Azalea by Brenda Hiatt Read Free Book Online Page B

memory aside.
    "Oh, yes, Marilyn has
made such a
conquest!" gushed Lady Beauforth before her daughter could answer.
"And Lord Glaedon, old friend and neighbour that he is, has
been quite flatteringly insistent on an early wedding date. It will
scarce give us time to ready a suitable trousseau."
    "No, Glaedon would not be put off till June,
but must needs marry me in February," Marilyn tittered. "I must say
he has been most attentive of late, as well." Demurely casting her
eyes down, Marilyn glanced sideways through her lashes at her
cousin, as though to ascertain that she was paying proper
attention.
    Azalea scarcely noticed. "Lord Glaedon, did
you say, ma'am?" she asked in a tight, strained voice. Suddenly, it
seemed difficult to breathe. "I—I did not know that you were
acquainted with him."
    She hardly knew what she was saying, the
shock of hearing the name was so great. Of course she had known
that if she stayed permanently in England, she would likely
encounter Christian's older brother eventually, but she had pushed
that thought far to the back of her mind. Suddenly learning that he
was a frequent visitor to this very house took her completely off
guard.
    Struggling to regain her composure, she
noticed that her cousins were regarding her rather strangely.
''What did you say, ma'am?" Belatedly, she realized that Lady
Beauforth had asked her a question.
    "I asked how you come to know of Lord
Glaedon, my dear. Are you all right? Your colour is quite gone. You
are not about to swoon, are you?"
    "Oh, no ma'am, I—I'm fine," Azalea answered
in a tolerably steady voice. "I was merely startled."
    She took a few deep breaths to calm herself
before explaining. "The previous Earl, Lord Glaedon's father, was a
close friend of my grandfather's, you see. He spoke of Lord Glaedon
frequently, and was devastated by the news of his death. It—it is
my belief that the shock played a large part in the illness to
which he eventually succumbed."
    "Oh! Oh, I see," said her ladyship with a
nod, her curiosity apparently satisfied. "No wonder mention of the
name distressed you. But I do hope you won't mind meeting the
present Earl of Glaedon. As he is Marilyn's fiancé, we encounter
him frequently in Society, as well as here at home."
    Lady Beauforth's tone, while concerned, did
not indicate any suspicion that Azalea had told considerably less
than the truth. For that, Azalea could only be relieved. She had no
intention of acquainting her cousins with the details of her early
life. However, she had no reason to believe that Lord Glaedon would
be so reticent once he knew who she was. It was even possible he
might hold her partially responsible for the deaths of his father
and younger brother.
    She stifled a sigh. That was one problem she
refused to worry about before it materialized.
    "No, I'm certain I will be able to encounter
his lordship with composure, Cousin Alice," Azalea assured her,
hoping she spoke the truth. "It was merely the unexpectedness of
hearing his name that overset me for a moment."
    Reassured on that point, Lady Beauforth
resumed her instructions to the girls on where they were to shop on
the morrow, since she would be unable to accompany them.
    "I find my uncertain state of health makes
it difficult for me to get about. I quite rejoice at the idea of
your being able to accompany Marilyn to the shops and functions
when I am unable to, Azalea— though of course we are delighted to
have you here for your own sake, as well."
    This last statement was added almost as an
afterthought, and gave Azalea some insight into her cousin's real
motive for offering her a home. It also helped to explain the
contradictory nature of the letter sent to her grandfather. The
thought bothered Azalea very little. She liked to know where she
stood with people, and acting as Marilyn's companion made staying
here smack even less of accepting charity.

    * * *

    Back in her room, Azalea dismissed Junie for
the night after repeating Lady Beauforth's