I may not like performing in musicales, but I love rehearsing with the three of
you.”
Her three cousins stared at her, momentarily nonplussed.
“Don’t you realize how lucky we are?” Honoria said. And then,
when no one leapt to agree, she added, “To have each other?”
“Couldn’t we have each other over a game of cards?” Iris suggested.
It has no piano part,” Honoria reminded her.
“I have no objection,” Sarah said quickly. From behind the
piano.
It’s because she doesn’t have eyelashes,” Daisy said.
Iris turned to her with complete calm and said, “I hate you.”
“That’s a terrible thing to say, Daisy,” Honoria said, turning on
her with a stern expression. It was true that Iris was extraordinarily
pale, with the kind of strawberry blond hair that seemed to render
her lashes and brows almost invisible. But she’d always thought Iris
was absolutely gorgeous, almost ethereal-looking.
“If she didn’t have eyelashes, she’d be dead,” Sarah said.
Honoria turned to her, unable to believe the direction of the
conversation. Well, no, that was not completely accurate. She
believed it (unfortunately). She just didn’t understand it.
“Well, it’s true,” Sarah said defensively. “Or at the very least,
blind. Lashes keep all the dust from our eyes.”
“Why are we having this conversation?” Honoria wondered
aloud.
Daisy immediately answered, “It’s because Sarah said she
didn’t think Iris could look venomous, and then I said—"
“I know,” Honoria cut in, and then, when she realized Daisy still
had her mouth open, looking as if she was only waiting for the right
moment to complete her sentence, she said it again. “I know. It was
a hypothetical question.”
“It still had a perfectly valid answer,” Daisy said with a sniff.
Something without the cello,” she muttered.
“If I have to do it, you have to do it,” Sarah said with a smirk.
Iris glared at her with all the fury of a misunderstood artist. “You
don’t understand.”
“Oh, believe me, I do,” Sarah said with great feeling. “I played
last year, if you recall. I’ve had an entire year to understand.
Do you really think anyone saves our programs from one year
to the next?” Sarah asked.
“My mother does,” Daisy said.
“So does mine,” Sarah answered, “but it’s not as if she pulls
them out and compares them side by side.”
“My mother does,” Daisy said again.
“Dear God,” Iris moaned.
It was going to be embarrassing regardless of what music they
chose, but Honoria didn’t have the heart to say it to her face.
On the other hand, whichever piece they performed, they would
surely butcher it past recognition. Could a difficult piece played
badly be that much worse than a slightly less difficult piece played
badly?
We are going to pick up our instruments and play Mozart,”
Honoria announced. “And we are going to do it with smiles on our
faces.”
“I have no idea what any of you are talking about,” Daisy said.
“I will play,” Sarah said, “but I make no promises about a
smile.” She looked at the piano and blinked. “And I am not picking
up my instrument.”
Iris actually giggled. Then her eyes lit up. “I could help you.”
“Pick it up?”
Iris’s grin grew positively devilish. “The window is not far . . .”
“I knew I loved you,” Sarah said with a wide smile.
Daisy said boldly. “Nothing
ventured, nothing gained.”
“Yes, but it is a wise man who understands his limits.”
“Who said that?” Daisy asked.
“I did,” Honoria answered impatiently
Listen to me,” Iris said again. “If we attempt this piece, we will
be massacred.”
“By whom?” Daisy asked.
Iris just looked at her, completely unable to articulate a reply.
“By the music,” Sarah put in.
“Oh, you’ve decided to join the discussion, then,” Honoria said.
“Don’t be sarcastic,” Sarah snipped.
“Where were the two of you when I was trying to pick
something out?”
“They were moving the piano.”
“Daisy!” all three of them yelled.
“What did I say?” Daisy demanded.
“Try not to be so literal,” Iris snapped.
Honoria couldn’t help but watch her make her way over to
Daisy, and Mr. Bridgerton said, “Don’t worry, she’s mostly
harmless.”
“My cousin Daisy?” she asked dubiously.
“No,” he replied, momentarily nonplussed. “Lady Danbury.”
Honoria looked past him to Daisy and Lady Danbury. “Is she
deaf?”
“Your cousin Daisy?”
“No, Lady Danbury.”
“I don’t believe so.”
“Oh.” Honoria winced. “That’s too bad. She might be by the
time Daisy is through with her.
“That’s not going to end well,” he murmured.
Honoria could do nothing but shake her head and murmur,
“No.”
“Is your cousin fond of her toes?”
Honoria blinked in confusion. “I believe so, yes.”
“She’ll want to watch that cane, then.”
Honoria looked back just in time to see Daisy let out a small
shriek as she tried to jump back. She was not successful with the
latter; Lady Danbury’s cane had her pinned rather firmly.
« erste vorherige
Seite 28 von 67.
nächste letzte »
Data privacy
Imprint
Contact
Diese Website verwendet Cookies, um Ihnen die bestmögliche Funktionalität bieten zu können.