Aunt Sophie's Diamonds Read Free Page A

very disagreeable..."
    Such a foolish remark as this received the withering glance it deserved. “Run up and see if Luane has anything to say. You might just hint if she is to get the diamonds."
    Claudia agreed readily, but she had no notion of quizzing her cousin about the diamonds. She had felt a pang of pity rush out to the girl when she had heard of her aunt's death. So far as she could see, Luane was the only one who did grieve at Aunt Sophie's passing. She must be quite alone in the world now, except for mama and herself. And this Gabriel, of course, but as yet Gabriel Tewksbury was unknown to Claudia. All that was known was that he had refused to marry Luane, so he could not be much comfort to her. The girl's position reminded her uncomfortably of herself when papa had died nine years ago. She had her mama, of course, but no one who wanted her. It was her good fortune that her grandparents had taken her in and given her a home.
    Miss Bliss directed her to Luane's door, and she tapped twice. Receiving no answer, she opened the door and stepped in. She feared she would find her cousin on her bed in a fit of tears, but it was no such a thing. Luane was standing at a clothespress, flipping over a small selection of gowns. She turned and looked at the interloper out of her big dark eyes.
    "Are you my cousin Claudia?” she asked.
    "Yes, and I am very happy to meet you at last, for you are the only female cousin I have. My papa's brother has two sons, but they are only rowdy little boys. May I come in?"
    "You are in. I am happy to meet you, too. You aren't much like your mama, are you?"
    "No, we are not much alike. Are you choosing a gown?"
    "Yes, do you think this pale blue ... or should I wear the navy moire?"
    "It is chilly downstairs. I'd wear the navy with long sleeves if I were you."
    To her surprise, Miss Beresford turned around with her back to her cousin and proceeded to undress herself, with no apparent discomfort or hesitation, though she kept her back to her the whole time.
    "I expect you are very sorry to hear of your aunt's death,” Claudia said, while she stared at the floor and wondered if she ought to leave.
    "Yes, it's inconvenient,” was the unexpected reply.
    "Inconvenient?” Claudia asked, startled.
    "Yes, I had hoped she'd hang on till I was married. I have nowhere to go now, you see."
    "I see,” Claudia answered, much struck by this plain speaking.
    "I can't go to Cousin Gabriel, for he is still at university. Your mama won't have me, because she won't even let you live with her, and you can't ask me to your grandfather's place, for they are no relation of mine.” There was no hint of a whine or even complaint in this recital, but rather an angry tinge to the whole.
    "Well...” Claudia said and could think of not a single suggestion to proffer.
    "Just like Rosalie,” Miss Beresford said with a sigh.
    This comparison would have conveyed nothing to most, but to a woman much addicted to trashy novels herself in her greener years, Rosalie Dumont was as well known as Queen Charlotte. “Yes, the comparison is striking.” Claudia agreed readily. “Very like The Daughter of Bardon Hall. I hope you don't mean to solve your case in the same manner, for I think Rosalie was imprudent in fleeing aboard a ship to France, don't you?"
    "How else should she have met and married the Comte de Davencourt?” Luane asked.
    "Yes, I had forgotten that, but there was no war on in those days and no Bonaparte."
    "Yes, it can't be France,” Luane said consideringly. “Are the Frenchies in Italy, too?” she asked.
    "They are scattered all over Europe and, with Boney escaped from Elba, your best bet to meet a lord is right here in England. And you would do better to remain a girl, too, instead of turning into a boy, like Rosalie."
    "It is very vexing, but then I am not so poor as Rosalie. I shall have a diamond necklace worth fifty thousand pounds."
    "That is a very respectable dowry,” Claudia replied.
    "And I'm