though – maybe he didna … didn’t like the way I speak.’
    â€˜You have a very broad country accent,’ Andrew smiled, ‘but that’s nothing to be ashamed of.’
    â€˜I hear myself broader than folk in the town, and I dinna ken any big words. And when I get mixed up, it gets worse. Could you help me with that, and all?’
    â€˜You want me to prepare you to be a lady, is that what you mean?’
    â€˜If I do find a rich husband, I wouldn’t want to let him down by not speaking proper.’
    â€˜If he loved you, he wouldn’t care how you talked.’
    She shook her head. ‘Like I told you before, I’m not interested in love. Will you help me, Andrew?’
    â€˜All right, I’ll give you lessons in speech and deportment, so that you will be able to hold your head up in any company. I’ll make you read certain books in set times, and I’ll give you others to help you to improve your vocabulary. But once we start, young lady, we’ll go on until I’m satisfied with you, so there must be no complaining.’
    â€˜I won’t complain, Andrew, and I’m really grateful. I’ll show that Stephen Grant I’m as good as him … and his mother.’
    â€˜Ah, so you’re doing it for him, are you? Well, I can promise you that when we are finished, you can set your sights much higher than Stephen Grant.’
    Her eyes were dancing, her face agog with enthusiasm for what she hoped to accomplish. ‘I’ll maybe end up among royalty,’ she giggled, her expression sobering when she saw how Andrew was looking at her.
    â€˜I’d prefer if you stayed just the way you are right now,’ he said softly.

Chapter Three
    At first, Marianne’s eagerness to improve herself had amused Andrew, but, looking back, he was amazed by her quick assimilation of all he had taught her over the past year. He had given her a list of books he thought would appeal to her as well as add to her vocabulary, and by the middle of 1896, there was a marked improvement in her self-confidence, especially when she was introduced to his friends. What bothered