Lady Crenshaw's Christmas Read Online Free Page B

She has no other friends.  I would be much surprised if anyone but yourself tolerates her for even a moment.”
    “I suppose I feel a bit sorry for her,” Ginny admitted.  “I most definitely pity her husband!  Poor Avery.  I feel somewhat responsible for their ending up together.”
    “Whatever your sin might have been, must we pay for the rest of our lives?” Anthony asked with a nod towards the door through which the lady under discussion was even now emerging. 
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Taking in the resplendent figure of Lady Avery, Ginny felt her heart quail within her.  Lucinda, as Ginny thought of her, was barely nineteen years of age and had been a bride for only a few weeks longer than Ginny.  However, she was at least a month further gone and did nothing at all whatsoever to disguise the impending birth of her child.  She worse a flimsy gown, blue to match the cornflower of her eyes, wholly inadequate for both the frigid weather and the quantity of jewels pinned to the bodice.  As if the tiara, eardrops, a ring on each finger, a large quantity of bracelets and at least three necklaces were not enough, dozens of brooches, pins and pendants in all colors adorned her gown, causing the neckline to sag and bunch in a most unbecoming way. 
    Ginny felt Grandaunt grasp her hand and turned to catch the furious whispering in her ear.  “Ginerva!  Have you ever known me to being wrong?  Well, take note!  I implied that Lady Avery would be envious of your jewels but it would seem that is not to be the case.”
    Ginny chuckled.  “I do believe you are twice right, Grandaunt.  She looks a perfect fright, poor thing.  It is very much too bad she doesn’t take into account her mother’s sensible advice.”
    “Does she yet try?” the old lady asked.  “I would have given up years ago were I that child’s mother.”
    “Here she comes with Avery in her wake,” Anthony said in dismal tones as if warning of the imminent sinking of a ship.  “We must endeavor to appear as if we notice nothing amiss.”
    “But how?” Ginny whispered urgently.  “There is nothing aright on which to comment.”
    “Ginny! Sir Anthony!” Lady Avery cried, using their familiar names just as she had when they spent a fortnight quarantined in the same house together the previous spring.  “Oh, my, Ginny, you look so dreadfully worn out.  Are you sure your child is not expected before my little man?  I don’t believe I have seen anyone increase at such a rate!”
    “Hello, Lady Avery,” Ginny said.  “What a lovely collection of jewels.  You have a most generous husband,” she added, turning to Lord Avery and giving him a smile.
    “Yes, Eustace loves me to death, but carrying about so many large stones is a sad trial.  I found it difficult to rise from the carriage when we arrived and I am persuaded it will be impossible to hold my arms aloft for dancing.”  Without warning she began to slowly list to the side, forcing her husband to push her upright.  “I can’t seem to stand straight,” she explained, as if all present hadn’t just witnessed her unusual ailment with their own eyes.  “It’s on account of this incredibly large diamond pinned to this side, you see?” she asked Ginny. 
    Ginny did see and thoroughly wished she hadn’t.  It was a garish display, to say the least, and she feared her other guests would flee in terror from such an apparition.  She struggled for a response and finally arrived at: “It is such a colorful display, a much needed respite from the dull browns and grays of winter.”
    “Oh, Ginny, you say the most delightful things,” Lady Avery exclaimed and raising her hands with a great jingling and clanging of bracelets and rings, she attempted to bring them together in one of her obnoxious claps.  She gave up the stupendous effort of lifting so much gold and precious stones when her hands reached a distance of mere inches apart, and, slumping dramatically against