The Ghost and Lady Alice by Marion Chesney

Author:Marion Chesney [Chesney, Marion]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Large Type Books, Historical, Historical Romance
ISBN: 9780754088912
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Published: 1981-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

* * * *

Miss Cassandra Fadden arrived at three o'clock the next afternoon. Alice entered the room, trying to hide her nervousness. She was determined to send this new companion packing. She did not trust the Duke's taste in companions.At first she thought the drawing room was empty. Then someone gave a quiet little cough. Miss Fadden was seated in a high-backed chair in the corner, her feet barely touching the floor. She was a gray, little woman—gray face, gray hair, gray shapeless dress, even her eyes were a washed-out gray. She wore a gray velvet turban which seemed too big for her small head. All her clothes, in fact, looked as if they had once belonged to a much bigger woman. Her shoes flopped at the end of her wrinkled gray stockings, her gloves hung from her elbows, and her false front of gray curls hung down on her forehead, leaving about an inch of skin between the curls and the hairline.

She looked harmless enough but Alice was determined to assert herself in case this gray ghost of a woman should turn out to be another Miss Snapper.

Alice patted her curls in the looking glass and then turned round and faced Miss Fadden. “Miss Fadden,” she began and then said as sternly as she could, “Alors, mademoiselle, you are supposed to stand when I address you.”

“I am standing,” said Miss Fadden timorously. Alice blinked. Miss Fadden was indeed standing before her, having somehow moved from her chair. She was so small that it was like looking down at a child.

“I beg your pardon,” said Alice. “My uncle suggested we might deal suitably together. Have you had experience as a companion before?”

“No, my lady,” said Miss Fadden in such a quiet little voice that Alice had to lean forward to catch the words. “I am the daughter of a curate. Papa died two months ago and I was at my wits end as to what to do. I was sitting in the churchyard, crying, and suddenly this splendid gentleman appeared before me—quite like the Angel Gabriel, you know, except that I think his coat was made by Weston—no room for wings there—and he asked me why I was in such distress and I told him. He said his niece was in need of a lady-companion so here I am,” she finished rather breathlessly.

Alice looked at her rather doubtfully. Miss Fadden looked quite old and frail. “Please sit down, Miss Fadden,” said Alice in a gentle voice. “You would be expected to keep very late nights—very late,” added Alice thinking of her ghost's restrictions. “Admittedly we would sleep a good part of the day, but I wonder whether you might not find the rigors of a round of balls and parties too exhausting.”

“Oh no,” pleaded Miss Fadden. “I should find it monstrous exciting. I have never been to a party in my life. Papa said such occasions were sinful. I'm glad he's dead,” she added vaguely. “He will be so much more comfortable in Heaven, you know.

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