Part 65 (2/2)
”I'll just show Mrs Babbacombe the upstairs rooms, Martha.”
Lucinda turned her head to throw a smile back at Mrs Simpkins, who beamed delightedly in reply.
The stairs led to a short gallery.
”No family portraits, I'm afraid,” Harry said.
”Those are all at the Hall.”
”Is there one of you?” Lucinda looked up at him. ”Yes--but it's hardly a good likeness. It was done when I was eighteen.”
Lucinda raised her brows but, recalling Lady Coleby's words, made no comment.
”This is the master suite.” Harry threw open a pair of panelled doors at the end of the gallery. The room beyond was large, half-panelled, the warm patina of wood extending to the surrounds of the bow window and its seat. A carved mantel framed the fireplace, unusually large; a very large structure stood in the centre of the floor, screened by the inevitable dust- covers.
Lucinda glanced at it curiously, but obediently turned as Harry, a~ hand at her back, conducted her through the adjoiningd~essing-rooms.
”I'm afraid,” he said, as they returned to the main chamber, 'that Lestershall doesn't run to separate bedrooms for husband and wife. ” Lucinda glanced up at him.
”Not, of course,”
he continued imperturbably, 'that that should concern you. ”
Lucinda watched as he leaned a shoulder against the window frame.
When he merely returned her expectant look with one of the blandest innocence, she humphed and turned her attention to the large, shrouded mound.
”It's a four-poster,” she decided. She crossed to lift a corner of the dust cover and peer under. A dark cave lay before her. With thick, barley-sugar posts, the bed was fully canopied and draped with matching brocades.
”It's enormous.”
”Indeed? Harry watched her absorption.
”And has quite a history, too, if the tales one hears are true.”
Lucinda looked up from her study.
”What tales?”
”Rumour has it the bed dates from Elizabethan times, as does the house.
Apparently, all the brides brought back to the house have used it.”
Lucinda wrinkled her nose.
”That's hardly surprising.” She dropped the covers and dusted her hands.
Harry's lips slowly curved.
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