Belhaven Bride by Helen Dickson

Author:Helen Dickson [Dickson, Helen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Anna’s heart missed a beat. His question, coming out of the blue, was an unwelcome intrusion that brought her pain. ‘Not since last summer. Alex and my grandfather are good friends and have business connections. He is often at Belhaven, but I haven’t seen him in months. How well do you know him?’

‘We were at Oxford at the same time—although we didn’t have much to do with each other. Not much in common. You’re on vacation next week, aren’t you?’ he said, quickly changing the subject.

‘Yes,’ Anna replied, glad that he had.

‘I’ve invited some of the people you met tonight to Bishop Storton—that’s the family pile, by the way—the weekend after next. Why don’t you come along? I know my parents would love to meet you—and so would Edwina.’

Anna thought it odd that he never mentioned Edwina, or that Edwina and Alex had had an affair. He had told her he had a twin sister, but that was all, until now, and Anna was in no hurry to reacquaint herself with that particular woman ever again.

‘Thank you, Freddy. It’s terribly nice of you to invite me, but I can’t. I have to pay a brief visit to Belhaven to see my grandfather. I’ve promised to spend a few days with him before I go to London. Lady Ormsby has invited me to stay with them—Tamsin’s Season and all that.’

‘That was last year, wasn’t it?’

‘I’m afraid not. Poor Tamsin contracted glandular fever so it had to be postponed. No doubt Lady Ormsby will plan it with enormous care and impeccable attention to detail—no extravagance spared. I promised Tamsin I’d be there for some of it. I don’t want to let her down.’ And, Anna thought, staring dreamily out of the window, she hoped she might see Alex. Would he be in London? Dear God, let it be so.

She thought of him constantly and devoured every newspaper and magazine article about him. She had seen a picture of him in the Tatler with his hand on the elbow of a young woman in a fur coat, dark haired like herself and extremely pretty. It didn’t say who she was and Anna had wondered if it was Sonya. Did he still see her? Did he still love her?

‘I shall make a point of calling on you in London,’ Freddy said, breaking into her reverie. ‘I’ll take you to Ascot and I’d like you to see me race at Brooklands. It makes for an exciting day out. You might also like to come to a BUF rally—see what it’s all about. You might find it interesting.’

‘I don’t know. I’m really not that right wing. I’ll have to think about it.’

‘I hope you do. We’re always on the lookout for new recruits. Tell you what, we’ll try and arrange dinner again before you leave Oxford. How does that sound?’

‘I’d like that.’

‘Good. I’ll call you.’

They had reached Anna’s lodgings. Freddy stopped the car and got out. Walking round to her side, he opened the door. They said goodnight.

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