The Glittering Lights (Bantam Series No. 12) by Barbara Cartland Page B

Then an idea struck her.
    She crossed the room to the dressing-table and took from the bottom drawer the jewel-case with which she always travelled and which Hannah never let out of her hand.
    It held a great deal of jewellery for someone so young, but Sir James liked his women to glitter, and both Cassandra and her mother received at Christmas and on their birthdays fabulous gems.
    From the bottom of the case, Cassandra drew out a leather box which contained, reposing on a velvet lining, a large diamond star.
    It was one of the few presents her father had given her which she had thought did not measure up to his usual exquisite taste. There was something a little garish and ornate about it.
    The diamonds were too large and the setting not as delicate as the presents he usually chose, but she was aware that it was a valuable piece.
    She thought as she looked at it that it would be a very suitable present for someone like Mrs. Langtry.
    Cassandra had been surprised at the number and value of Mrs. Langtry’s jewels, of which the papers gave long and elaborate descriptions every time she appeared.
    The story of her climb to fame when she had appeared in London with her husband, so poor that she had only one black dress, had been reiterated over and over again, just as the Prince of Wales’s infatuation had lost nothing in the telling, even to those who lived as far away as Yorkshire.
    What was inexplicable was the thousands of pounds’ worth of jewels Mrs. Langtry suddenly acquired, despite the fact that she was so poor she had to earn money by going on the stage.
    ‘But of course, since she is so beautiful, people want to give her presents,’ Cassandra told herself and the explanation seemed simple.
    Cassandra thought it likely, because he rather enjoyed giving presents, that her father had contributed to the diamonds which had astounded America and even in England were referred to constantly in every newspaper.
    She shut the box which contained the star, set it down on the writing-table, and closing her own jewel-case replaced it in the drawer.
    She opened the letter which she had already sealed and added a postscript:
    “To me you have always been the most glittering star in the Universe.”
    Once again Cassandra wrote the envelope and put the letter and the jewel box in a drawer of the writing-table which she locked.
    When Hannah came to call her mistress she found her already half-dressed.
    “Why didn’t you ring the bell, Miss Cassandra?” Hannah enquired.
    “I thought you might be having your breakfast,” Cassandra answered, “and I did not wish to disturb you because we are going out as soon as you can be ready.”
    “At this hour of the morning?” Hannah asked in surprise.
    “I have a lot to do,” Cassandra answered. “I am sure, Hannah, you do not wish to stay in London any longer than is necessary.”
    She knew this was the best way of getting Hannah to do what she wanted because the maid hated Sir James’s town house and always longed to be back at The Towers.
    It was however two hours later before Cassandra had managed to have her breakfast and leave her Aunt without appearing rude.
    Lady Fladbury had a whole repertoire of gossip to relate about friends, and an endless flow of tittle-tattle about the Socialites who filled the newspapers; so that Cassandra could hardly get a word in.
    She wished to pick her Aunt’s brains without appearing to do so, and finally she managed to say:
    “I would like to visit the theatre whilst I am in London. What is Mrs. Langtry’s new play like?”
    “Rather amusing!” Lady Fladbury replied. “It is a comedy-drama called ‘Enemies.’ Another of Coghlan’s adaptions from the French.”
    “Is it exciting?” Cassandra enquired.
    “The second act concludes with murder by strangulation of a country girl in a fit of passion by a deaf and dumb idiot,” Lady Fladbury answered, “if that makes you laugh!”
    Cassandra smiled as her Aunt went on:
    “I have to