Cinders & Sapphires

Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed Read Free Book Online Page B

Book: Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed Read Free Book Online
Authors: Leila Rasheed
Tags: Fiction - Young Adult
their work.
    Annie and Stella climbed down, and Rose could tell that, even though they didn’t say much, they were pleased.
    As they paused with satisfaction over their work, there was a rumble and a roar that came closer and closer.
    “They’re here!” James hissed across the room. “Make yourselves scarce!”
    Rose hastily gathered up her things and ran for the door, followed by Annie and Stella. She couldn’t resist slowing to peek through the French windows. A huge, majestically gleaming motorcar was drawing into the courtyard. The man at the wheel looked up, caught her eye, and winked. Rose gasped and backed away. Annie caught her arm.
    “Come on, Miss Cliffe,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
    “You don’t have to call me that!” Rose ran up the stairs after her, leaving Stella behind.
    “I do, though. And Miss Ward likes it, I’m sure.” Annie added: “Don’t get too high and mighty, though, will you?”
    “Of course I won’t. You’re my friend.” Rose had shared a room with Annie since they were twelve, and she had a lump in her throat at the thought of that ending. “I’ll miss you.”
    “Huh!” Annie sounded pleased, though. “You’ll soon forget us and make friends with Miss Ward, I’m sure.”
    Rose glanced behind her. Stella was nowhere in sight.
    “I hope I’m friendly, but I couldn’t be friends with her. She’s much older than me.”
    “Nonsense, she’s no more than eighteen.”
    “She can’t be!”
    “She is.” Annie nodded knowingly.
    “But she’s so sophisticated and confident, and…she looks twenty-five at least!”
    Annie dropped her voice to a whisper: “She wears makeup.”
    “She doesn’t!”
    “She does. You’re that innocent, Rose!” Annie giggled, and that set Rose off.
    “What are you two giggling about?” Stella caught up with them, looking annoyed. “Come on, they’ve gone into the drawing room and there’s still a lot to be done before the hall looks ready.”
    “They’re here!” Georgiana rushed from the drawing room window, back to Ada. “Is my dress all right?”
    “Yes, of course.” Ada sounded soothing, but her heart was beating fast too. This was it, the moment they met the people who would share their lives from now on. She wondered whether she should stand or sit. Which would look more dignified and casual—but welcoming? But it was too late. She could hear footsteps outside, her father’s voice and a woman’s—and other voices as well.
    Cooper thrust the door open, bowed, and stood back. Ada smiled nervously as her father came in, followed by a tall, very handsome woman wearing a well-cut burgundy motoring dress that showed off her elegant figure. The furs of what looked like an entire den of foxes were wound around her neck, and despite the long drive her gloves were spotless.
    “Mrs. Fiona Templeton,” Cooper announced in his most sepulchral tones.
    Ada was startled. She had not expected her new stepmother to be so stylish—or so young looking. Was she young enough to give birth to another son? she wondered for the first time. No wonder William’s nose was out of joint.
    Before she could gather her thoughts, Cooper went on: “Miss Charlotte Templeton.”
    Into the room came a girl of Ada’s age. She had all of her mother’s style and did a good impression of having her beauty. Her hair was dressed with mischievous golden curls escaping from under her hat, and she wore sapphires around her neck that brought out the glint of her eyes. Ada smiled and moved forward, but Charlotte did not echo her smile.
    “Master Sebastian Templeton,” Cooper went on.
    Charlotte was followed by a young man in motoring clothes. He looked more like his mother than his sister did. He had her height and her strong, aristocratic features. Ada knew just enough about men’s clothes to see at once that his were of the best tailoring—better, perhaps, than his sister’s. There was genuine taste there, as well as the same sense of

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