A Dream Come True by Barbara Cartland Page B

retort that Doctor Maybury was a doddering old fool who could not cure a horse let alone a human, but she held her tongue.
    â€œThank you,” she muttered quietly.
    â€œAnd please wear something else to receive Lord Winterton this afternoon,” called her stepfather as she turned to leave. “I trust you have not forgotten you have promised you would see him? I want you to make yourself as attractive as possible and that gown is far too cheap-looking.”
    Flushing scarlet Lucia closed the door behind her.
    â€˜How dare he?’ she thought.
    But she knew that she could not object. It was true.
    The dress she had donned was a bit old and made of a rather nondescript blue merino.
    â€˜And now, we cannot afford to dress according to our station in life,’ she moaned as she walked upstairs. ‘I will change and then visit Mama.’
    *
    Â Her mother was not at all well. Her chest wheezed and her cough was now insistent. Mrs. Darrowby had propped her up in bed as, each time she lay back, she found it difficult not to cough.
    When Lucia arrived, she found her mother with her face turned away and a worried-looking Mrs. Darrowby attempting to feed her.
    â€œCome along, my Lady – just a spoonful of porridge. It’s nourishing and will help sustain you.”
    â€œPlease, please take it away.”
    Her voice sounded old and frail and tears sprang to Lucia’s eyes.
    â€˜This is not my Mama,’ she said to herself. ‘How can she have aged so in just one night?’
    â€œLook, my Lady, Miss Lucia is here.”
    At that she turned around and her dim eyes seemed to light up for a second.
    â€œLucia. Darling.”
    â€œMama, the doctor will be calling this morning. I have just telephoned him.”
    â€œDoctor Glossop?” she asked eagerly.
    â€œNo, Mama. Doctor Maybury. He has said that he will be here as quickly as possible. He has just one other call to make before he comes to Bingham Hall.”
    Upon hearing this news, she seemed to shrink. She had not cared for the man one bit when she had been ill the year before – he was a fool!
    Lucia sat with her mother for a while and then she remembered that she had agreed to call on Edward that afternoon.
    â€˜I cannot go with Lord Winterton coming here,’ she reasoned, rising from her chair and ringing for Mrs. Darrowby. ‘I must telephone him at once.’
    She asked Joyce at the Telephone Exchange to connect her to him. She felt certain that even though she did not have his number, it would not prove difficult to look up.
    After five minutes anxiously pacing the hall, the telephone rang.
    â€œYour call to Mr. de Redcliffe, Miss Mountford.”
    â€œHallo, Edward?” she called into the mouthpiece.
    â€œLucia! What a wonderful surprise,” he began. She could hear the eagerness in his voice.
    â€œEdward, I am so sorry, but Mama is not at all well and I will not be able to come over to your house this afternoon.Would you mind terribly if we made it another time? I really want to look over your stables, but today is not the day.”
    There was a silence on the line as Lucia waited for his response. She gripped the telephone harder as she waited for him to speak.
    â€œThat’s a pity,” he said finally in a voice heavy with disappointment. “Please send her my best wishes for a speedy recovery. When would you like to come over?”
    â€œWe shall see, Edward. I have called out the doctor and much depends on his diagnosis. Perhaps I can telephone you again or write when I am able to visit?”
    â€œYes, of course. I am so sorry that your Mama is unwell. I will wait to hear from you.”
    â€œGoodbye, Edward.”
    Lucia felt heavy-hearted as she set the telephone back on the receiver. She eyed her reflection in the mirror. She was wearing a white silk blouse that lit up her face and the pearls around her throat made her skin look soft and creamy. Her linen skirt had