A Dream Come True Read Free Page A

temporary farewell.
    As she sank down into her chair, she wished that he could have stayed with her. Instead, her dining companion was her deaf Great-Uncle Hubert. He had made the journey from London and seemed thoroughly bemused that his niece was getting married for the second time.
    â€œA man needs a wife!” he boomed. “I myself have been married three times, but no lady will have an old man like me now.”
    Lucia thought that he must be seventy-five if he was a day and sympathised with him over the lack of suitable companions.
    â€œI don’t care to take a young wife,” he continued, as the first course was served. “I prefer a more mature woman.”
    Lucia found herself smiling, even though she knew he did not mean to be amusing.
    All through the five-course banquet, Lucia watched her new stepfather.
    He was tall and well-built without being corpulent and his face was neither unattractive nor handsome. His brown hair was greying and he wore a full beard that gave him a somewhat nautical appearance.
    â€˜It was a pity it was not him on board the Titanic,’ she fumed darkly as he laughed gaily with her mother. ‘Why can Mama not see through him? He must have been thrilled to acquire yet another property for the great McAllister empire.’
    Even though he boasted a title, Lucia knew that it was only a Knighthood. He stood to gain a great deal, she believed, by being associated with the Mountford family.
    The thought suddenly struck her. What would happen to her if her mother died? Would she be penniless? Surely, her mother would not leave the house and what money remained to her new husband?
    Lucia fell silent as she pondered her fate. She wished she did not have to be there at all pretending to smile when she felt so utterly miserable.
    After the long meal had finished, Lucia made her excuses and went upstairs to change her clothes. Her maid, Mary-Anne, was waiting with her ball gown ready and pressed.
    Much as Lucia would have liked to have feigned a headache and remained in her room, she knew that she could not.
    â€œHer Ladyship looks so happy!” sighed Mary-Anne, as she dressed Lucia’s hair. “It will odd to have a new Master in the house, won’t it?”
    â€œHe will never replace my Papa,” she muttered grimly.
    Blushing, Mary-Anne realised she had spoken out of turn.
    â€œI’m sorry, miss. I did not mean to offend.”
    â€œDo not concern yourself, Mary-Anne. The Hall is still Mama’s by rights and, even if she has changed her name, she is still a Mountford.”
    â€œYes, miss.”
    Mary-Anne put the finishing touches to Lucia’s coiffeur in silence. If the truth were told, she did not care for the look of the new Master and neither did many of the servants at the Hall. They considered him to be a jumped-up trader who was seeking to better himself.
    The servants of Bingham Hall were rather old-fashioned in their views and were proud to be working for members of the aristocracy. Some felt that Sir Arthur might lower the tone of the place.
    By the time that Lucia came down stairs, the ballroom had been cleared for dancing. Guests had spilled out into the marquee in the garden and she could hear the musicians tuning up.
    Lucia spotted Geoffrey Charlton coming through into the ballroom. She walked quickly over to him.
    â€œLucia. How can you be yet more dazzling than earlier?”
    â€œGeoffrey, you should save your chatter for someone who will believe it,” she retorted smiling.
    â€œCome now, if I cannot practise my flattery on my dear sister’s charming friend – ”
    â€œGeoffrey, you must promise me that you will take the first dance with me. I don’t want one of my stepfather’s dreadful friends to think they have the right.”
    â€œIt will be my pleasure, but Lucia, dearest, do I detect a hint of dislike for your new stepfather?”
    â€œYou know that I hold him responsible for