Read The Music Box for Free Online
Authors: Andrea Kane
contrary, you’ve made them that much more memorable,” Hermione countered. “You’ve helped show Mr. Lyndley precisely what makes our family so special.” She cleared her throat. “Bryce, the charming young lady beside Gaby who rescued Crumpet from an even sterner punishment is Lily.”
“Hello, Lily,” Bryce responded.
Lily dropped her gaze, scraping her shoe along the rug, obviously uncomfortable at being the center of attention.
“Lily is a bit shy,” Hermione continued, “as is her sister, Jane, the little moppet over there.” She pointed at a blond child whose legs were so reed-thin that Bryce wondered how they could support her. “Lily is seven, Jane six. They, along with the boys—Peter, Henry, and Charles—help Gaby take care of her animals—or rather, her menagerie. Gaby has dozens of pets, and they’re all mischief-makers, just like Crumpet.” Hermione gestured the boys forward. “Come, boys. Say hello to Mr. Lyndley.”
Henry and Charles, two sturdy boys with dark hair and eyes, came forward with only a tad more ease than the girls, murmuring their how-do-you-do’s as quick as a wink, then rushing back to their places, pausing only to toss Gaby a grin. Peter, the lad who’d been leaning against the wall, followed after, limping forward and dragging his right leg in his wake. He halted at the settee, studying Bryce’s face with a clear, intelligent gaze. “How do you do?” he said aloud.
“Very well.” Bryce shook the boy’s hand, his chest tight with compassion.
“Peter is Cook’s son,” Hermione explained. “When I hired Cook, I was blessed to get him as well.”
“I’m extremely pleased to meet you, Peter,” Bryce told the lad. “You and Henry, Charles, Jane, and Lily. Gabrielle is lucky to have five such capable helpers to assist her with her pets.”
“You needn’t pretend,” Peter inserted calmly. “I know I’m not nearly as capable as the others. I also know why: it’s because I’m lame. But that’s okay. I do the best I can. The truth is, my lameness makes other people more uncomfortable than it makes me.”
“I wasn’t pretending. Yes, I can see your leg gives you some trouble. But I can also see that you have a keen mind and a generous heart. Not to mention the fact that you’re straightforward and honest. Those traits, Peter, will more than make up for a reluctant limb.”
Interest flickered in Peter’s eyes. “How do you know I’m all those things?”
“Because part of my job is figuring out people’s natures when I meet them. And, like you, I’m very good at my job.”
“Lady Nevon says you’re a barrister.”
“That’s true.”
“It will be harder for me when my time comes,” Peter stated candidly. “I’ll have to take exams—and pass them. You probably became a barrister before that rule started. Not that it would have mattered. You would have passed those exams without even trying. Lady Nevon says you’re the smartest barrister in England.”
Bryce blinked, startled by the lad’s implication, as well as by the realization of just how quick his mind was. “Are you saying you want to become a barrister, Peter?”
“Yes, sir. I know I’m not a nobleman—”
“Neither am I,” Bryce interrupted. He squatted down, meeting the lad’s gaze head-on. “How old are you, Peter?”
“Nine.”
“Nine.” Bryce shook his head in amazement. “Peter, I have a distinct feeling that you are not only going to become a barrister but that, in twenty years or so, you’re going to unseat me in Lady Nevon’s estimation as the smartest barrister in England. In fact, I’m sure of it.”
Pride emanated from every inch of Peters frame. “Thank you, sir.” He hesitated. “Is it true you have legal texts in your chambers?”
“From what I understand, yes. Would you like to see them?”
“May I?” It was as if the lad had been promised the world. “I know I won’t be able to read many of the words, but just looking at them
“Hello, Lily,” Bryce responded.
Lily dropped her gaze, scraping her shoe along the rug, obviously uncomfortable at being the center of attention.
“Lily is a bit shy,” Hermione continued, “as is her sister, Jane, the little moppet over there.” She pointed at a blond child whose legs were so reed-thin that Bryce wondered how they could support her. “Lily is seven, Jane six. They, along with the boys—Peter, Henry, and Charles—help Gaby take care of her animals—or rather, her menagerie. Gaby has dozens of pets, and they’re all mischief-makers, just like Crumpet.” Hermione gestured the boys forward. “Come, boys. Say hello to Mr. Lyndley.”
Henry and Charles, two sturdy boys with dark hair and eyes, came forward with only a tad more ease than the girls, murmuring their how-do-you-do’s as quick as a wink, then rushing back to their places, pausing only to toss Gaby a grin. Peter, the lad who’d been leaning against the wall, followed after, limping forward and dragging his right leg in his wake. He halted at the settee, studying Bryce’s face with a clear, intelligent gaze. “How do you do?” he said aloud.
“Very well.” Bryce shook the boy’s hand, his chest tight with compassion.
“Peter is Cook’s son,” Hermione explained. “When I hired Cook, I was blessed to get him as well.”
“I’m extremely pleased to meet you, Peter,” Bryce told the lad. “You and Henry, Charles, Jane, and Lily. Gabrielle is lucky to have five such capable helpers to assist her with her pets.”
“You needn’t pretend,” Peter inserted calmly. “I know I’m not nearly as capable as the others. I also know why: it’s because I’m lame. But that’s okay. I do the best I can. The truth is, my lameness makes other people more uncomfortable than it makes me.”
“I wasn’t pretending. Yes, I can see your leg gives you some trouble. But I can also see that you have a keen mind and a generous heart. Not to mention the fact that you’re straightforward and honest. Those traits, Peter, will more than make up for a reluctant limb.”
Interest flickered in Peter’s eyes. “How do you know I’m all those things?”
“Because part of my job is figuring out people’s natures when I meet them. And, like you, I’m very good at my job.”
“Lady Nevon says you’re a barrister.”
“That’s true.”
“It will be harder for me when my time comes,” Peter stated candidly. “I’ll have to take exams—and pass them. You probably became a barrister before that rule started. Not that it would have mattered. You would have passed those exams without even trying. Lady Nevon says you’re the smartest barrister in England.”
Bryce blinked, startled by the lad’s implication, as well as by the realization of just how quick his mind was. “Are you saying you want to become a barrister, Peter?”
“Yes, sir. I know I’m not a nobleman—”
“Neither am I,” Bryce interrupted. He squatted down, meeting the lad’s gaze head-on. “How old are you, Peter?”
“Nine.”
“Nine.” Bryce shook his head in amazement. “Peter, I have a distinct feeling that you are not only going to become a barrister but that, in twenty years or so, you’re going to unseat me in Lady Nevon’s estimation as the smartest barrister in England. In fact, I’m sure of it.”
Pride emanated from every inch of Peters frame. “Thank you, sir.” He hesitated. “Is it true you have legal texts in your chambers?”
“From what I understand, yes. Would you like to see them?”
“May I?” It was as if the lad had been promised the world. “I know I won’t be able to read many of the words, but just looking at them