Fragile Blossoms by Dodie Hamilton

Author:Dodie Hamilton
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Alan Cooper Design
Published: 2015-11-23T00:00:00+00:00

The company seated a harp was produced and Adelina Patti began to sing. Her first song was from Bizet’s Carmen, an aria of passion and of jealousy.

Gaze fixed across the room Freddie sank down into the chair. ‘You know what this song is about, don’t you,’ he muttered. ‘It’s about people takin’ what is not theirs to take. It’s about envy. I know about those things. Evie is always collectin’ things I want and stealin’ ‘em away.’

Freddie was drunk. Julia tried not to listen. She was fighting her own battles and didn’t want to know about his. The room was a sea of dark tail coats and nodding fans. Luke was taking Evie’s shawl his hand brushing her shoulder, a hand Julia remembers. This hand has a ring on little finger of the left hand, a gold ring with a black stone. It is not a big ring and yet it was enormous eclipsing all else, the sun, the moon and the stars.

Why is it there? Did she give it him? Does it mean something?

Freddie shifted in his seat. Arms folded and legs stuck out he brooded on the same two people. ‘It’s always been the same. Evie can’t bear me to have friends of my own. She’s always borrowin’. She did it with chaps at school and at Cambridge, takin’ fellows out to lunch and buyin’ affection. They thought she was wonderful, the glorious Evelyn Carrington. She did it with Johnny Sargent. She tried to do it with Danny Masson. She did it with Bella.’

‘Bella? Do you mean Susan Dudley?’

‘Yes Susan. I was fond of Susan. We had plans.’

‘Plans?’ Julia stared at him. ‘What do you mean plans?’

‘What? Oh some foolish idea. Forget it. It’s done now, old news. I’m off after this song to the Blue Salon and the séance. I tried for the first sittin’ but they only take a few at a time so I’m in the second. Are you comin’?’

A séance after a visit to the Great Pyramid and Owen? ‘I don’t think so. My father would say the dead should be left in peace.’

‘And what if they’re not in peace?’

‘Surely that’s the need of a priest. What can we mortals do?’

Freddie shrugged. ‘We could tell them we love and miss them.’

‘You believe in this then, table rapping et cetera?’

‘I don’t know that I believe in anythin’ but I’m willin’ to give it a go. Wouldn’t you like to hear from a loved one?’

Again Julia remembered Egypt and light flickering over an empty tomb.

‘Not if it’s Tennyson quoting his wretched Maud. I’ve heard enough of that particular lady to last a lifetime.’

Freddie frowned. ‘You’re changed, Julianna. You’re nasty now, sharp as glass.’

‘I don’t mean to be. It’s this world. Things don’t seem to work out. Is there someone you’d like to hear from?’

He was silent and then nodded. ‘Yes and then I might get some rest.’

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.