A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller

Author:Sharon Biggs Waller [Waller, Sharon Biggs]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2013-08-12T22:00:00+00:00

twenty

Westminster School Boat Club, Saturday, third of April

SATURDAY WAS THE day of the Boat Race and I was looking forward to seeing Edmund again. It was a fine day and a light wind was blowing, which was a good thing; it wouldn’t be too choppy out on the Thames for the fragile boats. Sophie and I made

our way to the Westminster School Boat Club, near where the race would begin, in a chauffeur-driven motorcar Edmund had sent to the house. We were to meet India and her French lady’s maid there, and then cheer Edmund on at the start at Putney Bridge, and then be driven in the motor to Hammersmith Bridge, midway point of the race, and finally to the end at Chiswick Bridge.

Edmund, in his dark-blue uniform, looked as handsome as ever. When we arrived, he was with several of his teammates, standing in a cluster round their boat. But seeing us, he broke away from the group and came over.

India kissed Edmund on the cheek. “I wish you the best of luck,” she said. “But I’m absolutely gasping for a lemonade. Come along, ladies, let’s leave Miss Darling and Edmund alone.” India gave Edmund a pointed look, and she and the two lady’s maids went off and joined the queue in front of a refreshment stand.

“Are you nervous at all?” I said, casting about for something to say. Even though I was glad to see Edmund, I still felt somewhat tongue-tied in front of him after that disastrous dinner two weeks ago.

He leaned back against the low wall that bordered the river, drumming his fingers against the stone. “Not at all. We have a superb team this year. Cambridge hasn’t a chance. Don’t tell my father, but I have a little wager riding on the outcome.” He grinned sheepishly. “Can’t make a leopard change his spots, as it goes.”

I laughed. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

“Say, this probably isn’t the right time, but I have something for you. If I don’t give it to you now, I’m afraid I’ll lose it. I’m daft that way.” He reached into his pocket and drew out a small velvet box. He opened it and removed an enormous sapphire-and-diamond ring. He lifted my left hand and slid it onto the third finger. “Your engagement ring.” The sapphire was oval and set with a trio of square diamonds on either side.

“Oh!” I didn’t know why I was so surprised that Edmund would give me a ring, but all of a sudden the engagement seemed so very real.

“Is it all right?” Edmund pulled my hand toward him and peered at the ring, as if seeing it for the first time. He looked up at me quizzically. I couldn’t help but think how the sapphires matched his eyes. They were both a perfect ultramarine blue. “Mother said girls love sapphires and diamonds.”

“Oh. No. I mean, yes, of course. It’s lovely.”

“It’s official, then.”

“Yes,” I said faintly. “I suppose it is.”

“Jolly good. I suppose I can stop calling you Miss Darling now.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.