CHAPTER TWO

“Run upstairs, my dear,” Lady Bressley said, “and get ready to come back with me to my house. I will send servants to pack your clothes so that you need not trouble to do anything yourself.”

Claudia had done as she was told.

She changed from the simple dress she was wearing into her best gown, which her mother had bought for her a few months ago.

Only then did she wonder what would happen to the house.

She went into her mother’s bedroom and was instantly aware of the fragrance that she had made essentially her own.

It was the scent of white violets and Claudia thought that it would always haunt her.

Her mother’s clothes were all hanging tidily in the wardrobe and she went to the dressing table and took out the velvet box where her mother had kept her jewellery.

There were not many jewels.

But whenever Walter Wilton had any money to spare, he spent it on something that he knew would delight his wife.

Something that would, as he had said, reflect the stars in her eyes.

‘I must not leave the box behind,’ Claudia told herself.

She did not search for money, knowing full well that there was none.

All that she had been able to find had already been spent on the funeral.

Claudia had given the undertakers Walter Wilton’s gold watch to compensate for the lack of gold sovereigns. And they had accepted it reluctantly.

When she went downstairs, her Godmother was sitting where she had left her.

She looked up as Claudia came into the room.

“You look very smart, my dear,” she said, “but then your mother always had good taste.”

“I am afraid,” Claudia said, “I have – not many clothes at – the moment. Mama was waiting for the benefit fromMacbeth to buy me two new gowns.”

“I will buy you anything you need,” Lady Bressley answered, “but we will have to do so in a hurry because you must do me credit in Spain, especially as my taking you with me will be a surprise.”

“It is so – very kind of – you,” Claudia said, “but I am just – wondering what I should do – about the house.”

“My secretary, Mr. Prior, will see to that,” Lady Bressley answered, “and we will make a decision when you return as to whether you wish to sell it or keep it. It is always a mistake to do things in a hurry.”

They drove off in the carriage with its fine horses.

Claudia felt as if she was living in a dream. She only hoped that she would not awaken too soon.

Lady Bressley’s house in Grosvenor Square was very impressive.

There seemed to Claudia to be a veritable army of servants to look after them.

*

During the next few days dressmakers seemed to come to the house every hour.

Claudia had expected to have to go to the shops to buy her clothes.

But Lady Bressley was so prestigious that they were only too willing to come to her.

Evening gowns, day gowns, coats, jackets, hats, all were brought for her approval.

For the first time in her life, Claudia found how tiring it was to be always trying on clothes.

They left for Spain, travelling by carriage to Tilbury from w