Bed of Flowers by Erin Satie

Author:Erin Satie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little Phrase

Chapter 12

“You know who Tess and Olympia are, don’t you?” said Cordelia in the carriage on the way home.

“Tess said that she was Queen Victoria’s ward,” Bonny said, still stunned. “Could that be true?”

“Of course it is. If you read the papers, Bonny, you’d already know the story,” said Cordelia. “Theresa Hurley is an African princess.”

Bonny’s mouth went dry. “A princess?”

“The only surviving member of her family,” continued Cordelia. “She was taken captive by a rival king, after he killed her parents. That Captain Hurley she spoke of had been dispatched to rescue several British prisoners held by the same man, and when he saw the poor princess, he determined to rescue her as well.”

“And you met her?” demanded Mrs. Gainsway.

“Yes, Aunt. She helped keep the crowd away after Bonny rescued those boys.”

“Oh my.” Mrs. Gainsway fanned herself. “They say she has a private audience with the Queen every week!”

“And Olympia?” Bonny asked.

Mrs. Gainsway gasped. “Olympia Swain?”

“She’s incredibly wealthy, isn’t that right?” Cordelia prompted.

“Rich as Croesus—rich as the Sultan on his golden divan!” Mrs. Gainsway cried. “She’s the richest heiress in all of Britain and by a comfortable margin.”

“Her parents must be very lax,” said Bonny.

“Her parents are dead, dearest,” returned Mrs. Gainsway. “And they left everything to her—mountains and mountains of money! Poor thing. She would need to be Moses to cut through the sea of suitors that surround her at all times.”

“She seems up to the task,” Cordelia murmured.

“Very strong willed.”

“I liked them both.”

“Me too,” said Bonny. “I hope we see them again.”

Her wish came true the very next day. They received an invitation to go for a drive, and soon after Bonny and Cordelia returned a grateful acceptance, a gorgeous barouche turned the corner on the Gainsways’ sleepy street. Painted white with silver accents, drawn by four matched grays, it somehow served only to highlight the magnificence of the two young women inside—Olympia in blue and Tess in green—sitting side by side with the accordion hood folded back.

The overall effect was imposing enough to revive the nervousness Bonny had felt upon first meeting the two women. But then Tess reached out to take Bonny’s hand, steadying her as she mounted the narrow steps, Olympia greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, and her fear dissolved.

“We’ve decided to be selfish,” Olympia declared. “You see, we’d like to see more of you.”

“And the only way to do that is to bring you to London,” continued Tess. “Which, if we understand your circumstances correctly, won’t happen unless you find a husband who spends time here.”

“So we’re going to help you find a husband,” concluded Olympia. “It’s all for our own benefit, and we are too devoted to our own amusements to hear any protests.”

“Or thanks,” Tess murmured, more seriously. “And we’ll be cross if you try.”

Bonny, who’d had the words “thank you” on the tip of her tongue, shut her mouth.

Cordelia elbowed her in the side. “You’re allowed to disobey, you know.”

“Oh.” Bonny beamed. “Then thank you. Thank you both.

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