Fenella J. Miller Read Online Free PDF Page B

kind thoughts, Sir James, and I also thank you for sending me the flowers and fruit. I should have been away before your party came out if I had not delayed to eat half a pineapple.”
    His eyes were friendly as he smiled. He was indeed a most attractive gentleman when he put himself out to be charming. “Do you arrange the decorations yourself, Miss Baverstock, or do you merely direct the operation?”
    “A little of both. It will not be possible to achieve the result I wish for if I leave things entirely to the staff. However, I must assure you, that this is one task that I relish. It has always been a pleasure to see Hartford Hall dressed for the Lord’s name day. This is a tradition which goes back many years.”
    “If you require extra assistance I’m sure we should all like to help. I can remember helping my mother, when I was a boy, to do the same thing. It would be most enjoyable to be able to be involved again after so many years.” His expression darkened as if thoughts of his past were not pleasant.
    Her heart went out to him; she hated to see anyone unhappy. “I should be honoured if you would care to help me. The chore will be far easier if I have someone knowledgeable at my side.”
    Amelia overheard this conversation and her head snapped round, her eyes sharp, no longer feigning friendship. “Sir James, Elizabeth prefers to work alone. This year Mama has kindly allowed her to arrange the greenery in the manner used before we arrived.” She smiled coldly at Elizabeth before continuing. “However, this changes everything. Now Elizabeth is prepared to allow others to help, it’s no longer her prerogative. I shall direct operations.”
    His stare was arctic. “Let us hope, Lady Amelia, your efforts to take charge of this matter are more successful than you were when leading us to the place where the greenery was growing.”
    Amelia flushed, but did not back down. Her nature was not to apologise or admit she was wrong. “How could I be expected to know where such things grow? After all it is not I who has lived here all my life.”
    Elizabeth held her breath. This was the first time this fact had ever been aired in public. The whole family went to great lengths to keep her past a secret. Amelia’s embarrassment had caused her to inadvertently reveal this information. Sir James glanced in her direction and something flashed in his eyes, but then he turned back to Amelia.
    “Exactly so, Lady Amelia. No one should ever forget Miss Baverstock is the granddaughter of an earl. She was born and bred here and is a true aristocrat.”
    What he left unsaid was more potent than his actual words. Even Eleanor was shocked by his directness; she spun round, mouth open, to stare at him. Ned broke the silence.
    “I say, when Pa said we was to come here for Christmas I’d no idea I should be meeting so many lovely young ladies. What a lucky fellow I am to be sure.”
    David immediately chimed in. “I shall ask all of you to dance with me at the ball next week. I’ve been learning how to waltz. Do you think your parents will allow us to do this new dance?”
    Elizabeth waited for Amelia to disabuse the young men, to tell them in no uncertain terms that she was not invited to the ball. Her role would be to oversee the preparations and then retire to her chambers. Then she must be up at dawn to make sure the servants put the house to rights before the guests got up.
    Her anguish must have shown in her expression, for a strong hand gripped her shoulder for a second to reassure her. “And I shall do the same. It will be my absolute pleasure to stand up with each of you in turn.”
    She sank back against the cart side. Sir James’s comment meant Lady Hartford could not prevent her appearance. Amelia laughed.
    “Of course Elizabeth will be there. I’m sure I cannot wait to see what delightful ensemble she appears in.”
    Elizabeth clenched her hands, her momentary happiness squashed. She had nothing to wear, had never