Dizzy Dilemmas by Mary Beeken Read Free Book Online

jumped in.
    “She is very commanding isn’t she?” Ross asked the gi rls. “Can be a bit scary too when she takes charge like this.”
    “Dizzy is the same. She has the look you know! One that can freeze you at a thousand paces!” Georgiana said impulsively.
    “Georgie!”
    “Sorry! But it is true!” Georgiana apologised but felt the need to justify her comment.
    The shout of laughter that echoed around the gallery from Ross and Marcus, fortunately forestalled either Erica or Dizzy from exacting retribution for such disloyal utterances.
    “What is all this hilarity? May I remind you there are sleeping Mummies within hearing?” Gabriel and the rest of the Brockton clan, including Mrs Honey Dew, had at last caught up with the sisters.
    “There you are!” Dizzy said, visibly relieved and hoping to move on without any more to do. “Georgie and I were wondering where you were but now you are here we can go and find those slumbering Mummies.” Turning quickly to the three strangers in front of her, she hastily added with a quick curtsey for good measure. “We are so sorry to have troubled you. I hope you enjoy the rest of your visit.”
    “Glenmore, it is good to see you again so soon. I was not aware you had been introduced to my sisters.” Gideon ignored Dizzy’s attempt to escape and spoke jovially to Marcus.
    “Actually, I haven’t. They mistakenly thought we were you and began talking to us before they realised their mistake. Happens regularly or so Lady Trevellyn informs me, although I cannot recall ever doing it myself.” Marcus explained, tugging gently on his right ear whilst trying to remain straight faced.
    “Do not start that again!” Erica warned him. “Nor you!” she turned to her husband before he could say anything.
    “I would not dare to say anything, sweetheart,” he laughed, putting his hands up in mock defence.
    Gideon thought it prudent to refrain from asking what was behind the comments.
    “With your permission, then , Your Grace?” and when Glenmore nodded, he introduced his siblings in age order before adding. “And most importantly, this is Mrs Honey Dew; our cousin.”
    “We are pleased to make your acquaintance, your Grace” Mrs Honey Dew spoke for all as they curtseyed and bowed.
    Once Glenmore had made the Marquis and Marchioness of Trevellyn known to everyone, Erica asked “Your names all begin with a G and therefore I am assuming that Dizzy is not short for Desdemona or something like that?”
    “No, it is a pet name of many years standing; my Lady and I no longer answer to anything else.” Dizzy told her. “I do not think even my parents remember the name thy chose to give to me at my birth.”
    “No-one with any sense would recall it!” Gabriel snorted, “For a most mismatched…”
    “Thank you, Gabriel. I think everyone takes your meaning so there is no need to finish that sentence,” Dizzy interrupted.
    “Mismatched in what way?” Marcus was not slow in getting under his adversary’s skin by taking up on any opportunity presented by her brothers and sisters.
    “Mismatched in that it did not match!” Dizzy replied hoping to dampen any more enquiries but the Duke of Glenmore was enjoying himself hugely and was as tenacious as a small dog with an oversized bone.
    “In what way though did it not match?”
    “As in that is was mismatched. I do not think I can make it any clearer, Duke!” Dizzy had been about to use the term of address; ‘Your Grace’ as befitted his title but recognising the irony of it all at the last possible second, had bit out ‘Duke’ instead. The absurdity must have occurred to at least one of the Brockton clan for she was sure that she heard a smothered snort or two coming from the vicinity in which they stood; avid spectators.
    “Oh, I think you could be much clearer, Lady Dizzy. In fact I would go so far as to say yo u are being deliberately vague.”
    “How so? Mismatched is concise enough, I feel. It says everything it