Our Fair Lily by Rosie Goodwin

Author:Rosie Goodwin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction

Louis waylaid her the next morning after breakfast to tell her, ‘My grandmother is hiring a private detective to try and trace Arabella, though goodness knows what she thinks it can achieve, even if he manages it.’

‘How are your parents?’

‘Mother’s taken to her bed and refuses to get up, saying we are all ruined, and Father is going about with a permanent frown on his face. I certainly wouldn’t like to be in Freddie’s shoes if ever he catches up with him. But enough about that. I was wondering if I may visit the cottage this evening to go through your sketches so that we can decide which ones to send to Monsieur Levigne.’

‘Er . . . of course, if yer sure you can spare the time,’ Lily answered, blushing prettily.

The rest of the day dragged for Lily, and she could hardly wait to get home and get her sketches out. Finally, though, she was back at the cottage, and as soon as dinner was over she shot away up the stairs to put on her prettiest gown before brushing her hair until it shone. She could no longer deny to herself that she felt drawn to Louis, although she knew nothing could ever happen between them – they were from different classes. Even if he had returned her feelings it would have been hopeless because his family would never allow him to marry someone like her, nor would she have wanted to. People would probably think she’d only married him for his money, and Lily was too proud to ever allow that to happen.

With a sigh she went downstairs and laid the sketches across the table, then sat down and patiently waited for Louis to arrive. Her mother had decided to take a gentle stroll down into the village to see her old neighbour, taking Sassy with her, and Richie had gone to band practice so there was nothing to be heard but the birdsong in the trees outside. Lily waited and waited, and as dusk approached she realised that Louis wasn’t coming, so she packed her sketches safely away and headed off upstairs for an early night feeling strangely disappointed.

The reason for his non-appearance became apparent when the next morning Ginny told her in a whisper, ‘Eeh, we ’ad a right old panic on after you left last night. The Thompsons arrived unexpectedly wi’ their daughter an’ the master invited ’em to stay for dinner. Cook were in a right old flummox an’ took it out on me as usual. Anyway, we managed the meal for ’em an’ then the master invited ’em to stay fer a few days so there’ll be extra cleanin’ for you to do an’ more places to lay in the dinin’ room.’

‘That’s all right, Ginny, I’m sure we’ll manage.’ Lily pictured Samantha Thompson’s pretty face and felt an unexpected pang of jealousy. It was more than obvious that Louis’ parents wanted him to wed Samantha and although Louis hadn’t seemed very interested, she wondered if he might change his mind.

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