Azalea Read Online Free PDF Page B

Lord
Kayce.
    She had assumed her grandfather's primary
motive in stipulating such a course was to prevent her from
retreating further from society, but then she read the letters that
accompanied the will.
    The first must have been written early in
his illness, as it was in her grandfather's own hand. It detailed
his suspicions of Lord Kayce, citing as evidence various things
Azalea's own father had told him years ago. If these suspicions
were to be believed, Lord Kayce had forced his elder brother to
flee England in order to secure for himself the vast Kayce lands
and wealth. Included in the letter was a stern warning to Azalea
not to trust her uncle.
    The second letter was from a Lady Beauforth,
first cousin to Azalea's mother and niece to her grandfather. It
was dated quite recently, and was obviously in response to a query
the Reverend had sent some months earlier.
     
    My dear Uncle Gregory:
    I was delighted to hear from you after so
many years. I remember you with affection from my childhood, and
Mother always spoke lovingly of you. Of course I would be delighted
to offer my young cousin Azalea entree to London Society. She will
be wonderful company for my own daughter, Marilyn, whom your Azalea
cannot fail to love as dearly as I do. And how exciting to have a
young American in our midst! Such a pity that your health will
prevent you from accompanying her, but the whirl of London is
always more enjoyable for the young, in any event.
    I will endeavour to introduce Azalea about
without mentioning her American origin, unless her accent should
give her away—to avoid any unpleasantness about the recent war, you
understand. Of course, I myself have never much regarded politics,
nor have most of my friends, so do not worry on that score. Please
assure her that she will be delighted with Town life. We shall
await Azalea's arrival impatiently.
    Your devoted niece, etc.
    Alice Beauforth
     
    A postscript to this letter, dictated by her
grandfather, informed Azalea that for all of her apparent
flightiness, Lady Beauforth was very highly placed in Society and
would afford Azalea ample protection while she regained her own
fortune— protection he could no longer give her.
    Enclosed with the letters were the proofs of
Azalea's marriage to Christian, with instructions to use them, if
necessary, to enlist the aid of Herschel Morely, the new Lord
Glaedon, in her mission.
    Azalea had reluctantly answered Lady
Beauforth's somewhat disjointed missive, informing her cousin of
Reverend Simpson's death and of her own expected arrival date in
England. She had no intention of concealing her nationality, of
course, but refrained from mentioning this in her letter.
    She also omitted any mention of Lord Kayce,
her early marriage, or her plans to gain her inheritance. If her
uncle really were dangerous, no good could come of giving him
advance warning of her arrival or her existence. And after reading
her rambling letter, she did not trust Lady Beauforth to remain
silent on any point.
    Thus it was a very brief, almost terse, note
that Lady Beauforth would have received. No doubt that lady would
attribute it to her young cousin's grief, or the influence of
having been brought up in the wilds. Azalea could not bring herself
to care overmuch which.
    She absently fingered the large packet
containing a copy of the will, the letters and the marriage lines.
On impulse, she opened it again, to glance through the contents.
There was the marriage certificate, with signatures of the rector,
Dr. Wills, as having performed the ceremony and of Mrs. Wills as
witness, as well as a document of consent signed by her
grandfather.
    Her throat tightened when she saw
Christian's signature above her own childish one. Even after so
many years, that loss still hurt.
    She returned the certificate to the packet
and tucked it into a compartment of her valise. Fastening it, she
took a final glance around to assure herself that nothing had been
forgotten, then turned and