Lauren's Dilemma Read Online Free PDF Page A

Blair. I’ll call you Lauren, seeing as we're going to be related soon.
I've got a couple of days’ leave, so I'm staying at the Grand Hotel in the
city.”
    Well, of
course, the Grand Hotel, where else? A home away from home for wealthy farmers
like him.
    “Here I am,
darling.” Blair rose to his feet as Helen glided towards him, resplendent in a
pale blue silk dress with ruffles at the throat and cuffs, a white fur stole
draped around her shoulders.
    “Helen, you
do look beautiful,” Laurie complimented sincerely. No wonder Blair Sinclair
couldn’t drag his eyes away from such a vision of loveliness.
    After they
left, she sank back on the settee feeling more relaxed now the other two had
gone. “Didn't Helen look beautiful, and Blair is so handsome in his uniform.
What a striking couple they make.”
    “Yes.” The
older woman smiled, her daughter's stunning good looks obviously pleased her.
    “You know,
Helen could take her pick of any bachelor in Melbourne. An English lord fell madly in love
with her, and then there was a general's son. My dear, you have no idea the
number of young men desperate to ask for her hand in marriage.”
    “Captain
Sinclair seems nice.”
    “Blair
comes from one of the top farming families in Victoria. His parents are both dead, and as
an only child he inherited a great deal of property, very socially acceptable.
Went to Melbourne Grammar, of course. I can’t understand why he joined up,” she
finished on a sigh.
    So, Blair
had gone to one of Melbourne’s
top public schools. Confident, articulate, with the merest hint of arrogance.
Yes, he had quality written all over him.
    “Hello,
Lauren, my dear.”
    “Uncle
Richard.” She jumped up and ran into his open arms.
    “Hello,
Jane.” He smiled. “Where's Helen?”
    “Went to
visit Fiona Everingham with Blair.”
    “A jolly
poor show on Lauren's first evening here.”
    “I don't
mind.”   She was glad of it. In fact,
their absence made it easier to confess what she had done without Helen’s
patronizing condemnation or Blair thinking poorly of her.
    “Um, Uncle
Richard.” She clenched her hands behind her back. “I've done an awful thing.
Dad didn't give me permission to write about staying here. I lied.”
    “Lauren,
really!” Aunt Jane frantically fanned herself with a lace handkerchief.
    “He forbade
me to see Danny, but I had to come. Dad doesn't like him much.”
    “Dear me, I
don't condone deceitful behavior, and if Matthew didn't approve of this young
man.”
    “Please,
Uncle Richard, Danny isn't bad. And I'm all he's got.”
    He gnawed
his lip. “You did tell your father where you were staying?”
    “Yes. He
didn't know about the letters we exchanged, but I left a note.” Tears trembled
on her lashes. “Danny is going overseas soon. It was my last chance to see him
for a while, so I took it.”
    “All
right.” He gave a deep sigh. “I'll get word to Matthew that you're safe. Don’t
worry. After he gets over his initial anger, you'll be welcomed back into the
fold again.”
    A sudden
sick feeling swept over her and she trembled with apprehension. What if her
father didn’t want her back?
    Uncle
Richard patted her shoulder. “Your father's not a vindictive man. How's he
keeping these days, anyway?”
    “Quite
well. We've been busy at the store.”
    “I don't
know why Matthew bothers scratching out a living in the back of beyond. He
should be down here so Lauren could meet all the right people.” Aunt Jane
warmed to her theme. “It's quite scandalous the way her social life has been
neglected.”
    “He won't
come down here, heaven knows I've tried, but there's no need for you to hurry
back, my dear. Stay here for as long as you wish. I'll write to your father.
I'm sure he won't mind.”
    “Thanks,
Uncle Richard, but I'm happy at home. I only came down here because of Danny.
Dad needs me to help in the store.”
    “You serve
in a shop?” Aunt Jane battled to hide her distaste.
    “Things