Free Sally James by Miranda of the Island Page B

immediately turned onto her.
    “Do you not care for sailing, Miss de Lisle?”
    “I have enjoyed the only time I have been in a boat,” Miranda said, “but I fear it too. I shall never forget the first time I saw him! I thought he was dead!”
    “Miranda had the misfortune to discover a shipwrecked sailor not so long ago,” Judith cut in swiftly. “Not a pleasant experience, you will agree, though the poor fellow was happily not dead, merely exhausted.”
    “Doubtless you and your companions fetched help.” Mrs Floode was not really interested until Miranda, not understanding Judith’s cough of warning, replied that she had been alone.
    Mrs Floode stared. “Alone! Well, you seem to have been permitted a great deal of licence, Miss de Lisle, more than most well brought up females have.”
    “It is somewhat different in Cornwall, where we are very isolated,” Judith said coldly.
    “So it would seem. It does sound most strange to me, but I shall hope to go and see for myself soon. And how is Denzil, Lady Beverley? It was a delightful surprise to hear he was back in town. Araminta will be so pleased when she returns next week, for she had thought not to see him again for months.”
    “He is well, thank you. Where is Araminta staying?” she added, hoping to turn the conversation into less dangerous channels.
    “With her cousins in Essex. She writes she has had two more offers, but has turned them down, the naughty little puss. But I need not tell you how very selective Araminta is! My daughter and Sir Denzil are great friends, Miss de Lisle, as I expect you already know,” she almost tittered as she confided this to Miranda. “Well, my dear Lady Beverley, I must away, and I do hope I will see you again soon, Miss de Lisle.”
    The bell was rung, and she was escorted out.
    * * * *
    “Bitch!” ejaculated Judith, utter loathing in her voice.
    Miranda was amused. “You do not appear to like her. She is excessively inquisitive. Is everyone like that?”
    “No, thank heavens! But I abhor the woman! You must be very careful what you say to her, Miranda, about the island and how you met Denzil, or there will be all sorts of spiteful rumours flying about the town. If she once thought you were not really his ward, she would do her utmost to ruin you, and you must not allow her any such opportunity.”
    “I am afraid I said too much! I am sorry, but I will be careful. I find it so difficult to think before I speak, for I never had to before!”
    “You will soon become accustomed to it, and fortunately most people are too well bred to probe as much as that woman! One day I shall give her a set-down! Now let us forget her. Will you help me write the invitations to the dinner party? I must send them out today.”
    The invitations were duly sent. Everyone invited, having heard about Miranda, or seen her and wanting to become better acquainted, found that they fortunately had no other engagements on that night, despite the short notice, and were able to accept. Miranda’s evening dress arrived, and Judith took her shopping again. They had other callers, and again Denzil took Miranda driving, as well as giving her her first riding lesson, so that by the evening of the party she was beginning to feel confident in company.
    Judith had invited two couples with daughters of a similar age to Miranda. Mr and Mrs Trent with their daughter Caroline were the first to arrive, but hard on their heels came two unattached young men, Sir Timothy Baines, whom Miranda had met on her first drive in the park, and a Mr David Stone. Both were in their mid-twenties, pleasant, good looking, with comfortable fortunes. They soon detached Caroline and Miranda from the older guests, and were talking in an animated group when the next guests arrived. These were the Willshaws and their daughter Emma. Emma knew Caroline well, and joined the group of younger people while her parents settled down contentedly at the far end of the drawing room. Denzil