Spare Brides Read Online Free

that confused people and there was nothing Ava liked more than being a mystery.
    ‘We agreed to buy nothing, and really these are absolutely nothing, just trinkets. In fact Lady Cooper hosted a party last month and
all
her guests were given one of these as a favour.’
    ‘But Lady Cooper is American,’ spluttered Beatrice.
    ‘By which Beatrice means very generous,’ added Lydia quickly.
    Ava knew that Beatrice had meant new and rather vulgar; she’d obviously momentarily forgotten that Ava’s mother was also American. Lydia was trying to cover her gaffe, but there was no need. Ava didn’t care. She was glad that Beatrice had for once forgotten about her ancestry; it meant Ava was doing a good job. She really shouldn’t care what a young, lumpy naïf like Beatrice thought anyway; yet despite her unmitigated success in society, Ava was, in the deepest part of her soul, ever conscious of her American mother and the fact that her father’s title was new, not inherited.
    ‘These are beautiful,’ Sarah offered, turning the gold lighter over in her gloved hand. ‘Lady Cooper really bought gold lighters for the
ladies
?’ she probed, obviously unsure whether to be excited or scandalised.
    ‘No. In fact she bought lighters for the chaps and compacts for the ladies, but I thought that was predictable.’ Ava sighed. It was a very articulate sigh; it told the world that predictable was a crime in her book.
    ‘Very generous of you. Thank you,’ murmured Beatrice, carefully placing the gold lighter back into its box.
    ‘If you don’t like it, pass it on,’ snapped Ava as she drew on the end of her cigarette holder. Beatrice looked a little shamefaced and Ava knew she’d read her correctly. No doubt Beatrice was wondering whether her brother would enjoy the lighter; unquestionably it was far more impressive than the bottle of port she’d no doubt given him for Christmas.
    ‘Excuse me, m’lady, should I put these other gifts somewhere?’ asked Ava’s maid.
    ‘Yes, do.’ Ava sighed again, now blatantly bored with gift-giving. She couldn’t be bothered to tell her maid exactly where the packages ought to be stored. It didn’t make any difference; the girl would know what to do. It was a terrible problem, boredom. Ava had been so excited earlier this afternoon. As she’d driven down from London – a cold and bumpy ride only made bearable by the fur blanket Dougie had wrapped around her knees and the nips of whisky Johnnie had supplied, both men behaving very flirtatiously, touching her knee and elbow more than necessary – all she’d been able to think of was giving the gifts, but now she wondered whether she’d done the right thing after all. Sarah looked uncomfortable and Beatrice looked furious. How was she supposed to know they’d been serious about not wanting to exchange gifts? She’d been sure that was simply something one said to be polite. Why hadn’t they gone shopping? They couldn’t be
that
busy, could they? It wasn’t as though they’d spent hours on their party preparation; just look at Beatrice’s dress.
    ‘Who’s here?’ she asked, turning her attention to more important concerns.
    ‘The usual,’ replied Lydia.
    ‘So, no one then.’
    ‘Ava, really! Is that any way to see in the New Year?’
    ‘You think this year will be different?’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘Better?’
    ‘Of course.’
    Ava couldn’t decide whether to pity Lydia’s incessant optimism or admire it. The women fell silent and for a moment were content to simply watch the other guests. This was the fun part of the evening, when the air oozed anticipation and no one had done or said anything they might regret in the morning.
    ‘Look, there’s Doreen Harrison,’ whispered Beatrice excitedly. After Ava, Doreen was considered the most beautiful woman in current society.
    ‘Don’t you mean Lady Doreen Henning?’ corrected Sarah. Sir Oswald Henning’s first wife had died of flu in 1919. Doreen was half Henning’s