Read Online Sea of Lost Love by Santa Montefiore - Free Book Online Page A

like the feel of a man’s hand on you, don’t you? You tease.”
    â€œWhere are your manners, Humphrey? Have you forgotten yourself?” she asked in a loud voice. She noticed she had attracted the attention of a few other guests, among them her cousin David. “What will my grandmother say when I tell her you’ve had your hand on my thigh?” The hand was hastily removed and placed on the table.
    â€œIs everything all right, Celestria?” David asked from across the table. He was grinning, but she could tell from his eyes that he was genuinely concerned.
    â€œOnly a little fun, right, my dear?” Humphrey chortled.
    â€œFor you, perhaps,” Celestria replied sharply. Once again she caught Rafferty staring at her. She hoped he had seen the errant hand. It was always a good thing to stir a man’s sense of gallantry. There lurked in most men a little of the knight in shining armor. She pulled a despairing face. Once again she raised her eyes to heaven, then turned to talk to Dan, satisfied that as soon as the dinner was over, she would be in Rafferty’s arms, being swung around the dance floor.
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    Celestria usually dreaded the speeches, preferring to talk to the men on either side of her. But that night she couldn’t have welcomed them more. While Dan was a delight, Humphrey certainly was not. Drunk and lecherous, his hand straying from the table to squeeze her thigh an inch or so higher at every venture, he was determined to take advantage of the rare opportunity of having her captive for the entire length of dinner. She knew if she told her grandmother she’d only blame the dress. She could hear her voice very clearly: “My dear, if you had worn something a little more discreet, Humphrey wouldn’t have been tempted.” As her uncle took the microphone, Humphrey’s hand crawled once again to her thigh. That was enough. She couldn’t tolerate it a second longer. While Archie tested the microphone by tapping it with his finger, she fled into the drawing room that led off the hall. She could feel Rafferty’s velvet eyes upon her and hoped he would follow.
    It was quiet in the drawing room, except for the rattling sound of rain behind the curtains. A few waiters bustled through with trays of coffee and china cups, muttering “Good evening, miss,” as they passed. She heaved as deep a breath as the corset of her dress allowed and wandered into the hall. It was clear that Rafferty wasn’t going to come. She was disappointed, but understood that his departure from the table would be considered disrespectful to her uncle, not to mention ungallant to the ladies on either side of him. One of whom was her cousin Melissa.
    Celestria folded her arms and stuck out her bottom lip, swinging her hips from side to side to see the skirt of her dress dance. “Psssst!” came from the landing above. Harry, Wilfrid, Sam, and little Bouncy crouched at the top of the stairs, peeping through the banisters.
    â€œLook at you!” she exclaimed in delight. She had never seen a more adorable group of pink faces. They were dressed in their pajamas, their hair brushed with neat partings by Nanny.
    â€œW-w-w-w-we’re thpying,” exclaimed Bouncy in a loud voice, his stammer more pronounced due to tiredness. She doubted he had ever stayed up so late.
    â€œShouldn’t you be in bed, Bouncy?” she replied, climbing the stairs to join them.
    â€œIt’s too noisy to sleep,” complained Wilfrid earnestly. “The tent is right below our window.”
    â€œWe want to watch the party!” said Harry.
    â€œW-w-w-w-we’re thpying,” repeated Bouncy, his large brown eyes wide with excitement.
    â€œDoes Nanny know you’re here?”
    â€œShe’s not my nanny,” Harry corrected.
    â€œNor ours! She’s Bouncy’s,” agreed Sam.
    â€œCan you hear the rain?” said Wilfrid. “It’s very