Something Old by Rebecca Connolly (autobiographies to read txt) 📕

room. Have you any interest in the pianoforte or the harp, Mrs. Granger?”

“Oh, very much so!” Lily made no attempt to hide her enthusiasm, which warmed Thomas profoundly. He followed her into the warm and comfortable music room where the instruments were covered with white sheets and nearly glowing with the light streaming through the windows. “There is so much light in here!”

Mrs. Penrose seemed to sigh pleasantly as she took in the windows in the room. “From its creation, Pendrizzick has always been a structure aimed at being a prism of sorts, carrying the light as deep into its walls as possible. I have no doubt that is why it possesses the shape it does, granting more access to windows than you might find elsewhere.” She shook herself from some private reverie, and indicated a small, unobtrusive door on the far side of the room. “Through there is the private sitting room for the lady of the house and the direct entrance to her garden.”

Lily shook her head with surprising firmness. “If we go through there, I am likely to forego the rest of the house. Best continue, perhaps to the study?”

“Just as you please, Mrs. Granger,” Mrs. Penrose replied with a knowing smile.

They moved back out into the corridor and were soon looking into a standard study without much by way of adornments, which was just what Thomas would have preferred in his.

Pendrizzick was looking promising indeed.

“This is the family stair,” Mrs. Penrose told them as they began to ascend to the next floor. “Leading into the family rooms, naturally. Would you be needing a nursery during your stay?”

Thomas felt his cheeks heat and forced himself not to look at his wife to check the state of her complexion. “No, Mrs. Penrose. We have no children yet.”

Unruffled, Mrs. Penrose nodded and turned at the top of the stair. “That will make accommodating you simpler for us. It has been an age since the nursery here was of any use at all, though we do clean and tend to the room, as we do all the rest.” She flicked her fingers toward the rooms they passed. “These are the family rooms, and the master and mistress rooms are just ahead of us.”

It struck Thomas that the rooms for the master and mistress of the house were directly across the corridor from each other, the layout of each mirroring the other, including the adjoining dressing rooms and private balconies. The mistress’s room opened out to a view of the gardens, the master’s room to a view of the courtyard, centered within the neat square formed by the faces of the house, containing a fountain in the center.

Ironically, the master’s room also had a view of the nearest local mines, in one of which Thomas was now a chief shareholder. He’d refrain from making a judgment about what that meant as far as what the focus of the master of Pendrizzick was and what it could mean for him if he did not mind himself.

“And here,” Mrs. Penrose went on, a small smile on her face, “are the doors to the balconies in the ballroom.”

Thomas chuckled as he retreated from the master’s room out into the corridor. “Did the Tremellion children stand there as well?”

Mrs. Penrose laughed with him. “On some occasions, yes, they did.”

“What an adorable sight that must have been,” Lily murmured, a whimsical curve of her lips appearing as she stared toward them, no doubt imagining the scenes.

“If you’ll follow me,” Mrs. Penrose suggested, waving them on, “we’ll proceed through the gallery leading to the guest rooms. The family portraits have been taken down, as you can imagine, given the family’s desire to take them to their new home in Bath. But there are several other portraits and pieces that have replaced them, which I hope will meet your approval.”

Thomas and Lily fell into step beside each other as they followed her, only half listening as the good woman continued to talk without interruption.

“I love this house,” Lily whispered to Thomas through a fixed smile.

“So do I,” he replied in a similar tone.

“Can we take it?”

“Of course.”

“Today?”

“If that can be accommodated.”

“Will you ask?”

“Yes.”

His wife sighed happily beside him. “I hope we might start anew here, Thomas. I should very much like to.”

It took a full three attempts at a swallow before Thomas could manage one, clearing his throat faintly to reply to such a sweet statement. “So would I.”

Chapter Ten

“Mrs. Clare would like me to inquire as to your wishes for dinner, Mrs. Granger.”

Lily looked up from the writing desk in her sitting room, eyes wide. “My wishes? I approved her menu, did I not?”

Mrs. Penrose smiled sympathetically. “Yes, madam, though, if you recall, there was no partridge to be had, so she must adjust for this evening.”

“Oh, bless me, I forgot.” Lily put a hand to her brow, sighing, then laughing as she thought quickly. “Would you kindly tell her that the fish would be perfect? That would be the easiest solution for her, yes?”

“I believe so, madam.” Mrs. Penrose continued to smile and took a further step toward Lily. “Have you settled, madam? Are your rooms to your satisfaction?”

Lily dropped her hand, relaxing as her moment of panic passed. “I believe so. Are Eaton and Pierce adjusting? I do hope they get on with the rest of the staff.”

“I’ve not heard of any issues, madam,” Mrs. Penrose assured her. “Pierce has been a great help to the new maids we’ve brought on, despite being your lady’s maid and not a house maid. I am much obliged to her.”

“That is a relief.” Lily tilted her head in consideration. “What are your thoughts on the hiring of a butler, Mrs. Penrose? I know Mr. Granger would value your opinion on candidates.”

The housekeeper clasped her hand before her, lips pursing in thought. “I don’t know any particular candidates for the position that are without present employment. I am happy to offer my services