Cavendon Hall Read Online Free PDF Page A

put herself out of reach. She continued to clutch the dress to her body. “I won’t hurt it, Ceci,” DeLacy said, still whirling around the room. “I promise I won’t.”
    “Stop! You must stop!” Cecily cried desperately, her voice rising. She was on the verge of tears.
    DeLacy Ingham paid no attention to Cecily Swann.
    She was enjoying herself too much, dancing around the bedroom, lost in a world of her own for a moment or two. And then it happened. The accident.
    Cecily saw it start as if in slow motion, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
    DeLacy’s foot got caught in the hemline of the gown. She wobbled. Then lost her balance. And reached out to steady herself. She grabbed the edge of the desk, still holding the gown. But as she grabbed the desk, she knocked over the inkpot. It rolled across the desk toward her. She stepped back but she was not fast enough. The bright blue ink splashed onto the front of the skirt of the white lace ball gown.
    Cecily gasped out loud, her eyes widening in shock. Horrified at what had just happened, and frightened at the thought of the consequences, she was unable to move.
    DeLacy looked down at the ink, her face stricken. When she glanced across at Cecily her eyes filled with tears.
    “Look what you’ve done!” Cecily said, her voice trembling. “Why didn’t you listen to me? Why didn’t you pay attention?”
    DeLacy had no answer for her. She stood there holding the dress, tears rolling down her face.

 
    Five
    “ D eLacy! What on earth’s happened?” Daphne exclaimed from the threshold of her sister’s room, and hurried forward, making straight for DeLacy.
    DeLacy did not answer, quaking inside, knowing how upset Daphne would be when she saw the ruined ball gown. It had been chosen for her to wear at the summer ball their parents gave at Cavendon every year. Tears brimmed, and she swallowed hard, pushing back her fear. She knew she was in trouble. How stupid she had been to play around with this fragile gown.
    “Why are you clutching the ball gown like that? My goodness, is that ink? How did ink get on the lace?” Daphne’s normally soft voice had risen an octave or two, and she was startled, her face suddenly turning pale.
    When DeLacy remained silent, looking more frightened than ever, Daphne turned, her gaze resting on Cecily. “Can you offer an explanation? How did this mishap occur?”
    Cecily, fiercely loyal to her best friend, cleared her throat nervously, not knowing how to answer Daphne without lying. That she could not do; nor did she wish to explain the series of events which had so unexpectedly taken place.
    Her mind raced as she wondered what to say. Unexpectedly, she did not have to say anything, since her mother was now entering the room.
    Cecily began to shake inside. She was well aware how angry her mother would be, and she would be blamed. She had been in charge.
    Alice walked over to join Daphne and DeLacy. When she spotted the ball gown in DeLacy’s arms she came to an abrupt halt, a dismayed expression crossing her face. Nonetheless, Alice was self-contained, and she said in a steady voice, “ That’s ruined! It’s of no use to anyone now.” Glancing at her daughter, she raised a brow. “Well, what do you have to say? Can you please explain what happened to this unique ball gown?”
    Unable to speak, her mouth dry, Cecily shook her head; she retreated, moving away, backing up against the window.
    Alice was not to be deterred, and went on, “I gave you a task, Cecily. You were instructed to take the frocks and the ball gown out of the cedar closet in the attic. I asked you to look after them. They were in your care. However, it is obvious you didn’t look after this one, did you?”
    Cecily blinked back the incipient tears. She shook her head, and in a whisper, she said, “It was an accident, Mam.” She was still protecting DeLacy when she added, “I’m sorry I let you down.”
    Alice simply nodded, holding her annoyance in