A Bluestocking Christmas Read Online Free
Author: Monica Burns
never treat them as she’d been treated her. She might despise her cousin, but she couldn’t extract such a torment on three innocent children.
The day after tomorrow, she’d send word to Barnabas, her solicitor, to see to it that the girls received a warm house to live in, food on the table, and warm clothing. But she’d ensure that Barnabas would administer the funds. She would do nothing for Caroline. Her cousin was quite adept in using her charms to find a suitable husband, and it had been painfully obvious this afternoon that Simon had a great deal of sympathy for Caroline. Her cousin would use that to her advantage.
Ivy’s stomach lurched at the thought, and she reached up to twist the small key-like knob of the gas light on the wall beside the door. For the first time she realized it was almost as cold in the library as it was outside. In all likelihood, the fireplaces throughout the building had been allowed to die down to nothing but embers.
Moving across the foyer to the circulation desk, she removed her hat and cape and laid them on the counter. A large stack of books rested at the end of the marble surface waiting for someone to shelve them. Scooping up as many of the texts as she could carry, Ivy examined their labeling then turned to the book stacks. She turned up the gas light attached to one of columns that marked the end of each book aisle then moved down the aisle to replace the first volume.
She’d shelved at least four books to their rightful place when she heard the wood floor creak slightly as if someone were walking toward her. With a jerk, Ivy whirled around to stare down the empty aisle. In the back of her mind, she heard the cab driver’s words again. She sniffed in self-disgust.
Blast it, she was allowing her imagination to run wild. She resumed the shelving of the books tucked in the crook of her arm and moved into another section of the book stacks. Again, a board creaked, and her heart thudded frantically in her breast. Ivy set down her books and peered through the bookshelves to the other side of the shelving.
“Hello, is someone there?”
Although she hadn’t expected a response, her heart was still racing with fear. When there was no response, she picked up her books and turned to continue down the aisle. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something sparkle in the soft rays of the gas light. Ivy turned her head and froze in shock. The necklace dangling like a bookmark from one of the shelved volumes made her suck in a sharp breath.
Stunned, she could only stare at the diamond and sapphire jewelry. How had it gotten there? In her dazed state, had she brought the necklace with her? No, of course she hadn’t. It couldn’t possibly be the same one. Her fingers curled around the cool jewelry and lifted it to examine it more closely. The stars encrusted with diamonds and sapphires twinkled like a constellation in her hand.
Ivy’s heart fluttered as she realized how much it looked like the necklace that lay underneath her Christmas tree. Even the detail of the finely-spun gold filigree appeared to be identical to the one she’d touched earlier. Ivy released a small sound of incredulity. She was being a fool. One of the library’s patrons had absent-mindedly left his wife’s Christmas present on the shelf while searching for a book. An act she was certain the poor man would regret tomorrow, if he weren’t already on the verge of an apoplectic fit trying to remember where he’d misplaced the precious object.
Ivy stared at the necklace a moment longer before stuffing it into her skirt pocket. She’d make sure it was returned to its rightful owner. She retrieved her books and was about to move down the aisle when the whisper of a sound echoed behind her. Frightened, she whirled around to stare down the empty aisle.
“Do you really think he would have bought a necklace for you that wasn’t uniquely of his own design?”
The man’s voice
The day after tomorrow, she’d send word to Barnabas, her solicitor, to see to it that the girls received a warm house to live in, food on the table, and warm clothing. But she’d ensure that Barnabas would administer the funds. She would do nothing for Caroline. Her cousin was quite adept in using her charms to find a suitable husband, and it had been painfully obvious this afternoon that Simon had a great deal of sympathy for Caroline. Her cousin would use that to her advantage.
Ivy’s stomach lurched at the thought, and she reached up to twist the small key-like knob of the gas light on the wall beside the door. For the first time she realized it was almost as cold in the library as it was outside. In all likelihood, the fireplaces throughout the building had been allowed to die down to nothing but embers.
Moving across the foyer to the circulation desk, she removed her hat and cape and laid them on the counter. A large stack of books rested at the end of the marble surface waiting for someone to shelve them. Scooping up as many of the texts as she could carry, Ivy examined their labeling then turned to the book stacks. She turned up the gas light attached to one of columns that marked the end of each book aisle then moved down the aisle to replace the first volume.
She’d shelved at least four books to their rightful place when she heard the wood floor creak slightly as if someone were walking toward her. With a jerk, Ivy whirled around to stare down the empty aisle. In the back of her mind, she heard the cab driver’s words again. She sniffed in self-disgust.
Blast it, she was allowing her imagination to run wild. She resumed the shelving of the books tucked in the crook of her arm and moved into another section of the book stacks. Again, a board creaked, and her heart thudded frantically in her breast. Ivy set down her books and peered through the bookshelves to the other side of the shelving.
“Hello, is someone there?”
Although she hadn’t expected a response, her heart was still racing with fear. When there was no response, she picked up her books and turned to continue down the aisle. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something sparkle in the soft rays of the gas light. Ivy turned her head and froze in shock. The necklace dangling like a bookmark from one of the shelved volumes made her suck in a sharp breath.
Stunned, she could only stare at the diamond and sapphire jewelry. How had it gotten there? In her dazed state, had she brought the necklace with her? No, of course she hadn’t. It couldn’t possibly be the same one. Her fingers curled around the cool jewelry and lifted it to examine it more closely. The stars encrusted with diamonds and sapphires twinkled like a constellation in her hand.
Ivy’s heart fluttered as she realized how much it looked like the necklace that lay underneath her Christmas tree. Even the detail of the finely-spun gold filigree appeared to be identical to the one she’d touched earlier. Ivy released a small sound of incredulity. She was being a fool. One of the library’s patrons had absent-mindedly left his wife’s Christmas present on the shelf while searching for a book. An act she was certain the poor man would regret tomorrow, if he weren’t already on the verge of an apoplectic fit trying to remember where he’d misplaced the precious object.
Ivy stared at the necklace a moment longer before stuffing it into her skirt pocket. She’d make sure it was returned to its rightful owner. She retrieved her books and was about to move down the aisle when the whisper of a sound echoed behind her. Frightened, she whirled around to stare down the empty aisle.
“Do you really think he would have bought a necklace for you that wasn’t uniquely of his own design?”
The man’s voice
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