Hotel du Barry Read Online Free PDF Page A

June, Bertha Brown settled on the fictitious birth date of the fourteenth of April. Mrs Brown informed the kitchen staff it was, ‘An inspired choice, even if I do say so myself. She has all the hallmarks of having been born an Arian. Aries is a cardinal fire sign ruled by the aggressive planet Mars. Joybelle Hortense Maguire will be headstrong, capricious and worldly. Yet strangely untouched and innocent.’
    It was widely known that Mrs Brown consulted her horoscope every single day. She also gobbled up romantic novels and had a marked preference for skittish, wayward heroines.
    Things moved quickly after Daniel du Barry was presented with the bogus paperwork and in due course he decided the baby would be christened Caterina Anastasia Lucinda du Barry. It could have been worse. Daniel had been inspired by the name when he was busily getting rat-faced on Caterina Anastasia Grande Imperial Champagne the night before his wedding. And Lucinda had been his mother’s name.
    The name Caterina Anastasia Lucinda du Barry was promptly shortened by the staff to Cat du Barry. Everyone declared themselves satisfied. Daniel had sobered up by this stage.
    So highly sought after were invitations to Cat du Barry’s christening that Daniel could have floated them on the Stock Exchange and made a killing. Tatler gazette breathlessly made predictions as to the guest list, while rumours flew thick and fast as to how the new Mrs Daniel du Barry was coping with a baby that wasn’t of her own making.
    Daniel invited Mary to both the Sunday christening and the party afterwards, but she declined to attend the celebrations in the hotel’s rooftop Winter Garden. ‘Nice of you to invite me to sit with you Daniel. But I’d rather sit with the rest of the staff and let you and Mrs du Barry get on with it.’ The corners of Mary’s mouth twitched. ‘She must be dying to take over and have her go at motherhood, eh?’
    Daniel didn’t take the bait and he hid his smile by gazing out the window of his study. ‘You know, I’d like you and my staff to be partof the christening celebrations too, Mary. You all went out of your way to help Caterina. Besides, things are getting grimmer.’
    â€˜Grimmer? Is there going to be more war?’
    â€˜No, but everybody is still grieving for their loved ones. And some economists are predicting a major financial downturn in Britain in the next year or so. I could easily organise an impromptu christening party in Toucan Court for the staff. Perhaps an afternoon tea dance. With champagne, of course. What do you think, Mary?’
    Mary beamed. All this and I won’t even have to make nice with that daft cow. Things certainly weren’t getting grimmer.
    The church christening was a glamorous affair. The former Eddie Lamb wore a superb white woollen day dress trimmed with white ostrich feathers. She was late and had forgotten her hat. Her blonde hair glistened in the weak sunlight as she paused and smiled beatifically at the assembled press. The Hotel du Barry Baby had been heavily featured in London’s newspapers. Not only was it a feel-good tale that had begun as a tragedy, but the story had been accompanied by photographs of some very attractive protagonists.
    Hemlines were modestly rising in 1919 and Edwina’s ankles were slyly photographed from every angle as she paused at the top of the church steps. Fortunately she didn’t have fat hocks. ‘Gentlemen, I have no further comments. Other than to say that my husband and I feel blessed to start our family with this beautiful baby. I assure you she will be unconditionally cherished and loved.’
    Edwina dipped her chin and widened her eyes at the voracious cameras. She was rapidly becoming one of the most photographed society women of her generation.
    Accompanying Edwina was her one remaining friend, Gloria von Trocken. Gloria was Edwina’s alibi in the friends’ stake. Everyother