The Island of Love (Camfield Series No. 15) Read Online Free Page B

‘Merry Monarch.’ ”
    “Is that what he is?”
    “Very much so,” Sir Robert averred.
    “He certainly sounds amusing,” Lydia remarked. “But why should the Earl wish to visit him?”
    “The King came to England on his world tour,” Sir Robert explained, “and strange though it may seem, he charmed Queen Victoria with his British accent.” He paused before he went on:
    “Her Majesty has therefore decided that she wishes to be represented at the King’s Coronation which will take place in Honolulu in February.”
    “Now I understand,” Lydia exclaimed. “How lovely for you, Heloise! You will have a special place at the Coronation, and I believe Honolulu is a very beautiful place.”
    “I shall certainly look forward to seeing it,” Sir Robert said, “and I think the Coronation will have its amusing moments!”
    There was so much more that Lydia wanted to hear about how they would travel to reach Honolulu, but Sir Robert then left his daughters alone.
    Heloise only wanted to talk about her clothes. Because she could not help being curious Lydia asked after a little while:
    “What did the Earl say when he proposed, Heloise?”
    “I suppose it was romantic,” her sister replied indifferently, “but I was so intent on making sure he really did ask me to marry him that it was not as dramatic as it should have been.”
    Lydia gave a little laugh.
    “What did you expect? That the Earl would go down on one knee?”
    “That has been done before,” Heloise replied. Lydia thought she could not imagine the Earl going down on his knees to anybody, least of all a young girl.
    But she persisted in asking questions until at last Heloise said:
    “Well, if you must know, he said: ‘I want you to marry me. You are the most beautiful person I have ever seen, and I am sure we shall be very happy together.’ ”
    “Is that all?” Lydia asked.
    “It was enough,” Heloise replied. “I said: ‘Yes, I am sure we shall be happy.’ Then he kissed me and said that he had to go to Honolulu and that he wanted me to go with him.”
    “With Papa!” Lydia added.
    “Of course,” Heloise agreed, “and the Earl did explain why we could not be married for another three months.”
    She looked a little petulant as she went on:
    “I think it would have been more impressive if 1 could have gone with him as his Countess, but he said we could go to New York on the way, and he was sure that everybody there would think I was very beautiful.”
    “Of course they will!” Lydia agreed. “There is not likely to be any American girl as lovely as you.”
    “I have to think of my clothes, and quickly!” Heloise said. “We have very little time.”
    “When are you leaving?”
    “Immediately after Christmas.”
    Lydia gave a cry of consternation.
    “As soon as that? Oh, but of course! Papa said that the King was being crowned in February.”
    “I am not bothered about the King,” Heloise exclaimed crossly. “I have to look sensational, so we must go to London immediately, Lydia, to choose at least part of my trousseau.”
    “The dressmakers will not be very keen to have to make a lot of things just before Christmas,” Lydia said warningly.
    “They will have to,” Heloise insisted. “You know as well as I do, Lydia, that I have not nearly enough gowns even counting the ones I wore for my coming out in London. I am tired of them, anyway!”
    Lydia remembered the money her father had spent on Heloise’s Ball-gowns and the elaborate dresses she had for almost every hour of the day, and thought it was really quite unnecessary that she should want any more.
    She knew however, that even to express such an idea would bring her sister’s wrath down on her head, so she said nothing and merely began to make preparations for them to leave for London.
    When Sir Robert heard what was planned he was annoyed.
    “I have no wish to go to London just now,” he said. “As it is, I am going to miss the horses while I am on this trip to