Читать книгу Fate Takes A Hand - Бетти Нилс - Страница 8

EULALIA gave a small sigh as she went into the drawing-room. It was a long room, taking up the whole of one side of the little house, with a bay window at its front and doors opening on to the little garden at the back. It was furnished very much to her taste, with comfortable chairs, an enormous sofa before the hearth, splendid rugs on the polished wood floor, and mulberry silk curtains blending nicely with the chair-covers. There were little lamp-tables too, arranged just where they were needed, and a handsome bureau cabinet in marquetry. She knew a little about good furniture; this she thought was probably a William and Mary piece. It went very well with the cabinet of walnut with floral marquetry on the other side of the hearth, which was of the same period. She might not see eye to eye with her host, but she had to admit that he had excellent taste in furniture.

The doors to the garden were open and Peter had gone at once to look at it. ‘Have a look round, Peter,’ invited Mr van Linssen, and to Eulalia, ‘Please sit down—tea will be here in a few moments. I hope we haven’t spoilt your afternoon.’

She sat. ‘No, I enjoyed it. It was very kind of you to give Peter a treat.’

‘You have his sole charge?’ he asked idly. ‘Guardian to a small boy is no easy matter.’

‘There wasn’t anyone else,’ she said simply. ‘At least, the solicitor couldn’t trace anyone from his father’s family, and my cousin was an only child whose parents had died. I didn’t even know her. Peter’s a dear little boy. Trottie and I often wonder how we lived without him.’