Anna Jacobs Read Online Free PDF Page B

you?”
    Beatrice’s cheeks were burning. “No!”
    “Didn’t you even ask?”
    “No!”
    “Well, isn’t that just like her? She adores making mysteries. And how like you to be embarrassed by it. Don’t colour up, you silly goose! In my opinion, a woman should know her own worth to the penny. Why, my girls knew exactly what they would bring to their husbands before they were even twelve years old!”
    Beatrice was speechless. Aunt Marguerite always said that marriage was a business, but to calculate the exchange rates so openly filled her with embarrassment. A very substantial dowry might buy her a husband whose birth didn’t displease the Dowager, but would it bring her a man to whom she herself could warm?
    “Anyway,” Johanna went on, not noticing her guest’s utter demoralization, “Mama’s decided to settle twenty thousand pounds on you. That should give you a good range of choice, once the word gets about. Beatrice! Beatrice, where are you going?” She stared open-mouthed at the half-open door. The sound of her cousin running up the stairs floated back to her.
    “Well, Mama said you were nervous about all this, but she didn’t tell me you were so very touchy!” she said aloud. “No wonder she left it to me to tell you about the dowry!”
    After a minute, she smiled to herself and murmured, “Still, such modesty might set a new style, if I play it well.” She reached for another piece of toast and smeared it liberally with butter and blackberry conserve, her thoughts busy with plans for launching her cousin. An evening party first, with a full-scale ball later. A few dinners and visits to the theatre, and who knew what else would be on offer from other hostesses? What fun it would all be!
    Upstairs, Beatrice was staring unhappily out of her bedroom window, breakfast forgotten. “What am I to do?” she whispered, pressing her palms to her burning cheeks. “How am I to face it all? Twenty thousand pounds! It’s far too much! No one will care what I’m like - they’ll just be interested in my money! And Aunt Marguerite knew, she knew perfectly well, that I’d have to accept it after my promise to her!”
    It was over an hour before she could calm down enough to face Johanna again. The only thing which kept her to her promise of finding a husband was the thought that as a married woman she would be better placed to protect Eleanor. And her niece’s happiness mattered very much indeed to her.
    Tilly came up to find her eventually, to let her know that her ladyship was nearly ready to go out shopping. Beatrice asked automatically for her cloak, but Tilly shook her head. “Cloaks isn’t worn for shopping in London, miss. I’ll unpack the rest of your things for you while you’re out, but perhaps you can tell me if you’ve got a pelisse or spencer you like to wear with that dress? If it needs ironing, I can easily run down to the maids’ room and smooth it over. We always keep the flat irons near the fire on a special stand.”
    She was obviously bursting to help and was as good as her word, returning within minutes carrying Beatrice’s perfectly-ironed pelisse reverently across her arms. “Here you are, miss.”
    As she smoothed the pelisse with tender hands, Beatrice watched her thoughtfully. She hated the idea of having her life invaded by a starchy lady’s maid, like the one who served Johanna. The majestic Sarah ruled her mistress with a rod of iron where her appearance was concerned. That would not at all suit Beatrice. Perhaps, though, if she could persuade her cousin that Tilly was able to cope, things might not turn out too badly. She already felt comfortable with the girl, who was cheerful and willing.
    “Is it your ambition to become a lady’s maid, then?” she asked casually as she prepared to go downstairs.
    “Ooh, yes, miss! And Sarah says I may just do and she’s been giving me lessons for ages now. I’m to be available to help guests, you see, now Mary’s left, and