Read Online Into Temptation (Spoils of Time 03) by Penny Vincenzi - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Penny Vincenzi
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quite impossible, and wishing her every happiness.
‘I’m afraid they both disapprove dreadfully,’ Venetia said, ‘and, I must say, one can—’
‘I know, of course one can. But it doesn’t hurt her any the less. Oh dear. She’s paying quite a price, isn’t she?’ said Adele.
‘Quite a price. Too high, if you ask me.’
‘Just to—’
‘I know.’
Kit had absolutely refused, despite everyone’s pleading, to come. And so had Sebastian. Two great brooding absences, darkening the day. Celia had not expected Sebastian to come, of course, although she had insisted on inviting him, but Kit, her beloved Kit, she had hoped until the last possible moment that he would arrive. Each time the bell rang she jumped, paused in what she was saying, every time the drawing-room door opened, she looked at it, frozen-still, her dark eyes hopeful, and each time when it was only more flowers, another telegram, her smile became brighter, more brittle, and her face beneath its crown of osprey feathers became wearier, and paler.
‘Did she really think he was going to come?’ whispered Adele to Venetia, looking at her as Celia finished her own small speech, thanking everyone for coming, and for making it such a happy family occasion, her voice faltering over the word ‘family’.
‘You know Mummy. If she wants something really badly, she gets it. And she wanted this really badly. I think he might have come, I must say. If only for half an hour. Boy went round last night, you know, and begged him. Kit said he was amazed Boy could even think such a thing.’
‘So where—’
‘I should think, wouldn’t you?’
‘Yes.’
And what would LM have made of this? Barty thought, watching Lord Arden and Celia cut the cake; LM, Oliver’s older sister, his partner in the great early days of Lyttons, with her fierce morals, her unbending loyalties. How would she regard this extraordinary occasion and would she indeed have been there herself, or stayed at home, making her own quiet, loyal protest? She suddenly found Jay next to her, smiled at him rather wanly. He grinned back, refilled her glass.
‘Lord Arden’s butler’s a bit slow on the glass charging. I thought I’d take over. We all need it.’
‘I was just thinking about your mother,’ she said.
‘Yes. Me too.’
‘She’d have hated it, wouldn’t she?’
‘I’m not sure,’ he said, surprising her. ‘She was a very pragmatic old bird, you know. And she adored Celia. She’d have wanted her to be happy.’
‘Yes, but Jay, I don’t think she will be. He’s – well, he’s an idiot.’
He grinned. ‘He is a bit. But there’s no doubt he loves her. And you know what, he’s got a superb model railway upstairs. I’ve just seen it. So dear old Gordon would have approved of him as well. The hours we spent playing with his, it annoyed Mother so much. She always said she was going to cite Hornby as co-respondent in their divorce.’
‘I miss Gordon,’ said Barty with a sigh, and it was true, Gordon Robinson’s tall, erect figure was another great loss in the room.
‘Not as much as I do. He might not have been my dad, but he was a wonderful father,’ said Jay. ‘The trouble was, he missed Mother so dreadfully that it was half a life he was leading. Now look, Tory’s doing her bit for family togetherness, flirting away with old Bunny. Come on Barty, drink up and let’s go and join them. You might find he has hidden depths.’
‘I doubt it,’ said Barty with a sigh. ‘Hidden shallows more like it. But if anyone can bring out the best in him, Tory can. You did well marrying her, Jay.’
‘I know it,’ he said with a touch of complacency in his voice.
Adele had been right; Kit was with Sebastian. Izzie had been invited to the wedding, but had written a sweetly firm note to Celia, saying she knew she would understand that her attendance was almost impossible. Celia had telephoned her to say she did indeed understand, but she hoped that
‘I’m afraid they both disapprove dreadfully,’ Venetia said, ‘and, I must say, one can—’
‘I know, of course one can. But it doesn’t hurt her any the less. Oh dear. She’s paying quite a price, isn’t she?’ said Adele.
‘Quite a price. Too high, if you ask me.’
‘Just to—’
‘I know.’
Kit had absolutely refused, despite everyone’s pleading, to come. And so had Sebastian. Two great brooding absences, darkening the day. Celia had not expected Sebastian to come, of course, although she had insisted on inviting him, but Kit, her beloved Kit, she had hoped until the last possible moment that he would arrive. Each time the bell rang she jumped, paused in what she was saying, every time the drawing-room door opened, she looked at it, frozen-still, her dark eyes hopeful, and each time when it was only more flowers, another telegram, her smile became brighter, more brittle, and her face beneath its crown of osprey feathers became wearier, and paler.
‘Did she really think he was going to come?’ whispered Adele to Venetia, looking at her as Celia finished her own small speech, thanking everyone for coming, and for making it such a happy family occasion, her voice faltering over the word ‘family’.
‘You know Mummy. If she wants something really badly, she gets it. And she wanted this really badly. I think he might have come, I must say. If only for half an hour. Boy went round last night, you know, and begged him. Kit said he was amazed Boy could even think such a thing.’
‘So where—’
‘I should think, wouldn’t you?’
‘Yes.’
And what would LM have made of this? Barty thought, watching Lord Arden and Celia cut the cake; LM, Oliver’s older sister, his partner in the great early days of Lyttons, with her fierce morals, her unbending loyalties. How would she regard this extraordinary occasion and would she indeed have been there herself, or stayed at home, making her own quiet, loyal protest? She suddenly found Jay next to her, smiled at him rather wanly. He grinned back, refilled her glass.
‘Lord Arden’s butler’s a bit slow on the glass charging. I thought I’d take over. We all need it.’
‘I was just thinking about your mother,’ she said.
‘Yes. Me too.’
‘She’d have hated it, wouldn’t she?’
‘I’m not sure,’ he said, surprising her. ‘She was a very pragmatic old bird, you know. And she adored Celia. She’d have wanted her to be happy.’
‘Yes, but Jay, I don’t think she will be. He’s – well, he’s an idiot.’
He grinned. ‘He is a bit. But there’s no doubt he loves her. And you know what, he’s got a superb model railway upstairs. I’ve just seen it. So dear old Gordon would have approved of him as well. The hours we spent playing with his, it annoyed Mother so much. She always said she was going to cite Hornby as co-respondent in their divorce.’
‘I miss Gordon,’ said Barty with a sigh, and it was true, Gordon Robinson’s tall, erect figure was another great loss in the room.
‘Not as much as I do. He might not have been my dad, but he was a wonderful father,’ said Jay. ‘The trouble was, he missed Mother so dreadfully that it was half a life he was leading. Now look, Tory’s doing her bit for family togetherness, flirting away with old Bunny. Come on Barty, drink up and let’s go and join them. You might find he has hidden depths.’
‘I doubt it,’ said Barty with a sigh. ‘Hidden shallows more like it. But if anyone can bring out the best in him, Tory can. You did well marrying her, Jay.’
‘I know it,’ he said with a touch of complacency in his voice.
Adele had been right; Kit was with Sebastian. Izzie had been invited to the wedding, but had written a sweetly firm note to Celia, saying she knew she would understand that her attendance was almost impossible. Celia had telephoned her to say she did indeed understand, but she hoped that
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