Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed

Author:Leila Rasheed
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fiction - Young Adult
Publisher: Disney
Published: 2013-01-22T05:00:00+00:00

The streets of London seethed and hummed with human bodies, and the number of rattling cabs and motorcars seemed to multiply every day. The windows of Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason shone with the latest fashions straight from Paris. Ladies and gentlemen of fashion eddied and swirled, bright colors among the drab crush of the common people, sweeping from club to grand hotel to couturier and out again to the theaters and opera and gambling houses.

A select part of this elegant flotsam ended up at the doors of Paul Poiret, the couturier whose scintillating dresses in the latest colors and flowing, Eastern-inspired cuts were worn on every slim, pale shoulder this season. Out of those doors came Fiona, Charlotte, and Ada. The footman followed them, laden down with parcels and bandboxes.

“There really is absolutely no one in London out of season,” Charlotte sighed as she took her place in the cab.

“No one?” Ada looked out of the window at the crowded streets. There seemed to be more motorcars every time she looked. The noise was immense, and her heart seemed to beat along with it.

Since they had arrived in London, life had been a nonstop whirl of visiting, dancing, theater, and shopping for clothes. She barely had time to catch her breath, and her head had hardly touched the pillow when she was being woken by Rose with tea and the plans for the day. She could not say she disliked this life, much as she wanted to. The dress she had walked out with today was called La Vague, the Wave. It was straight and sheer from the chest to the floor, a delicate but strong shape that made her look and feel beautiful. London was like being carried on a dizzying tide, swept far out to sea. All that was needed to make it perfect was just a few minutes with Ravi. For him to see her in this dress. But she had had no reply to her last letter.

“No one at all. I haven’t even seen the Sassoons, and not a single one of the Set. It’s really like being in a desert.” She glanced out of the window and yawned.

“Pleased with your new dress, Ada?” Fiona asked.

“Oh, yes. It’s beautiful,” Ada answered.

“I just hope that housemaid won’t ruin it the first time she dresses you,” Fiona went on.

Ada’s smile faded. “Rose always makes me look my best.”

“You only say that because you haven’t known what it is to have the attentions of a real French-trained maid,” Charlotte said.

“My sister and I are quite fond of Rose,” Ada said firmly. She was tired of this constant refrain. She didn’t understand why her stepmother and stepsister were so set against Rose. Somehow she suspected it was Stella who was behind it.

She turned to the window, hoping to signal that the conversation was over. Great white-faced mansions passed on one side, the park on the other.

“Finally!” Charlotte cried. The cab drew to a halt, and a footman hurried to open the door.

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