Lovers in London Read Free Page A

ever met,” he had said.
    â€œWhy does she live in a hotel, Papa?”
    â€œI really have no idea,” he answered. “Apparently she first stayed at The Langham when she was twenty-eight and has lived there ever since. They told us when we were staying there how she receives her visitors in bed, which is where she writes all her books!”
    â€œIn bed, Papa! What a funny thing to do!”
    â€œShe is indeed a very strange woman. She likes to work by the light of candles and has black velvet curtains drawn over the windows to keep out the daylight.”
    â€œI hear that she is always surrounded by masses of flowers,” Lady Grenville had chimed in, “and they are all purple. Her enormous bed is in the middle of the room and she sits up writing with a quill pen onto sheets of violet-coloured writing paper.”
    Lanthia had laughed loudly at the time, thinking it all sounded ridiculous.
    Now she wondered if she stayed at The Langham , whether she would be able to meet the famous authoress.
    â€œDo you think you could give me an introduction to her, Papa?” she asked.
    â€œI doubt if she is still resident at the hotel, my dear, and even if she is, I don’t think she would be very anxious to meet you.”
    â€œWhy ever not?”
    â€œBecause,” her mother answered, “Ouida prefers men to women. I am told that her parties at the hotel were always attended by handsome Army Officers and very few women were invited.”
    It certainly all seemed very strange and it made her feel that it would be exciting just to stay in the same hotel as such a weird and unaccountable authoress.
    â€œWhen do you think I should go, Mama?”
    â€œWe shall have to ask Mrs. Blossom when it suits her, darling, but she has always told me she would be only too willing to do anything I request and I know she enjoys going to London when she has the chance.”
    Mrs. Blossom was the only daughter of the Bishop of Bristol and she had married for the first and only time to a sailor when she was long past her girlhood.
    Retiring from the sea, he had taken his bride to live in a house inherited from his uncle in Huntingdonshire but died after five years of marriage leaving his wife childless.
    Broken-hearted, Mrs. Blossom had been left alone, which she found dull and miserable without her husband.
    She had therefore begged Lady Grenville to find her something to do to relieve her sadness and boredom, but it was not an easy task.
    Slowly Lady Grenville had managed to interest Mrs. Blossom in a number of charities in the County, who were only too delighted to receive her attention and help.
    There was also a nearby orphanage where she had been persuaded to teach the girls how to paint in watercolours at which Mrs. Blossom was actually quite an expert.
    She was exceedingly grateful to Lady Grenville for making her life much more interesting than it would have been otherwise.
    So Lanthia knew all too well that if her mother asked Mrs. Blossom to take her to London, she would be only too willing to do so.
    â€œVery well, Mama, you ask Mrs. Blossom. But I don’t want to stay away from you and Papa for any longer than I have to.”
    â€œJust long enough to buy some really pretty dresses and a special gown for the ball.”
    â€œI hope I shall be able to choose something you will like,” said Lanthia doubtfully. “It would be disastrous if I spent a great deal of money and you and Papa thought my choice was hideous.”
    Lady Grenville laughed.
    â€œI have always considered your taste impeccable, darling, and you know exactly the sort of white gown I would like you to wear. Remember you are a debutante , even though you have never had a Season in London.”
    â€œThat was poor old Grandpapa’s fault for dying last year when I should have been in London with you. Now at nearly nineteen I am almost old enough to be a Dowager!”
    Her mother laughed again.
    â€œPapa