The Officer and the Proper Lady Read Free Page B

days later, Lady Geraldine duly called and was received by Mrs Tresilian and Julia, Phillip having been deposited with the landlady and a litter of kittens in the kitchen.
    â€˜My niece has just gone back to England to be married,’ Lady Geraldine observed once tea had been poured. ‘I find I miss having a young lady to go about with quite dreadfully— I have no daughter of my own, you see, and I do so enjoy the company of young people.’ Mrs Tresilian made sym pathetic noises. ‘So, if you would lend Julia to me, I would be de lighted to chaperone her to parties and so forth.’
    â€˜Lend?’ Mrs Tresilian said faintly. ‘Parties?’
    â€˜And balls: we seem to have them every night, after all. Routs, receptions, picnics. You know the sort of thing.’
    â€˜Me?’ Julia felt she had to add something, however inane.
    â€˜You do enjoy parties, Miss Tresilian?’
    â€˜Yes, ma’am. But I know no-one in Society…’
    â€˜But I do. Mrs Tresilian? I would not be depriving you?’
    â€˜Not at all,’ Mrs Tresilian said with emphasis. ‘I live very quietly, which is so dull for Julia.’
    We cannot afford to live any other way! Julia thought in alarm. Parties? Balls? Picnics? That means gowns and silk stocking and gloves and…money. What is Mama thinking of? I cannot spend like that just to enjoy myself!
    Lady Geraldine stayed the regulation half hour then departed in a froth of green muslin leaving promises of invitations, a wave of chypre perfume and two astonished Tresilians behind her.
    â€˜Mama! I have not got a thing to wear.’
    â€˜Well, that would present an original appearance!’ her mother observed with a smile. ‘Let us make a list of what you will need. We can trim up somethings with fresh ribbons, and we can look at my lace, see what can be done with that. But a ball gown is essential. A new afternoon dress, a walking dress. And something for half-dress occasions. We will make a list.’
    â€˜But how can we afford it?’
    â€˜It will be an investment. This is a miraculous chance, to be here just now when Brussels Society must be full of men who do not need to hang out for a rich wife. It will not be as it has been up to now, with so many people like us, here to save money. Dip lo mats, confidential secretaries, cha plains, officers—think of it!’ Julia did, and very improbable it seemed that any of them might be interested in her.
    â€˜We cannot hope for a title, of course, just a com fort ably circumstanced gentleman, but even so, it will be worth the effort.’ Mrs Tresilian gave a happy sigh. ‘You are a good girl, Julia, you deserve some enjoyment and the opportunity to find a husband worthy of you.’
    Julia sat down on the hard horse hair sofa and tried to imagine being part of that social whirl. But it would be a huge responsibility, and a gamble. If Mama spent their precious savings on gowns, then she must find a husband. It had been so long since she had come to accept that without dowry orconnections she was never likely to marry, that the idea of setting out in cold blood to find a husband was daunting.
    â€˜You are quite right, Mama.’ Julia managed a smile. This was her duty and she must try, however diffident or awkward she felt. ‘It is a wonderful opportunity and I will do my best to attach a respectable gentleman.’ It was disconcerting to find that despite this worthy resolution, the only feature she could imagine that this unknown paragon should possess was a pair of stormy blue-grey eyes.
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    Hal sauntered into Lady Fanshawe’s reception on the stroke of eleven with every intention of enjoying himself and no particular scruples about how. He had spent a hard day drilling with his troop at their base near Ninove, ten miles from the city. It had meant a long gallop to get back to bathe and for his valet to insinuate his long limbs into his skin-tight