Read Chain of Gold for Free Online Page B

earth?” Lucie looked at her with wide eyes. Where James’s eyes were amber, Lucie’s were pale blue, a few shades lighter than her father’s.
    Cordelia’s head snapped back around. “Oh, because—” Because you get to spend time with James every day? She doubted Lucie thought that was any special gift; one didn’t, when it was one’s family. “He’s such a good older brother. If I’d asked Alastair to walk ten paces behind me in a park, he would have made sure to stick by my side the entire time just to be annoying.”
    â€œPfft!” Lucie exclaimed. “Of course I adore Jamie, but he’s been dreadful lately, ever since he fell in love.”
    She might as well have dropped an incendiary device on Cordelia’s head. Everything seemed to fly apart around her. “He what?”
    â€œFell in love,” Lucie repeated, with the look of someone enjoying imparting a bit of gossip. “Oh, he won’t say with who, of course, because it’s Jamie and he never tells us anything. But Father’s diagnosed him and he says it’s definitely love.”
    â€œYou make it sound like consumption.” Cordelia’s head was whirling with dismay. James in love? With who?
    â€œWell, it is a bit, isn’t it? He gets all pale and moody and stares off out of windows like Keats.”
    â€œDid Keats stare out of windows?” Sometimes keeping up with Lucie was difficult.
    Lucie plowed on, undeterred by the question of whether England’s foremost Romantic poet had or had not stared out of windows. “He won’t say anything to anyone but Matthew, and Matthew is a tomb where James is concerned. I heard a bit of their conversation this morning by accident, though—”
    â€œAccident?” Cordelia raised an eyebrow.
    â€œI may have been hiding beneath a table,” said Lucie, with dignity. “But it was only because I had lost an earring and was looking for it.”
    Cordelia suppressed a smile. “Go on.”
    â€œHe is definitely in love, and Matthew thinks he is being foolish. It is a girl who does not live in London, but she is about to arrivehere for an extended stay. Matthew does not approve of her—” Lucie broke off suddenly and clutched at Cordelia’s wrist. “Oh!”
    â€œOuch! Lucie—”
    â€œA lovely young lady about to arrive in London! Oh, I am a goose! Of course it’s clear who he meant!”
    â€œIs it?” Cordelia said. They were nearing the famous Long Water; she could see the sun sparkling off the surface.
    â€œHe meant you,” Lucie breathed. “Oh, how lovely! Imagine if you got married! We could be sisters in truth!”
    â€œLucie!” Cordelia dropped her voice to a whisper. “We’ve no proof he meant me.”
    â€œWell, he’d be mad not to be in love with you,” said Lucie. “You’re terribly pretty, and just as Matthew said, you’ve just arrived in London for an extended stay. Who else could it be? The Enclave simply isn’t that large. No, it must be you.”
    â€œI don’t know—”
    Lucie’s eyes rounded. “Is it that you don’t care for him? Well, you can’t be expected to, yet. I mean you’ve known him all your life, so I imagine he isn’t that impressive, but I am quite sure you could get used to his face. He doesn’t snore or make rude jokes. Really, he isn’t bad at all,” she added judiciously. “Just consider it? Dance one dance with him tomorrow. You do have a dress, don’t you? You must have a lovely dress, if he is to be properly stunned by you.”
    â€œI do have a dress,” Cordelia hastened to reassure her, though she knew it was far from lovely.
    â€œOnce you have stunned him,” Lucie went on, “he will propose. Then we shall decide whether you will accept and if you do, if you will have a long engagement. It might be