Pride of the Courtneys by Margaret Dickinson Read Free Book Online

small dagger. Still, it is pleasant to think that whilst we have it, we cannot be cast into the streets to live as beggars.’
    â€˜I wish I had something to safeguard me in that way,’ I could not stop the words, but immediately I wished I had.
    â€˜Now that is the most foolish remark I have ever heard you utter, Louella,’ he said. ‘You seem to have little faith in our desire to help you.’
    My heart beat painfully. Bassett was really angry this time. There was nothing I could do but apologise.
    â€˜I’m sorry, I did not mean to be ungrateful, but at times I feel so dependent on you. It is uncomfortable, to say the least.’
    â€˜Then don’t feel that way.’
    And Bassett left the room quickly.
    â€˜Oh Louella,’ moaned Georgiana, ‘you have put your foot in it this time.’
    I was distressed, and angry with myself. Although inwardly I had disliked Bassett, and still did, because I owed him so much, at the same time to voice such thoughts was ingratitude in the extreme, and I did not wish to show that.
    We left the room of treasures and walking by the portraits of Bassett’s grandparents, I looked at them with fresh interest. Grandmother Courtney sitting very erect, was stern and forbidding and so very like Bassett in her expression. But I could see from where Georgiana got her beauty. Although the picture had been painted when Lady Florence was old, there was no mistaking the fine features and proud bearing.
    â€˜There’s another picture of her when she was younger,’ said Georgiana, ‘Look down here,’ and tucked away at the end of the long gallery was a smaller painting of Lady Florence.
    â€˜Why, she looks a different person,’ I exclaimed. It was as if Georgiana stared back at me from the canvas. Lady Florence had most certainly been a beautiful woman, but in this portrait she showed none of the hardness which was apparent in the later one.
    â€˜She was lovely in this one, wasn’t she?’ said Georgiana, ‘I think her unhappy life made her bitter and cynical by the time the other one was painted.’
    â€˜How terrible,’ I cried, ‘that someone with such beauty should live an unhappy life.’
    â€˜It is the way of the world, Victoria,’ a voice spoke sadly behind us. Georgiana and I spun round to see Sir Hugh Courtney in the doorway.
    â€˜Why, father,’ welcomed Georgiana. ‘Bassett and I have just been showing Louella the dagger and telling her about it.’
    I noticed that she stressed my name. I could not understand why Sir Hugh had called me Victoria, my mother’s name.
    Sir Hugh came up to us and stood thoughtfully gazing at the portrait of his mother.
    â€˜She was very beautiful. Sir Hugh,’ I said shyly.
    â€˜Yes, but she was very cruel, my dear.’
    He turned to Georgiana and put his hand on her shoulder. She moved closer to him, for I knew she was very fond of her absent-minded father.
    â€˜Georgiana, my dearest child, you are the living image of your grandmother. But as you go through life, be sure you don’t cause the same unhappiness to your family as she did. Beauty is not everything, happiness should come first.’ And his voice broke painfully. As if he could trust himself to say no more he left us swiftly.
    What a strange afternoon.
    As I went to my room, the events flooded through my mind. Georgiana’s obvious attraction for Dr Corby would surely lead to a rift in the family if it became stronger and if Charles were to reciprocate. Bassett was obviously angry with me for my thoughtless remark in the ‘treasure room’ as I called it. And now Sir Hugh, firstly calling me Victoria and then displaying such emotion before his mother’s portrait.
    I sighed. Dear me, this was a household of mystery and emotion, I thought. Gone were the peaceful, uncomplicated days I had known with Uncle James and Aunt Virginia.
    My fears regarding