Free Classic Love: 7 Vintage Romances by Dorothy Fletcher Page B

proportions, the fireplace. Be nice if I could use it, but just having it for appearance’ sake is terrific, that formal mantel, the carving. The hell with everything else, this room’s what sold me.”
    “It’s beautiful,” Christine agreed. She could imagine what the room looked like when it was in prime condition, years ago when this house was in its heyday, a mansion — modest in its way but nevertheless a dignified town house some prosperous merchant owned at the turn of the century — and this one of its front parlors, a sitting or morning room, with heavy brocaded drapes at the handsome windows and a magnificent crystal chandelier where the sunburst radiated in the middle of the lofty ceiling.
    There were louvres at the windows, built-in shutters that pulled out of the side wall, a feature you found in some of these old houses, closing off the room at night or parted, according to your wish, to subdue the glare of the sun when it became too dazzling. “Thank God I won’t have to have Venetian blinds,” Jack said. “They always look so tenementy to me.”
    “I don’t like them either and they’re so hard to keep clean. You don’t have shutters in the bedroom, do you?”
    “No, that’s not a wide-silled window. Of course, as you noted, it looks out on nothing, just a few yards of space between this house and the adjoining one, but it provides light and air, and you can’t have everything.”
    “At least it’s not an airshaft. We saw plenty of places facing on airshafts. Just put some cheerful curtains up, or a slatted bamboo blind, something in a warm cedar or so.”
    “And I’ll have to buy an air conditioner for the bedroom. Just a small unit, install it myself. The one I have is a very good unit, 9200 B.T.U.s, I’ll get that installed right away, even before I move in.” He pointed. “In that window, not the one near where my desk will be. It won’t look too bad, it has an ivory-toned front panel, unobtrusive.”
    “I say, must I have an air conditioner?” Rodney demanded, a little disconcerted. “But where?”
    “I’m afraid it will have to be in the bay,” Christine explained. “I know it seems a shame, but — ”
    “In the
bay?
” He bristled. “But that will spoil it! How can I do
that?
”
    “There isn’t any other place, my darling. Don’t worry, it will be scarcely noticeable. Besides, the planting outside will help a bit. Rodney, dear, you must have an air conditioner. You haven’t experienced one of our New York summers yet.”
    “Well, I must say this is a bitter blow. One of those horrid things sticking out of my casement window?”
    “Why don’t you rent one?” Jack suggested. “Then you can have it taken out for the colder weather. Unless, of course, rental prices are exorbitant, I really can’t say about that. I can ask when I have mine moved and installed here. Shall I do that?”
    “Oh yes, would you then? I’d very much appreciate it.” He shook his head, crestfallen. “I’m afraid I didn’t give it a thought, rather stupid of me.”
    “Not at all, you’re probably not used to such details. I’m glad I have mine and don’t have to buy one. The bedroom unit won’t amount to much expense.”
    “So you see, Rodney, your problems will be ironed out in no time. And if you rent a unit for, say four months or so, it might be the best all-round idea. Well, Jack, congratulations to you and I’d like to apologize for throwing a tantrum earlier this morning when I found someone had beaten us to the draw. I’m sorry, really sorry. You’ve been marvelous, I’ll never forget it.”
    “I’m glad I could assist. So did you, don’t forget. I might have had to forfeit my deposit otherwise. At the very least, I would have had a lengthy argument about it.” He looked at his wristwatch. “I’m afraid I’ve bored you to a fare-thee-well. I didn’t realize we’d been here all this time. And nothing to sit down on. It’s one-thirty, where’d the time go