The Last Camellia: A Novel Read Online Free PDF

deposited me at the door to my cabin, “I suggest you keep to yourself for the rest of the trip.”
    “Yes, sir,” I said. He walked down the long hallway, and when he rounded the corner, I slipped my key into the door, but turned around quickly when I heard a
psssst
coming from behind me.
    A woman, a few years older than I, peeked her head out from a door across the hall. “Excuse me,” she said. “May I have a quick word with you?”
    “Me?” I said, a little confused.
    She stepped out into the hallway, closing the door to her cabin behind her. “Yes,” she said. “It’s important.”
    I nodded. “OK.”
    She walked toward me. “We can’t talk here,” she said. “Inside your cabin.”
    We slipped into the room, and I closed the door behind me.
    “You’re working with Mr. Price,” she said, “aren’t you?”
    I shook my head. “I don’t know what you mean.”
    “You don’t have to pretend,” she said. “I know all about him. I used to work for him.”
    I gasped. “You did?”
    “Yes,” she said. “I saw you talking to him on the upper deck today, and I figured you’re one of his new girls.”
    “Well, I . . . well, yes,” I said, finally confessing. “But you don’t understand, I have to do this. For my family.”
    “That’s what I thought too,” she said with a knowing smile. “But there are other ways.”
    I shook my head. “I’m already committed. I can’t turn back now.”
    “You can,” she said. “Just think about it. Believe me, you don’t want to get mixed up with this man. I’m still trying to untangle myself.”
    I nodded.
    “My name’s Georgia.”
    “Flora,” I replied.
    “Nice to meet you, Flora.” She turned to the door, before looking back briefly. “I recommend that you stay in this room for the rest of the voyage. Tell the steward you’re ill and have your meals brought down to your room. The less you see Mr. Price, the better. And then when we dock, you can disappear into London. I can help you find the funds to get back home.”
    I thought about Desmond, my father, and the men who had threatened him. Georgia’s plan seemed implausible, but I nodded again. “And, please, whatever you decide to do, don’t tell Mr. Price that you saw me.”

CHAPTER 3
    Addison
    I felt a gentle nudge on my shoulder. “Honey,” Rex whispered into my ear. “We’re here.”
    I opened my eyes, letting the scene outside the cab’s window come into focus.
    I gasped. “You didn’t tell me your parents bought
Buckingham Palace
!”
    Rex grinned. “It’s pretty great, isn’t it?”
    “
Great
’s hardly the right word,” I said, unable to take my eyes off of the manor. “It’s
grand
.” Three stories, built of intricate stonework, towered above us. Light green ivy, trimmed into submission, spread out over the masonry. I noticed a dormer window on the third floor and thought I saw the ruffle of a curtain, before my eyes met Rex’s again. “Didn’t you say the house was empty?”
    “Well, yes,” Rex said, stepping out onto the gravel driveway. “Aside from the housekeeper.” He grinned. “Father said she came with the place.”
    “Oh,” I said, scooting toward him on the seat, before taking his hand as he helped me outside. I felt the crunch of gravel underfoot.
    Rex turned to me. “Shall we go in?” He hefted the bags from the driver’s arms and set out toward the entrance.
    The cab driver cleared his throat, and I turned around. “Oh, I’m so sorry, did my husband forget to pay the fare?”
    “No, ma’am,” he said quickly, lifting his hat and rubbing his forehead nervously as he eyed the old house. “It’s just that, well . . . you do know about this old place, don’t you?”
    I frowned. “Know what?”
    Rex was too far ahead to hear our conversation.
    “My mum’s the superstitious type,” he said, taking a step closer to me and gazing up at the facade curiously. “She said it’s the only place in Clivebrook she wouldn’t dare