to reveal more dresses than Gardenia imagined any woman would have in a lifetime let alone have collected all at one time.
*
Driving towards the Bois de Boulogne after negotiating the heavy traffic round the Arc de Triomphe, Bertram exclaimed,
“An attractive little thing indeed and not at all the sort of niece that one would expect the redoubtable Lily to possess.”
“You yourself told me she came from a decent family,” Lord Hartcourt reminded him.
“Well, that is what my father used to say,” Bertram replied. “What do you think Lily will do with the girl?”
“Apparently Miss Weedon has every intention of staying with her aunt. I learnt last night that she was a very determined young woman,” Lord Hartcourt commented drily.
“Determined?” Bertram exclaimed. “That little English sparrow? Why, she looks as if she has only just fallen out of the nest. I don’t think she is determined about anything. But she would be attractive if she was properly dressed.”
“I imagine the Duchesse will see to that,” Lord Hartcourt murmured.
“The whole thing seems a mystery,” Bertram continued. “This girl comes over, she looks innocent, yet Lily accepts her and apparently she is going to be one of the household. I should not be surprised if André is right and the whole thing is a new stunt. It all seems a bit fishy to me.”
“I expect there is a perfectly good explanation if we but knew it,” Lord Hartcourt said in a bored voice.
“Damn it all, Vane! You are never excited about anything,” Bertram complained. “It will rather amuse me to show the girl a bit of life in Paris. I am fed up with all the blasé collection at Maxim’s. Do you know, when Henry gave Yvette a good diamond bracelet last week, she handed it back to him and said the stones were not big enough.”
“Well, Henry can certainly afford big ones.”
“Yes, but think of the ingratitude of it. None of them are pleased with anything. It is like Marie, whom I took out for a while. She was always complaining, the caviar was not fresh, the champagne was corked, the seat uncomfortable and the orchids I gave her were the wrong colour! I was fed up and dropped her and now poor old Oswald has taken her on. He does not know what he is in for. I don’t mind girls costing money. After all what else is there really to spend it on? But I do expect them to show some sort of appreciation.”
“Poor Bertie. I cannot believe that all your efforts go unrewarded.”
“I suppose you will claim I am mean if I say I like value for my expenditure,” Bertram said, turning his head to smile at his cousin. “And I know you think I rush into affairs far too quickly. But the truth is, Vane, I just don’t have your flair for choosing the right woman. My ladybirds always seem disappointing once I get to know them, while yours will improve on acquaintance. If ever there was a high-stepper it’s Henriette.”
Lord Hartcourt made no answer and after a moment Bertram said plaintively,
“All right, Vane, I know that remark is not in good taste, but damn it all, a fellow has to talk to someone and who better than a relation?”
“Who indeed?” Lord Hartcourt answered. “Very well, Bertie, cultivate the little English sparrow, as you call her. You have my blessing. Despite my misgivings she may turn out to be amusing and worth the expense!”
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