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

loud.”
    â€œWill it thunder?” Sam asked.
    â€œI’m sure it will, and lightning, too. You’re not afraid of thunder and lightning, are you, Bouncy?” The little boy looked anxious. “Do you know what thunder is?” He put his finger in his mouth and nodded slowly. “It’s angry clouds having a jolly good fight. That’s all. Nothing to be frightened of.”
    â€œI bet the rain will drown our traps,” said Harry despondently.
    â€œIt’ll drown all the rats if you’re lucky,” Celestria replied. “Then you can take them to Cyril and he’ll reward you handsomely.”
    â€œIs the party fun?” asked Harry, a little enviously.
    â€œGreat fun. But this is the boring bit when Uncle Archie and Papa give speeches. Much more fun up here, I can promise you.” She ran her fingers through Bouncy’s thick hair. “As for you, young man, I think you should go to bed. It’s very late. What will Nanny say if she finds you?”
    â€œThee w-w-w-won’t find me, because I-I-I-I-I’ll hide,” he said with a naughty grin. Celestria smiled back. It was impossible not to smile at everything Bouncy said. She leaned forward and planted a kiss on his rosy cheek.
    â€œYou run off now, darling. Good night.” She skipped down the stairs, holding up the skirt of her dress so it billowed about her legs like a parachute.
    Â 
    She waited on the sofa in the drawing room like a patient lioness for her lion, half listening to the drone of speeches as first Archie and then her father settled into their strides and clearly grew to relish the sound of their own voices amplified above the roar of the rain. She threw herself back against the cushions and dreamed of dancing with Rafferty.
    Soames peered over. “Are you all right, Miss Celestria?”
    â€œJust a severe case of boredom, Soames. Nothing a little music and dancing won’t cure.”
    When at last the speeches were over, she hastened to the bathroom to check her appearance before embarking on a night of romance with her handsome new admirer.
    Her hopes were dashed, however, by her cousin Melissa, whom she found in front of the mirror in a state of extreme excitement. “I’m in love!” she breathed, staring at her flushed face in the glass. Celestria noticed the slack jaw and reminded herself never to allow hers to fall so.
    â€œWith Rafferty?” she asked. It was too tiresome to have to feign ignorance.
    â€œDo you know him?” she replied, surprised.
    â€œI met him before dinner. He’s a friend of Dan’s.”
    Her face brightened. “You like Dan, don’t you? Lotty said you did.”
    â€œNot really,” Celestria replied breezily. “He’s very sweet, but not my type, after all.”
    â€œWell, Rafferty has promised me the first dance,” she said hurriedly.
    â€œPerhaps he’ll promise me the second,” Celestria replied, and her cousin’s face showed her mortification. She knew as well as anyone there simply wasn’t any point competing with Celestria.
    â€œOh, I can hear the music,” Melissa exclaimed, her voice almost a wail, and left the room in a flurry.
    Â 
    â€œWhat’s she crying about?” asked Pamela, rustling in to powder her nose and apply lipstick. “It must be a man. It’s always a man!”
    â€œShe’s in love with Rafferty.”
    â€œWho?” her mother asked.
    â€œHe’s Irish and more handsome than you can imagine. Dan Wilmotte brought him.”
    â€œHe’s clearly not on her level of the food chain.” Pamela placed her little bag on the marble and pulled out her gold powder compact.
    â€œHe’s a lion,” Celestria replied proudly.
    Pamela dusted her nose. “Now I understand the tears. Poor Missy, she shouldn’t aim so high; she’ll only get bruised when she falls. I suppose you like him.”
    â€œHe’s