Free Ask Me No Questions by Patricia Veryan

drum table. Would you change it, please? And there's Mr. Allington's desk. I was sure it would sell to that farmer yesterday. I suppose that must be reduced, too." And she thought that if only it had not rained so, they could have done much better.
    Grace Milford wrote a painstaking "15 gns." on one of her paper squares and went to put it on the drum table and remove the sign that read "28 gns."
    "Be lucky to get ten guineas for the master's desk, I think, ma'am," she said.
    Ruth nodded reluctantly. "But the big desk and the reference table in the book room are both fine antiques. They should surely fetch a hundred guineas if—"
    "If we'd time to wait for better weather
and
the proper buyer, maybe. But we've only today! And by the time we reach the farm— Is it far from Lac Brillant?"
    Ruth said absently, "Farm… ?"
    "Aye. The farm where the boys are to stay. Proper excited they be. You
did
say 'twas a farm?"
    Looking anywhere but into those honest eyes, Ruth felt her face getting hot. "Er—did I? What I meant to say was I had found a place for them near Lac Brillant where they'd be properly cared for, but—" She was grateful to be rescued by the sound of hoofbeats and the grind of wheels. "A coach!" She flew to the windows. "It
is
! We've a
customer
! Oh, my! A most elegant lady—no, two ladies! Pray, dear Grace! You have such power in prayer. Pray they will buy
lots
of our lovely things!"
    The prospective buyers were elegant indeed. The younger of the pair was about her own age, Ruth judged, and of a rare beauty with great dusky eyes, high cheekbones, and a full-lipped rather wilful mouth. Tall and blessed with a generous bosom and a tiny waist, she moved with assured grace. Her dark curls were quite short under a ruffled cap threaded with a scarlet riband. Matching ribands were tied about the falls of lace on the sleeves of her pink muslin morning gown, and she carried a pink reticule richly embroidered with red and gold silks. Her companion was younger, shorter, and rather plump, with a round face, big blue eyes, and a giggle. Her green gown was sadly over-embellished with bows and rosettes, and not improved by the elaborate blue and white shawl draped around her shoulders.
    "We are come," said the dark lady as Grace showed them into the withdrawing room, "in response to the sign in the lane. I trust," she added, her glance flickering over the upholstered furniture and lingering briefly on the drum table, "that these are not the only articles you mean to sell?"
    Her tone was disdainful, her manner haughty, and she did not give her name. Her friend appeared to find the situation hilarious, and whispered and giggled as Ruth led the way into the book room.
    The plump girl's eyes shot to the desk, and she interrupted her own amusement to squeak, "Only look, Lady Dee! Just what you wanted!"
    The dark lady gave her an irked glance and said disparagingly, "It might serve, but—dear me! Not at that price! Fifty guineas, indeed!"
    Her heart sinking, Ruth pointed out that the desk was an antique piece and beautifully made. "As is the reference table, ma'am."
    The plump girl said, "Oh, that is lovely. See the carving, Dee."
    "Lady Dee" sniffed. "I see that 'tis prodigious overpriced. If this is all you have, Mrs. Lingways, I fear 'twas a waste of my time to stop here."
    Ruth began, "My name, ma'am, is—"
    Ignoring her, Lady Dee observed that the rug by the fireplace was fair, and that she might take it if the asking price was "not absurd."
    Ruth gritted her teeth. The rug had been brought home by Jonathan after one of his voyages, and was a thing of beauty. " 'Tis from Persia," she said, "and—"
    "I will give you ten guineas for it," said Lady Dee. Oblivious to Grace Milford's outraged gasp, she sailed into the hall, proceeding at speed through the dining room with its handsome mahogany furnishings, and into the study. Thomas Allington's desk she dismissed with a shudder, the bishop's chair in the corner received a