Sea of Lost Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

glasses and crockery. Celestria watched them construct her fantasy with great excitement. It wouldn’t be sophisticated like London parties, but she was so starved of distraction that she didn’t mind. There would be plenty of people to admire her, and she would dance the night away with Dan Wilmotte in whichever dress she chose to wear. Finally something would rouse this sleepy crevice of Cornwall into action, and who knows, she might even fall in love. Her mother always said that love came when you least expected it.
    Lotty and Melissa were just as excited as Celestria and faced with the very real concern of finding husbands. With her long auburn hair Lotty was the prettier of the two, but, as Pamela cruelly used to say, “in the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed man is king.” Neither dazzled, poor creatures. Like so many English girls they had oval faces with small chins and watery blue eyes, all inherited from their mother, Penelope. Pamela referred to that type of girl as “egg-faced.” Often the egg face was a sign of aristocratic blood—though not in Lotty and Melissa’s case, of course. Milton had a strong, handsome face with big eyes and a firm, angular jaw, inherited by the fortunate David, who was also tall and athletic. What a pity his daughters hadn’t been so lucky. Pamela was melodramatic and selfish, but at least she had given Celestria a beautiful face.
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    Down on the beach, the morning of the dance, Celestria escaped having to help Julia with the flowers. Melissa was too good-hearted to hide out with her, but she had managed to coerce Lotty into joining her. The girls lay on towels in the sunshine, while Bouncy dug a hole with Nanny and the boys played cricket with Purdy. Celestria wore a pair of white shorts and a turquoise shirt, knotted at the breast, that turned her gray eyes blue. Lotty wore white slacks—she didn’t like to show her legs, they were as sturdy as a pony’s—and a sunhat hid her fair and freckled skin.
    â€œAre you sure we shouldn’t be helping out?” she asked with a frown.
    Celestria stretched lazily. “We’d only get in the way. Too many cooks spoil the broth. Besides, someone has to look out for the boys, as Nanny only has eyes for Bouncy.”
    â€œDon’t we all? I long for a baby,” added Lotty with a sigh.
    â€œYou have to find a man first, or didn’t Aunt Penelope tell you the facts of life?”
    A small smile crept across Lotty’s face. “You can keep a secret, can’t you?”
    â€œYou know I can,” Celestria replied, propping herself up on her elbow.
    â€œI haven’t even told Melissa.”
    â€œOh, I doubt she’d be able to keep a secret from your mother, and Aunt Penelope’s got a voice like a foghorn.”
    â€œSo I can trust you?”
    â€œOf course.”
    She paused, then plunged in. “I’m in love, Celestria. Really and truly in love.” Her eyes shone with happiness.
    â€œWho with? Do I know him?”
    â€œThat’s the problem. He’s not one of us.”
    â€œNot top drawer?” Celestria was appalled but at the same time intrigued. If he was rich, what did it matter? “New money?”
    â€œI don’t think he has very much. He’s a pianist.”
    â€œFrancis Browne,” said Celestria jubilantly.
    Lotty looked startled. “How do you know?”
    â€œHe’s your new piano teacher. Mama’s considering getting rid of old Mrs. Gilstone and replacing her with him, which would be a blessing from my point of view. Mrs. Gilstone had bad breath. Your mother says he’s rather good. He’s obviously too good!”
    â€œHe’s talented, sensitive, and kind.” Lotty’s face, lit up by love, looked almost beautiful.
    â€œOh dear. I suppose he loves you back?”
    â€œYes. He wants to marry me.”
    â€œYou could always elope. That’s very romantic and the kind