The Lost Sapphire by Belinda Murrell

grace.
    â€˜Audrey, this is my younger sister, Violet,’ Imogen said. ‘Her school, Rothbury College, has been closed due to an outbreak of scarlet fever, so Violet is free for the summer. She’s very artistic and I thought she might be able to help us with decorations for the ball.’
    Violet felt a thrill of pleasure at this uncommon praise from her elder sister.
    â€˜Perfect,’ said Audrey. ‘I’m sure you will be far more useful than most of these chattering parakeets.’
    Audrey introduced everyone. Violet recognised two of the girls, Dodo and Edie, as old school friends of Imogen’s. Violet sat on the window seat while Imogen chose a chintz-covered armchair.
    Audrey held up her hand for attention. ‘May I remind you, ladies,’ she said, ‘we are here on a serious mission. There are millions of Russian children who are in danger of starving to death over the winter. The idea is that our ball will raise loads of money to send over to feed those poor children.’
    â€˜It’s awfully sad,’ said Imogen. Everyone murmured in agreement.
    â€˜And don’t forget that we want to organise the best ball of the season,’ added Dodo. ‘I plan on making the social pages with my outrageous costume.’
    Audrey turned to Imogen and Violet. ‘These frivolous flappers have made hardly any progress yet on organising our ball, other than picking a date and venue. We have decided on Thursday, December the fourteenth, at the Hawthorn Town Hall. We want to hold it before everyone disappears to the country for Christmas. But at this rate, summer will be over before we decide anything.’
    Edie tutted at Audrey. ‘Oh, very harsh. We’ve chatted endlessly about themes as well. We’ve been arguing over whether we should have a Cinderella dance or perhaps a Venetian masquerade.’
    â€˜I vote for an underwater theme, where we dress as nymphs,’ Dodo suggested, beaming at everyone. ‘We can dangle silver fish from fishing line and make seaweed streamers from crepe paper.’
    â€˜I can see you as King Neptune,’ teased Imogen. ‘Just be careful you don’t knock anyone over with your golden trident!’
    Violet suppressed a giggle. She remembered that Dodo had a reputation for being endlessly clumsy but always cheerful.
    â€˜Or we could have a costume ball,’ added Edie. ‘I rather fancy being Marie Antoinette.’ She spread her imaginary pannier skirts wide and curtseyed regally, fluttering an invisible fan.
    Audrey raised her eyebrows at Violet in mock despair. She picked up a sheaf of leaflets from the side table and showed photographs of stick-thin, emaciated children with big, dark eyes. Violet felt a lump rise in her throat.
    â€˜Just like during the French Revolution, peasants are dying of starvation,’ Audrey explained to Violet. ‘After years of war and revolution, the crops have failed and people are reduced to eating bread made of bark and grass.’
    Violet thought of the four beautiful meals produced each day by Monsieur Dufour. She couldn’t imagine ever eating bark and grass.
    â€˜Every pound we raise will save a child’s life,’ Audrey continued, ‘so we’re hoping to have six hundred people at the ball for supper and dancing. If we sell the tickets for twelve shillings six pence each, then we should take over three hundred and fifty pounds.’
    â€˜That’s an awful lot of people to invite and loads of food to provide,’ Imogen added.
    Audrey fanned herself with the leaflets. ‘That’s why, cherie , I’ve put you and Edie in charge of advertising.’
    Violet glanced from Imogen to Audrey, thoughts tumbling through her mind.
    â€˜If the ball is to raise money for the Russian Famine Relief Fund, why don’t you have a Russian theme?’ Violet suggested.
    â€˜That sounds a bit grim,’ said Dodo, pulling a face ofdistaste.