Regency Surrender: Scandal And Deception. Marguerite Kaye
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Название: Regency Surrender: Scandal And Deception
Автор: Marguerite Kaye
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Историческая литература
Серия: Mills & Boon e-Book Collections
isbn: 9781474085786
isbn:
She threaded her arm through his. ‘Why don’t we call and have something brought up to my sitting room?’
They walked towards the doorway, past the blank wooden panel that should have housed the portrait of the Fifth Duke. Julian dragged his grandmother back to stop in front of it. He cocked his head and stared at the grains in the wood.
‘He wasn’t fit to hang with the others,’ he mused out loud.
‘That is what we have been told.’
‘Why?’
‘I do not know.’
He looked down at her and squinted till her image came into view. ‘But haven’t you ever wondered?’
He took another swig from the bottle. This brandy was exceptional!
‘I’d wager it was something dreadful,’ he said. ‘Or, worse yet...scandalous! That was it, wasn’t it? He did something scandalous.’
The floor dipped. He should mention that to Reynolds in the morning. They might need to fetch a carpenter.
He looked back at the empty panel. ‘Poor cove. I’d wager he fell in love with an unsuitable woman and married her. Worst thing you could ever do, you know. There is no redeeming yourself from that.’ He tilted his head to his grandmother and pointed the bottle at himself. ‘No one will take my portrait and shove it in some dusty attic. I will not be marrying the woman I love. Some American lob will get that privilege. I will have the honour of marrying a seventeen-year-old chit who, as far as I can tell, has never had an opinion of her own.’
The floor dipped again, and Julian stamped with his booted foot to get it to stop.
His grandmother reached up and patted his cheek. ‘You look very tired, my boy. Perhaps we should walk to your bedchamber.’
‘That is very far. I think I’ll just sleep here.’ He went to sit down on the floor, but the annoying woman wouldn’t let him.
‘Your rooms are not that far, and on the way you can tell me about the new curricle you have purchased.’
‘It’s beautiful...very shiny. But I’ll not drive Lady Mary around in it. She can have her own carriage.’
He trudged down the hall and went to take another swig of brandy, but the bottle was empty. They should make these bottles bigger.
‘I’m marrying her, don’t you know? Plan to ask Morley soon. Maybe tomorrow. Best to do it quickly. No need to wait. It’s inevitable.’
Where was he?
Katrina worried at her lip as she stood in the ballroom of Finchley House, studying the guests who meandered around the elaborately decorated room in various costumes. The columns had been dressed to resemble trees and there was greenery tied with flowers that hung from the crystal chandeliers. Even though each guest wore a mask, she was certain she would be able to recognise Mr Armstrong in this imitation woodland forest. At least she hoped she would. Perhaps she should have asked which costume he would be wearing when they had spoken briefly at the Hipswitch garden party.
‘May I help you find someone, my dear?’
Katrina jumped at the sound of the Dowager Duchess of Lyonsdale’s voice. ‘Your Grace, you startled me.’ She turned to find the sweet, diminutive woman dressed like a man, with a ruffled collar, jacket, doublet and hose. For the first time in days Katrina had the urge to smile.
The Dowager turned in a circle and bowed. ‘What do you say, Miss Vandenberg? Don’t I cut a dashing figure?’
A soft laugh bubbled up in Katrina’s throat. It sounded scratchy from lack of use. ‘That you do, indeed. Are you a particular gentleman?’
‘Why, Shakespeare, of course.’ The Dowager stood a bit taller—or at least as tall as a woman of her height could. ‘That is a beautiful costume,’ she said, admiring Katrina’s gold armbands.
The warmth of the Dowager’s smile tugged at the scattered pieces of Katrina’s heart. She missed this woman who had kindly offered her friendship and had taken her under her wing. How she wished she could reach out and hug her.
‘Thank you. I must confess I wasn’t certain what I wanted to be.’
‘I’d say a Greek goddess was the perfect choice.’
It definitely was an improvement over the three hundred shepherdesses she had seen milling about the house since her arrival with the Forresters.
The Dowager scanned the area around them. ‘You appeared to be searching for someone. May I offer some assistance?’ She raised herself up on her booted toes to improve her view.
Katrina crossed her arms and fingered her armband, fighting the urge to be honest with the Dowager. ‘I was just admiring the dancers.’
The Dowager lowered her heels and turned an assessing eye on Katrina. ‘From over here?’ She leaned closer and lowered her voice. ‘You cannot fool me. Now, tell me, am I acquainted with this person?’ Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Katrina bit her lip again. ‘I’m trying to determine what Mr Armstrong is wearing this evening. Do you know the gentleman?’
The smile on the Dowager’s face dropped to a frown. ‘Yes. I know the man. I was not aware you were well acquainted.’
There was no sense in holding back her sigh from the Dowager. ‘We have been brought together on a number of occasions. I only wish this not to be another.’
‘You are trying to avoid him.’ The smile was back, brightening the Dowager’s face.
‘I am. However, if you share that with anyone I will deny it.’
The Dowager placed her finger to her lips. ‘I am the soul of discretion.’
As Katrina scanned the room once more she finally spotted him. He was dressed as an ancient emperor with a crown of gold. It was no coincidence. How had Madame de Lieven found out what Katrina was going to wear?
‘I have found him,’ she said, and groaned.
The Dowager was back on her toes, scanning the crowd. Then she turned sharply and covered her smile with a gloved hand. ‘Oh, heavens. He does look very pleased with himself.’
‘I’ve yet to observe him not looking pleased with himself.’ Katrina stepped behind the Dowager. Unfortunately the woman’s height would do nothing to block Armstrong’s view of her. ‘He is bound to find me. I’m certain he knows what I am wearing. There aren’t many women draped in gold gowns walking around this evening.’
‘You are only the third I have seen as yet.’
Coming here had been a mistake. While Katrina loved spending time with the Dowager, it brought back memories of the time she had called on the woman at Lyonsdale House—the day Julian had СКАЧАТЬ