THE MAGIC TOUCH (Historical Romance) Read Free Page B

appealing than she could have wished.
    During luncheon Hope was hardly aware of her plate of mutton and cabbage. Her attention was absorbed by the goings-on around her. If she ate out in a restaurant with her parents, the surroundings were less ornate and the atmosphere quieter than here. Snatches of conversation and laughter reached her and she wanted to soak everything up. The cutlery clattered down on her plate as she finished her main course. Her aunt, by contrast, slowly ate her portion of pigeon pie and sipped a glass of claret.
    Hope turned her attention to her aunt. “Thank you for my dress, Aunt. I love it.” With happiness she concentrated on her iced dessert which slid down her throat with tingling pleasure.
    “We should be getting home now,” said Aunt Constance. “There is a lot to be seen to with regard to the arrangements for the dinner. The time will go by very quickly.”
    Hope was reluctant to leave, but it had been a full morning and she’d enjoyed herself. “It’s a pity the Padstocks couldn’t attend, isn’t it, Aunt? Especially as James Henderson will be there.” Hope couldn’t resist the seemingly innocent remark. Perhaps now she would find out the situation between Isabella and James.
    “I’m not sure they were aware of his invitation to the event. They had a prior engagement. There will be other opportunities for them to visit if you wish to spend time with the sisters, Hope.”
    Although she looked forward to spending time with Mary and Isabella, Hope wanted to know about the gentlemen who were being invited to dinner in order to meet her. It was time to change the course of the conversation. “And Mr Beaumont, why is he disliked? If he’s such an awful person, why did you invite him, Aunt?” This had been a puzzle to Hope.
    Aunt Constance hesitated as if unsure how to answer the direct questions. “He knew your uncle and for some reason they developed, not exactly a friendship, more of a respect I suppose you could call it. Of course, Eustace had a lot about him to be respectful of, but Beaumont, well he always appeared ill-mannered and discourteous whenever I met him. No quality of diplomacy in him at all.” She clamped her mouth shut and stood up as if anxious to leave.
    The story of Mr Beaumont would be hard to unravel. Hope wasn’t ready to return to the house just yet, but the thought of writing in her journal about the day and what she knew so far of the dinner guests appealed.
    On reaching her room, she picked up her pen and began her journal entry.
     
    I am missing Mama and Papa dreadfully, but Aunt Constance is a dear once she has melted a little. London is always exciting and there are so many agreeable people to meet. I am quite sure Aunt Constance will have me married before my stay is over. James Henderson is young and good-looking and Mr Beaumont is… mysterious.
    I am already growing fond of Edna and she did not appear too alarmed when she found me in Uncle Eustace’s clothes. I rather envy gentlemen their freedom from restricting corsets although I am overjoyed about my new dress.
    Next time I will write about The Honourable James Henderson and Mr Beaumont.
    * * *
    With Edna’s help, Hope pulled on the various layers of underclothing before the beautiful new creation tumbled over her head and fell with a whisper to the ground.
    “It’s wonderful, my lady,” sighed Edna. “Such a beautiful colour.”
    “I took your advice and chose a rich one, like you suggested. You were right, of course. You have excellent taste. Now, shall we see if my hair will behave itself?”
    Hope didn’t have as many qualms now a bout looking in the mirror. She’d got used to her reflection again and her aunt, the dressmaker and Edna had intimated that she wasn’t bad looking. Her confidence was, if not soaring, at least testing its wings.
    “You know Mr Beaumont, don’t you, Edna?” The sharp intake of breath didn’t go unnoticed by Hope. “What is the secret surrounding