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over-priced gown or other. We must practice frugality in our current circumstances.”
    â€œI have a gown that will be most suitable for the occasion,” responded Lucia bristling. “I am not the sort of girl who wears a dress once and then discards it.”
    â€œI am glad to hear it,” he snapped. “I have been going over the household accounts and there are one or two economies I would wish to discuss with your mother. Now, leave us, Lucia.”
    Biting her lip to hold back her rising temper, Lucia squeezed her mother’s hand and rose from the chair by the bedside.
    â€˜The manner in which he addresses me is so abrupt. I know that Northern folk have a reputation for plain speaking, but he is just plain rude.’
    Later, at dinner, Lucia was relieved to see that her mother had made the effort to get out of bed and was making an attempt to eat some soup that cook had made especially for her.
    â€œAre you feeling any better, Mama?” she asked kindly.
    â€œA little, thank you, darling. I think the sleep did me some good.”
    Almost immediately she began to cough. At first, Lucia thought that perhaps some soup had gone down the wrong way, but she had already finished it.
    â€œMama!” she cried in alarm. “Perhaps we should call the doctor?”
    â€œWe cannot afford it unless your mother is very ill,” cut in Sir Arthur without waiting for his wife to reply. “Doctors cost money and we do not have the brass to throw around at the moment.”
    â€œBut if Mama needs it – ”
    â€œIf I deem her ill enough to warrant the expense, then I shall call a doctor. Until then, we will look after her ourselves.”
    After summoning Moston to bring her a glass of water, her mother eventually recovered herself.
    With admirable composure, she resumed the conversation. However, Lucia thought that she looked grey and drained.
    â€œArthur, how did your meeting go today?”
    â€œThe accountants have advised me that it is not the right time to be selling Bingham Hall. War may be brewing in Europe and the property market is not good at the moment. There is no point in selling such a valuable asset for too low a price.”
    Lucia felt very relieved.
    â€˜At least I will not have to leave the County,’ she thought.
    â€œNo, we shall have to think of another means to find twenty-five thousand pounds,” continued her stepfather. “But there is not much time. I am attempting to secure the money, but we must not raise our hopes. I may have to resort to other avenues.”
    As he set down his glass, he threw Lucia a meaningful stare.
    â€˜Does this somehow involve me?’ she thought with a sick feeling. ‘The way he looked at me makes me believe he has some plan I am to be a part in.’ She knew that could mean only one thing – a suitable and profitable match.
    Lucia finished her meal in silence. Although she had of late begun to think more about marriage, it would have to be under the right circumstances.
    â€˜Ideally, I would have to love and respect the man,’ she thought, as she toyed with a plate of fruit. ‘And I would need to find him attractive and handsome – ”
    Lucia was a little unworldly when it came to romance. Although she had found plenty of admirers in Paris, she had not taken them at all seriously.
    â€œThe French are wont to make love to any attractive woman they meet,” a friend had told her and so she had enjoyed light flirtations with Jacques, Stefan and Charles without even so much as kissing one of them on the lips.
    Since she had returned to England, Edward de Redcliffe really was the only man who had even vaguely sparked her interest. And that was largely because he seemed so attracted to her and there was also the factor that Emmeline had seemed to be so keen to arrange a good match.
    Lucia liked to please her friends and Emmeline was her oldest one. She had written numerous letters