Fragrant Flower by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland [Cartland, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Hong Kong (China), Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9780330246118
Google: f44tAAAACAAJ
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 1976-09-14T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

For a moment Azalea was unable to move – then, frantically, she hoped Lord Sheldon would not recognise her. But Mr. Chang saw immediately that his wife was playing a trick on him.

He rose to his feet and bowed to Azalea.

“It is a very great honour for you to enter my humble house,” he said. “Whether you come as Miss Osmund or as ‘Fragrant Flower’ you are always welcome!”

Azalea was suddenly very conscious of her Chinese dress and that Lord Sheldon was staring at her in his penetrating manner which always made her blush.

Before she could speak Kai Yin Chang exclaimed in mock exasperation,

“You guessed! You guessed who she was! Honourable husband too clever to be deceived! Very disappointing!”

Azalea would have withdrawn from the room, but as she turned away, embarrassed and uncertain of herself, Lord Sheldon said to Mr. Chang,

“I wonder if it would be possible for me to speak alone with Miss Osmund?”

“But of course, my Lord,” Mr. Chang replied. “My house is yours!

“I am sure Miss Osmund would like to see your beautiful garden,” Lord Sheldon said. “And so should I. I am told it is one of the sights of Hong Kong.”

“You are very gracious,” Mr. Chang replied.

Leading the way he made a gesture to invite Azalea to follow him.

There was nothing she could do but obey. At the same time she longed to run away – to hide – to change herself back into her own clothes and, most of all, not to have to talk to Lord Sheldon alone.

Yet she was well aware that to argue or protest would merely make her appear ridiculous and would insult him quite unnecessarily in front of Mr. and Mrs. Chang.

She therefore followed her host across another beautiful courtyard and along a passage until they reached a door which led out into the garden.

Mr. Chang opened the door and Azalea and Lord Sheldon walked onto a veranda beyond which lay the garden.

As they appeared they disturbed a number of birds moving about on the grass. They rose as one flock into the air and there was a dazzling glimpse of blue feathers.

“The blue magpies!” Azalea exclaimed.

“Let us hope they bring us luck,” Lord Sheldon said. Azalea smiled remembering what she had said about them on the ship to Mrs. Chang. Then she said almost beneath her breath,

“I need luck!”

They walked side-by-side down a twisting path edged with sweet-scented flowers.

Azalea had read that Chinese gardens were unusual because of their unique, unsurpassed landscaping.

She had been told that even a small and uninteresting piece of ground could, by skilful arrangement, be given an impression of space and beauty. But in a large acreage on the side of the Peak, Mr. Chang had created a poem of imaginative delight.

There were clever groupings of rock-work, high bridges over ponds covered with water-lilies, small streams and cascades which produced an element of surprise.

The flowers and shrubs were arranged in a harmony and colour that was almost indescribable.

Roses, hydrangeas, peonies and azaleas, many

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