Free Picture Perfect by Lilac Lacey Page A

crowded ballroom still in its frame, and clearly they had not cut it free and abandoned the frame here, so what had they done? A small sound caught his attention; it was a sash window rattling. He strode over to it and saw that it was not firmly closed. He hauled on the cord, lifted it up and leaned out, then leaned further, trying to confirm what he thought he saw. He was on the second floor at the back of the house and on the ground below him ran a double row of neatly trimmed laurel hedges, but marring their symmetry was a large rectangular object, glinting slightly. It was the picture frame, he’d lay money on it, the canvas cut free and the frame hurled out of the window to avoid immediate suspicion. That meant that the thief could have then easily rolled up the painting and hidden it under an article of clothing. A large article of clothing, he amended, like a greatcoat… or an evening dress.
     
    By the time three o’clock the following afternoon came around Annabel felt completely recovered from the shock of the night before and was eager to see Justine and her family again. When she and her parents arrived at the Beresford’s house at the appointed hour Lady Beresford greeted her warmly, appearing to have regained her composure overnight, although she was cooler with Mr and Mrs Black.
    ‘The position is this, Black,’ Lord Beresford said abruptly when they were all seated in the parlour. ‘I’ve consulted with a magistrate and Hannah belongs to us, until she is twenty one we have complete authority over her.’
    ‘Now wait one minute…’ Colonel Black said, leaping to his feet, but he was interrupted by Lady Beresford.
    ‘However,’ she said in quelling tones and waited until Colonel Black had subsided before she continued, ‘however Hannah is not a child to be handed back without a thought, and we intend to consult her about her wishes. Naturally we would like her to live with us, but…’ Lady Beresford faltered for a minute and Annabel admired the way in which she drew herself up again to continue. ‘but obviously she loves you, the people who have cared for her for most of her life, and I would understand if she did not feel ready to take such a step, so we would like to invite her to visit with us for a short while and then visit again later in the season.’ She turned to Annabel. ‘What do you say? Will you come and stay with us for a few days? Please?’
    For a moment Annabel felt quite overwhelmed but she glanced at her mother and saw approval in her eye. ‘I… I would like that very much,’ she said. She had neither expected Lady Beresford to offer her either so much freedom or so much sincerity.
    ‘Lady Beresford,’ Mrs Black was smiling broadly, but Annabel could see that her eyes were bright with unshed tears. ‘I would like to thank you for your graciousness and your generosity, and I am honoured to make your acquaintance.’
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    Annabel’s visit to the Beresfords was to begin with a small dinner party the evening of her arrival, ‘Just an intimate gathering to introduce you to thirty or so of our closest friends’ Lady Beresford had said. With a valise packed with a selection of day dresses, and a small trunk containing her bonnets and evening dresses, including her current favourite, a simple, high waisted dress in peach silk, trimmed at the scooped neckline and the hem with delicate gold embroidery, and with peach satin shoes to match, Annabel was driven to St James’ Square. Alone in the carriage for the short ride, she felt a mixture of apprehension and excitement. She had never before paid an extended visit alone and she wondered if perhaps the Beresfords might do things very differently from the Blacks, perhaps they would be very devout and say grace before every meal rather than only prior to the evening meal, and she Annabel would disgrace herself by beginning her food while everyone else still had their eyes demurely downcast.