The Healing Hand by Barbara Cartland

Author:Barbara Cartland
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-908411-85-3
Publisher: Barbara Cartland.com

CHAPTER FIVE

The house in Belgrave Square was, as Tania had expected, large, well furnished and extremely impressive.

Selina Bracebridge and her husband welcomed her most affectionately, and they were also delighted to see Rupert.

“I am afraid that you have come home to very bad news,” Charles said to Rupert.

“You are right, it is extremely bad,” agreed Rupert.

“We are expecting Sidney Herbert later,” Charles went on, “so he will undoubtedly tell us the worst.”

Then other guests were announced and Tania and Rupert moved away.

Fortunately he knew many people in the room and, as their host and hostess were busy, he introduced Tania to his friends.

They were a party of eighteen for dinner and Tania found herself sitting, not beside Rupert as she had hoped, but between two pleasant young gentlemen who paid her many compliments and made her laugh.

They certainly added considerably to the bright and amusing atmosphere of the occasion.

It was only after dinner that a number of older guests arrived and then Tania realised that Selina had been thoughtful enough to invite only the young for dinner.

They congregated in the drawing room and Tania found so many of them spoke of her mother and father with affection that she felt tears coming into her eyes.

“Your mother was the most beautiful person I have ever seen, lovely on both the outside and within,” one lady told her, “and your father was indeed one of the most popular men in the whole Social world.”

It was exactly what Tania wanted to hear and it was marvellous to feel that her parents had not been forgotten.

They did not dance, but Selina promised that there would be a dance another night, so the younger guests left early and then the older ones, who had either been talking or playing card games, thought it was time to leave too.

When Tania and Rupert were about to depart, the big reception room was almost empty.

“You must come and see me if you feel lonely or are missing your mother,” Selina told Tania. “Just run in and, if I am not here, wait until I come back.”

“You are so kind and, as I am not welcome at home, I am afraid you may find me dropping in at any moment!”

“That is just what I want you to do, Tania. Charles and I will be very pleased to see Rupert as well.”

“I only hope I am able to accept your invitation,” said Rupert. “But as you know, things seem very worrying at present.”

As he was speaking, the door opened and the butler announced,

“Sir Sidney Herbert, madam.”

He strode into the room as Selina held out her arms.

“Oh, Sidney, I am so very pleased to see you. I was afraid, as you didn’t come earlier, you could not get away.”

“I only managed it at the last moment,” Sir Sidney responded, “and I had no wish to disappoint you and not to hear about your adventures in Germany.”

Then he saw Rupert and beckoned him over,

“I would like a word with you, More.”

“I was just leaving, Sir Sidney – ”

“Then please wait for just a moment.

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