‘So, what’s Aunt Imogen like?’ she asked Jasper as the horse pulling the cab trotted along weaving its way amongst the traffic.
Jasper chuckled as he straightened his immaculate cravat. ‘Oh, I think you’ll like her. I imagine she was a beauty in her day although from what I’ve gathered she’s a bit of a recluse since her husband died, and she’s quite poorly of course.’
‘Hm, and why have you taken such an interest in her all of a sudden?’ Knowing her cousin as she did, Abi was suspicious of his motives. From hearing the other girls talk, she had more than an inkling that Jasper would have been paid for introducing her to Lilly, which made her wonder why he was suddenly so keen to visit an aunt he had only recently discovered he had. Could it be that he was after her money?
Avoiding her eyes, Jasper shrugged. He could hardly admit that he only went because Emmy was there. ‘I suppose I just find her amusing. You’ll see what I mean when you meet her. She’s very, er .?.?. shall we say, flamboyant? And that would be putting it mildly.’
Eventually they pulled up outside the house and after paying the driver Jasper knocked on the door.
Aggie admitted them, saying, ‘The missus is up today so you’re in luck. She’s been abed poorly fer the last few days but I’ll go through an’ ask her an Miss Emmy if she’s up to visitors.’
As she disappeared along the hallway, Abi stared around her in amazement at the silk wall coverings and the gilt-legged furniture and picture frames.
‘I see what you mean about her being flamboyant,’ she whispered to Jasper.
‘Oh, if you think this is fancy wait till you actually meether,’ he warned with an amused chuckle. ‘To say she’s larger than life would be putting it mildly.’
Aggie soon returned and led them to the drawing room. When they entered, they instantly spotted Imogen sitting in a large velvet wing chair to the side of the fireplace.
She raised an eyebrow as she looked at Jasper. ‘And to what do we owe the honour of this visit, young man?’ She was dressed today in a yellow velvet gown that was covered from top to bottom in frills and furbelows and her pale face was heavily rouged, giving her the appearance of a fragile china doll.
‘Why, Aunt, I could almost think you’re not pleased to see me,’ Jasper answered. ‘But if you must know, your other niece wished to meet you.’ He took Abi’s elbow and led her forward.
‘Hm, so you’re Abigail!’ Her aunt eyed her up and down, liking what she saw. In fact, Abi reminded her very much of herself when she was younger. She wasn’t as tall as Emmy and was more curvaceous, but she was definitely the prettier of the two, Imogen decided.
‘How do you do, Aunt Imogen.’ Abi bobbed her knee and seeing the mischievous twinkle in the girl’s eye, Imogen liked her even more. If she wasn’t very much mistaken this young lady had spirit and she liked that.
‘Come and sit down and let me get a better look at you. You’re making the room look untidy,’ Imogen barked, but rather than jumping to do as she was told, Abi casually strolled to the chair opposite and took a seat.
‘And where is Emmy?’ Jasper asked.
‘I sent her to the kitchen to get me a cool drink. Why don’t you go and hurry her up?’
Only too happy to oblige, Jasper shot off and once they were alone Imogen, said, ‘Emerald tells me you’re working at the Black Cat club in Soho? Are you enjoying it?’
‘Oh yes, very much.’ Abi’s head bobbed setting the feathers on her hat dancing. ‘I love being a hostess.’
Imogen glanced at the portrait of herself suspended above the mantelpiece and sighed. ‘That’s how I started out,’ she admitted. ‘But I went on to become a songbird, the darling of the music halls. That’s where I met my beloved Marcel.’ Even now, so many years after his death, just the thought of him could still make her eyes well with tears, but she blinked them away as she turned her attention back to her niece. ‘And have you met anyone nice as yet?’
Abi blushed prettily. ‘I have as it happens,’ she confided.
‘Hm, in that case I hope he’s wealthy,’ Imogen said shortly. ‘It’s all very well all these do-gooders saying money can’t buy you happiness but there must be nothing worse than being poor and struggling, so choose wisely. You’re still very young and have all your life ahead of you.’
‘Oh, I have chosen wisely and he is wealthy. In fact, he’s a lord.’ Abi’s eyes were shining.
‘Is he now. And does he feel the same about you?’
Just for a second Abi’s smile slipped. ‘I’m sure he does .?.?. although he’s had to go away for a while because his grandfather is very ill.’
Their conversation was interrupted when Jasper and Emmy entered the room. Emmy was carrying a tray full of glasses and a jug of home-made lemonade and Abi noticed the way Jasper’s eyes followed her sister’s every move. It was almost as if .?.?. Abi gave a little shake of her head.No, of course he couldn’t be looking at her that way, she told herself. They were cousins! And Jasper would never risk getting cut out of his father’s will for Emmy, surely? But Imogen was speaking to her again so she quickly turned her attention back to her as Emmy poured them all a long cool drink.
‘What did you think of the old dear?’ Jasper asked when they left over an hour later.
‘I liked her.’ Abi chuckled. ‘As you said, she’s quite a character, isn’t she? I’d love to have met her before she was ill. I imagine she must have been really beautiful when she was younger. And Emmy looks well too, doesn’t she?’ she said innocently, watching for his reaction. ‘I believe she sees rather a lot of Jake since working for Aunt Imogen. I know she sees him every Sunday at least.’
Jasper obviously wasn’t too thrilled to hear this if his frown was anything to go by. ‘Perhaps we all ought to meet up and see a bit more of each other on Sundays,’ he suggested.
Abi shook her head. ‘I shan’t be able to, not once Hugo is back. I’ve no doubt he’ll want me to spend my day off with him,’ she said with a dreamy look on her face.
