A Gown of Thorns: A Gripping Novel of Romance, Intrigue and the Secrets of a Vintage Parisian Dress Read Online Free Page A

which, Shauna had gleaned, had begun almost thirty years ago. ‘Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.’ John Lennon hadn’t even realised how ironic he was being when he said that.
    For some reason, Shauna’s eye was suddenly drawn to a narrow door in a corner of the kitchen. ‘That leads to the tower,’ she said without thinking.
    Isabelle looked up from her casserole. ‘How on earth did you know that?’
    ‘I’ve no idea. Can I go up?’
    ‘The children can show you, though they don’t like it up there.’ Isabelle explained hastily, ‘Because they are outdoor beings. It’s a lot of steps to climb, and there is only a bedroom at the top. The view is good, I grant you. If you like old rooms with cobwebs and sad memories, go any time. Me, I like my feet on the ground.’
    ‘You never go up there? Oh, I’m sorry,’ Shauna exclaimed as Isabelle tapped the crook of her walking cane. ‘Nothing about you seems old, Tante Isabelle. I forgot about your limp.’
    ‘I wish I could forget it, but there. If I had not fallen, you would not be here. C’est le destin . Elisabeth’s girl! Tell me, which shade of red is your natural hair?’
    Shauna touched her short layers. ‘Um… My real colour is what we call “strawberry blonde”.’
    ‘ Blond Vénitien ? How pretty. You should let it grow out. But not now,’ Isabelle added hurriedly. ‘I mean, well… Here it would fade in the sun.’
    Shauna suspected that Isabelle might not have meant that at all.

    ‘ G randmère , we’re home!’ The kitchen door was flung open.
    ‘Well, I didn’t think it was a visitation of angels. Olive, Nico, say hello to Shauna. She’s on her feet now.’
    Shauna laughed as two children clad in up-to-the-minute sportswear looked her up and down, taking in her short print dress, cropped cardigan and bright hair.
    ‘You are wearing gold rings on your toes.’ Olive stared, fascinated, at Shauna’s criss-cross sandals.
    ‘Cool,’ said Nico.
    ‘I always think toes get neglected. Why shouldn’t they have jewellery too? Happy to meet you properly at last.’
    Olive, twelve, and Nico, ten, were tall for their age. Brunette like their grandmother, their deep tans were accentuated by their white sports kit. They were chatty too. Over dinner, they peppered Shauna with questions about British sports stars and pop groups. She tried to give useful answers, but when Nico asked which soccer team she preferred, Arsenal or Chelsea, she had to admit that she only cared about Sheffield United as that was her home team and even then, she didn’t care very much.
    ‘If you don’t watch soccer, what do you do?’ Nico asked, bewildered.
    ‘Read. Study. I dig about in forest floors and peer under stones to see what’s crawling about beneath.’ Laughing at their bemused expressions, she explained, ‘I studied biomedical sciences at university. I spent the last two years researching plant medicines for my MSc. Master of Sciences,’ she translated. ‘I’m taking a year out, then I may go back to do my doctorate.’
    ‘Are you a professor?’ Olive asked, with a glint that might imply respect but which was more likely astonishment. People were often downright disbelieving when Shauna told them she was a scientist. Something about the pixie hair, the fact that she was barely five-foot-five and did not wear glasses. People had fixed ideas that female scientists resembled either Jodie Foster, or Rosa Klebb from From Russia with Love . ‘Not a professor, no. My ambition is to carry out research and work in industry. I don’t see myself teaching.’
    ‘Speaking of which,’ Isabelle cut in, ‘did Elisabeth mention that I wish you to give the children two hours’ English coaching each day?’
    Olive and Nico issued a simultaneous groan.
    ‘She did, and that’s no problem, if you don’t mind them ending up with a northern accent.’
    ‘We all have a regional accent,’ Isabelle laughed. ‘I promised their mother they’d