The Phoenix by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Author:Cynthia Harrod-Eagles [Harrod-Eagles, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2013-09-26T05:00:00+00:00

‘I think Badger Books is best,’ Molly said, in dissatisfied tones.

‘You sound like an advertisement,’ her husband noted, amused.

‘At least I like badgers. We need an animal people automatically like.’

And without knowing she was going to say it, Charlotte said, ‘What about dolphins?’

There was a short electric silence. Then Armstrong said, ‘I like dolphins.’

Joan said, ‘Perfect for an outline. Instantly recognisable.’

‘And it sounds good,’ said Hammond. ‘Dolphin Books. Yes, I can see myself saying that to the customers.’

‘Dolphins are clever,’ Molly said. ‘They save people’s lives.’

They all looked at Vivian, who thought for a moment, smiled, and said, ‘Dolphin Books it is. Well done, Charlotte!’

Charlotte longed to tell her mother this, because she was proud of her contribution. And without being able to tell her, it was impossible to make her understand that this was a proper job, that she was not there on tolerance, amusing herself as a favour to the family.

But she did not mind moving into Belgrave Square so much this time. She had more self-confidence now that she was doing well at her job. It was nice to be able to see little Lord Tunstead – who was usually known as Halley – whenever she wanted. She also saw more of her older brothers, who often called in there.

Almost to her surprise, she enjoyed the parties and dances and dinners of the Season. At twenty-two she had grown into both her looks and her character, and could hold her own in company, and consequently found herself liked, and in a small way popular. She was even amused, rather than annoyed, that her mother constantly invited a young man called Jocelyn Barber to escort her.

He was a perfectly pleasant young man, but whenever Charlotte saw him she had a terrible urge to giggle, for he proved how far down the scale her mother had felt it necessary to look. Jocelyn was not heir to a title; he was not even a peer’s younger son. He was only the son of an MP, and the grandson of an earl. His father was an Honourable, and a minister, and his mother was country gentry, but in the old days, before Papa’s bankruptcy, he would only have been on the list of diners to be called at the last minute when someone ‘chucked’. Charlotte liked him and they chatted comfortably together, but she could not tell if he saw himself as a suitor.

In early March she went with her mother and Avis to a cocktail party given by the Duchess of Westminster. Oliver and Verena, Eddie and Sarah were also there. Loelia Westminster, née Ponsonby, was the daughter of Frederick Ponsonby who had been secretary to Queen Victoria and a particular friend of Oliver and Violet’s mother, so they had known her all their lives.

Among the other guests were Benny Thaw, secretary to the US Embassy, and his wife Connie, who was the sister of Thelma, Lady Furness, the current paramour of the Prince of Wales. Charlotte was not supposed

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