Free The Glittering Lights (Bantam Series No. 12) by Barbara Cartland Page B

surrounded by a ring of turquoises.
    Cassandra only had a quick look at the dressing-table before she saw there were baskets of flowers all round the walls and a cosy sofa decked with cushions of every sort of design.
    Then from behind a high painted screen which was pulled across a corner of the room Mrs. Langtry appeared, wearing a blue silk negligee.
    Cassandra had expected her to be beautiful, but her photographs and pictures certainly did not do her justice.
    At thirty-three Lily Langtry was breath-taking.
    Her little Greek head and Greek features were so perfectly proportioned as to make one feel that one looked at an exquisite statue.
    Her skin was transparent, so white and delicate that one could only stare and believe that every other woman must have a quite different covering to her bones.
    As Mrs. Langtry moved towards Cassandra with her hand outstretched she remembered that when he painted her, Sir John Millais had said:
    “To see Lily Langtry walk is as though you saw a beautiful hound set upon its feet.”
    “How kind of you to bring me a letter from Sir James Sherburn,” Mrs. Langtry said and her voice was low, soft and musical.
    She smiled at Cassandra and walking to the sofa, settled herself comfortably against the cushions and patted the place beside her.
    “Come and sit down, Miss Standish,” she said. “You must tell me about yourself, but first I believe you have something for me.”
    Cassandra held out the jewel box which she had wrapped in tissue paper.
    “Sir James said I was to give this into your hands, Mrs. Langtry, and entrust it to no-one else.”
    It seemed to her as if Mrs. Langtry took the box almost eagerly and, pulling off the tissue paper, opened it. The large star glittered in the lights from the dressing-table.
    “It is charming!” she said and Cassandra felt the words were almost a purr of appreciation.
    She took the brooch out of the box, examined it and replaced it on its velvet bed.
    “And now,” she said with a smile. “I understand you wish me to do something for you. Are you acting in London at the moment?”
    “No, I have come South to have singing lessons,” Cassandra answered. “I have been promised a part in a Musical play if I can improve my voice, and so I intend to spend a month in London just working with a teacher.”
    “How very sensible,” Mrs. Langtry approved. “And while you are here you are anxious to meet the young Duke of Alchester?”
    “I should be very grateful if you could introduce me to him,” Cassandra said.
    Mrs. Langtry raised her eye-brows and Cassandra saw the curiosity in her eyes.
    “Varro is a friend of mine,” she said. “Do tell me why you are so anxious to meet him?”
    Cassandra dropped her voice.
    “I have a message for him from someone who is now ... dead.”
    “Then your meeting can be quite easily arranged,” Mrs. Langtry assured her. “As a matter of fact, I am going to a party this evening where it is almost certain he will be present. It is being given by Lord Carwen and he will not mind in the least if I take you with me. That is, if you have no other engagement?”
    “No, none,” Cassandra replied, “although I was hoping to see you act.”
    “Then that of course is something you must do. I have a friend who always sits in the stage-box. You shall watch the play with him and afterwards we will take you with us to Lord Carwen’s party.”
    “How kind ... how very kind you are,” Cassandra said in heartfelt tones.
    She noticed that while Mrs. Langtry was speaking her eyes had flickered over her evening-dress and noted that not only was it new and expensive, but also the diamond brooch she wore pinned to the bodice was real as was the bracelet she wore over her kid gloves.
    She could not help feeling that Mrs. Langtry might not have been so kind had she in fact been an impoverished, badly dressed young actress.
    Nevertheless, Mrs. Langtry gave another glance at the star-brooch, doubtless appreciating the