Free Azalea by Brenda Hiatt Page A

America, will hardly
support a London Season and certainly would leave me nothing to
live on once it is over. I wish to enquire into the particulars of
my paternal grandfather's will, to see if I have any money coming
to me from the Kayce estates."
    "Oh, my dear, I had no idea! How very
dreadful for you, to be sure!" exclaimed Lady Beauforth, struggling
up into a sitting position. "I naturally assumed that you were
sufficiently well set up... but enough of that. Of course, under
such circumstances it would be best for you to visit him. He would
likely refuse to come to you, anyway, if he knew the truth. But in
the meantime, what shall we do for you?" She appeared to be
genuinely concerned, perhaps partially out of a fear that she might
be expected to finance Azalea's Season herself.
    "I shall be fine, Cousin, really," said
Azalea quickly, banishing such an uncharitable thought. "Junie has
been telling me about some places in Soho—"
    "That's it!" Lady Beauforth's brow cleared
as if by magic. "The very thing, if we are discreet. You
wouldn't believe how many ladies of the ton shop there—by proxy, of course—
because of the nip-farthing allowances their husbands give them. I
daresay one or two of Marilyn's old gowns might be altered to fit
you as well, as you are neither as plump nor as tall as
she."
    Azalea was relieved at her cousin's
enthusiastic reception of the idea and it emboldened her to
continue. "To tell the truth, Cousin Alice, Junie already made a
brief trip to Soho for me early this afternoon. The dress I am
wearing now came from one of the markets, though we only had time
enough to take it in at the waist. She assures me that she can
refurbish it to make it even more modish."
    Lady Beauforth waved this idea aside and
assured her that her own dressmaker could make any necessary
alterations, as her taste was exquisite. Relieved of the
possibility of having to fund Azalea's comeout herself, she seemed
disposed to be generous.
    "Now run along, my dear, and I'll have
Marilyn's abigail look over her gowns from last Season. We are
fortunate that the styles have not changed so very much. I'm
certain Mrs. Osgood can bring them bang up to the nines for you."
She dismissed Azalea with the most unaffected smile she had yet
bestowed on her.

    * * *

    The next morning Junie appeared with a
breakfast tray almost the instant Azalea awoke. An envelope rested
on the tray next to the cup of chocolate and Azalea picked it up.
"What is this?"
    "I couldn't say, miss. It was given to me
last night by Cartwright, her ladyship's dresser, to bring to you
first thing. I set it on your tray so I wouldn't forget." Azalea
opened the envelope to find that it contained the direction of Mr.
John J. Timmons, Esq., and the information that Lady Beauforth's
carriage would convey her there in the course of the morning, if
she so wished.
    "Why, how kind," Azalea exclaimed. "I'll go
directly after breakfast. Junie, do you suppose you could order her
ladyship's carriage to be ready in three-quarters of an hour?"
    "It's early yet, miss, but I'll try,"
answered the abigail doubtfully.
    "Don't put the coachman to any trouble. I'll
wait until he's had a chance to eat something. There is no real
hurry, I suppose." But Azalea could not subdue her eagerness to
carry out this errand as quickly as possible, and Junie gave her a
most perceptive smile.
    "It will be ready inside an hour, miss, for
certain," she promised, and left the room with a militant gleam in
her eye.
    Junie returned in under five minutes to
inform her mistress that the carriage could indeed be ready by nine
o'clock, or even sooner if she wished.
    "Thank you, Junie. You take very good care
of me," said Azalea warmly, making the abigail flush with
pleasure.
    "No more than you deserve, miss," she said
brusquely. "Now, which dress will you wear? I got that stain out of
the white one, and hemmed up the blue."
    At precisely nine o'clock Azalea descended
the front steps to the waiting carriage,