The Christmas Countess. Adrienne Basso

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СКАЧАТЬ table filled with men. He would not willingly abandon her and yet she thought it might be the best thing for his mood if he spent some time talking business.

      “You go ahead, Daniel. I have spied Lady Marion on the other side of the room and will happily join her.”

      “Are you certain?”

      “Yes, go.” She smiled with encouragement, then excused herself and deliberately headed toward the table where Lady Marion and another woman were seated before she could lose her courage.

      “Miss Tremaine, you are here!” Lady Marion exclaimed. “How delightful. Please, take a seat.”

      The words were courteously spoken, but the grin on Lady Marion’s face was genuine and welcoming, making the invitation sincere. She introduced the woman seated next to her as Lady Charlotte, the earl’s sister. She was a plain-featured woman, with an oval face and brown hair that was topped by a lace-edged spinster’s cap.

      After a breathless greeting, Lady Charlotte shyly cast her hazel eyes down to her plate. But her smile had been sweet and kind. Rebecca gratefully joined them.

      All the food that had been piled on her dish looked appetizing, but Rebecca found her nerves compelled her to push the food about on her plate while making a pretense of eating. Fortunately, the other two women did not appear to notice.

      “I do hope that Cameron has invited some eligible gentlemen this year,” Lady Marion said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Christmas is one of the best times of year to indulge in some serious matchmaking.”

      “Not with me!” Lady Charlotte looked horrified at the notion.

      “Of course with you. And with Miss Tremaine.”

      Rebecca was glad she had not just put a fork filled with beef in her mouth, for she surely would have choked.

      “But it is December,” Lady Charlotte sputtered. “The marriage mart has ended.”

      “Don’t be so silly. Husband hunting is a year-round pastime,” Lady Marion insisted. “Thankfully, there are not too many young misses in attendance, which makes it much better.”

      “Not for me.” Lady Charlotte met Rebecca’s eyes with a panic-stricken gaze. “If there were a few pretty young girls here you would concentrate your efforts on them and shift your attention away from me.”

      “And me,” Rebecca chimed in, hoping Lady Marion was teasing. The very idea of being matched with any of these exalted gentlemen set her teeth on edge.

      “Oh, posh, young misses can be so boring and grating on the nerves,” Lady Marion said. “Most have a tendency to giggle and titter like hens around a rooster when in the company of an eligible man. ’Tis maddening and most unbecoming.”

      “Ah, I believe we have found our escape from this matchmaking nightmare, Lady Charlotte. We need to learn to giggle and titter.” Rebecca smiled, more confident now that Lady Marion was being lighthearted and amusing.

      “Titter?” Lady Charlotte repeated, lowering her gaze. “Oh, dear.”

      “Yes, and we must learn to cackle also, for a loud cackle will surely drive everyone in the vicinity mad,” Rebecca added, warming to the spirit of fun.

      She turned to Lady Charlotte and noticed a slight grin appear. Rebecca flashed her an encouraging, reassuring smile. Lady Charlotte sat up a fraction in her chair.

      “There now, you have been given fair warning, Marion,” Lady Charlotte said. “If you persist on your matchmaking quest, Miss Tremaine and I will be forced to take drastic action.”

      Lady Marion’s gaze narrowed. “I see that you are both planning to be difficult, but that will not deter me,” she replied. “You forget, but I was arguably the most impossible debutante for more Seasons than I can recall. My mother used to repeatedly tell me it was her greatest fear that I would never have a home of my own.”

      “That is because she knew how bossy you can be,” Lady Charlotte said with a shy grin. “She needed you to be in charge of your household in order to gain peace within her own home.”

      “Oh, how true.” Lady Marion laughed. “But Mother also wanted me to have my own happiness.”

      Rebecca looked at Lady Marion. “Not every woman’s happiness is found with a man.”

      “Another excellent point, Miss Tremaine, which proves that in addition to your beauty and charm, your intelligence is but one more of your outstanding qualities.”

      “Must I again remind you that it is December?” Lady Charlotte interrupted.

      “Oh, fiddle. Courtship is a sport that is conducive to any time of year.”

      “And a husband is the prize?” Lady Charlotte squeaked.

      “In a manner of speaking.” Lady Marion took a bite of her fish and chewed thoughtfully. “Yet I prefer to think of a husband as the trophy.”

      “That would look best when displayed on a mantel?” Rebecca asked.

      “Since you are unmarried ladies, I shall not say precisely where, and in what condition, a husband looks best, though I will give you a strong hint and remark that a prime location is above stairs. Behind a closed bedchamber door.”

      Rebecca was so surprised she let her fork go limp. The sizable serving of creamed potatoes that was resting there slid off, missed her plate and dropped on to the linen tablecloth. Lady Charlotte, she noted, had blushed to the roots of her hair.

      “Marion, you are wicked!” Lady Charlotte exclaimed.

      “I am indeed and it is one of my finest qualities. Richard tells me so all the time.”

      After a heartbeat of stunned silence, all three women burst into laughter.

      “You truly must have set the ton on its ear,” Rebecca said. “I do believe I would have enjoyed seeing you in action.”

      “I was willfully incorrigible, truly a sight to behold,” Lady Marion admitted modestly. “But then I met Richard and everything changed.”

      “How?” Rebecca wanted to know.

      “I fell in love. I fought it at first, rather spiritedly. But in the end I discovered a fundamental truth. No matter how hard you try, you cannot control love. It controls you. The heart wants what it wants. And my heart wanted Richard.”

      “It was terribly romantic,” Lady Charlotte said with an envious sigh. “And a great relief to the family to have you safely wed at long last.”

      “Ha! They are mainly relieved that I am Richard’s problem now and not theirs,” Lady Marion exclaimed.

      “Well, yes there is that too,” Lady Charlotte concurred and all three women burst into another round of laughter.

      They finished their meal in companionable conversation. Lady Marion was droll and witty, while Lady Charlotte proved to be a gentle foil to her cousin’s rapier tongue. Rebecca was surprised to find herself enjoying the company very much. It had been years since she СКАЧАТЬ