Regency Reputation. Diane Gaston

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      ‘Luther shows very little interest in Adele, Lady Gale,’ Celia said.

      Luther was the more likely fortune hunter.

      Celia would not see Adele forced into a marriage, but could she allow Adele to marry a gambler? She had seen Lord Neddington at the gaming hell more than once. She could never recall seeing him play more than once or twice at hazard. He spoke to Rhysdale on occasion.

      Rhysdale.

      Rhys, he’d asked her to call him, although could she really think of him in such intimate terms? Her heart skipped at the mere thought of speaking his name aloud. Her name on his lips came back to her, as well as his smile and the way those lips touched the edge of his teacup.

      And had almost touched hers.

      She placed her hand over her heart.

      She would see him tonight after the ball. And once again yield to the temptations of the gambling den, with no need to wager her own money. She felt a dangerous excitement at the prospect of playing cards with a hundred pounds to wager. Think how much she could win!

      The Dowager Lady Gale’s voice broke through Celia’s thoughts. ‘You should have refused Neddington the supper dance. Now he will spend supper with her. That is entirely too much time.’

      Her mother-in-law had a point.

      Celia gazed in Adele’s direction. Adele was glowing with pleasure each time the figures joined her with Neddington. His face was filled with admiration.

      Was this how young love appeared?

      Celia had been given no chance to experience a youthful romance. She could not bear to take such joy away from Adele.

      She turned to her mother-in-law. ‘Do not interfere, Lady Gale. Allow your granddaughter the pleasure of supper with an admirer.’

      Lady Gale’s nostrils flared. ‘I’ve half a mind to fetch her to me for supper.’

      Celia seized her arm with just enough pressure to make her point. ‘You will do no such thing. Do you hear me clearly?’

      Lady Gale shrugged. ‘You are indeed a wretch, are you not?’

      ‘Interfere with Adele’s life and you will see what a wretch I can be.’

      Celia’s conflicting wishes for Adele waged inside her. Let the girl choose her suitors. Let her fall in love with whom she wished. But not a man who would be cruel or thoughtless or more enamoured of gaming than of a wife and children. Celia had endured all of those.

      Later that night Celia’s lady’s maid helped her get out of her ballgown and prepare to dress for the Masquerade Club. Celia sat at her dressing table, pulling pins from her hair so that they could fix it to fit under the new turban Younie had fashioned, to go with a new mask of white silk adorned with tiny seed pearls taken from one of her mother-in-law’s discarded gowns.

      There was a knock on the door and Adele entered. ‘Celia, I saw the light under your door.’

      Celia grabbed the new mask and hid it under her table. ‘I am still awake.’

      Younie, new gown in hand, quickly retreated to the dressing room.

      Adele flopped onto Celia’s bed. ‘I cannot sleep!’

      Celia brushed out her hair. ‘What is the matter?’

      Adele stretched and sighed. ‘Nothing is the matter! Everything is wonderful!’

      ‘What is so wonderful that you cannot sleep?’ Celia asked, although she was certain she knew.

      ‘I had such a lovely time at the ball. The best ever!’ Adele sat cross-legged. In her nightdress with her hair in a plait, she looked as young as when Celia first met her six years ago.

      Celia smiled. ‘And to what do you attribute this pleasure?’

      Adele wrapped her arms around herself. ‘I—I think I met someone I really like.’

      Celia turned back to the mirror. ‘Lord Neddington?’

      Adele’s reflection showed surprise. ‘How did you know?’

      Celia kept brushing her hair. ‘A lucky guess, I suppose.’

      ‘He is so wonderful!’ She flopped back onto the bed. ‘And so handsome.’ She sat up again. ‘Do you not think he is handsome?’

      ‘I do,’ Celia agreed. ‘Very handsome.’

      ‘And very gentlemanly,’ Adele continued. ‘It was he who helped me procure the wine for you and Grandmama at the musicale. And tonight he fixed me the nicest plate at supper and gave me the choice of sitting with my friends. He was so agreeable, do you not think?’

      ‘Indeed.’ Celia had watched Neddington carefully and had seen nothing to object to in his manner towards Adele. It was his activity after the society events that concerned her.

      Adele bounded off the bed and paced. ‘I do not know how I can sleep. Do you think he will call? I hope he will call. But I’m afraid Grandmama does not like him. Do you think she will send him away if he calls?’

      Celia rose and hugged the girl. ‘She would not be so impolite.’ Celia would see to it.

      Adele clung to her. ‘But she wants me to marry Cousin Luther and I do not even know him!’

      ‘Leave your grandmother to me. She will not interfere in your wishes.’ She loosened her hold on Adele and made the girl look into her eyes. ‘But know that neither your grandmother nor I would let you marry a man who was unsuitable.’

      ‘Lord Neddington is very suitable!’ Adele cried.

      Celia hugged her again. ‘Indeed he seems to be, but you must not put your hopes beyond tomorrow. Merely hope he calls and, if he does, see if you still like him so well.’

      ‘I will like him tomorrow and the next day and the next,’ Adele cried. ‘But will he like me?’

      Celia kissed her on the cheek. ‘Any man would be a fool not to fall heels over ears in love with you. But you should go to sleep now so you will not have dark shadows under your eyes tomorrow.’

      Adele’s hands went to her cheeks. ‘Oh, my goodness, yes! I must look my very best.’ She kissed Celia and hugged her tightly. ‘Goodnight, Celia. I hope you sleep well.’

      ‘Sweet dreams,’ Celia murmured as Adele rushed out of the room.

      Celia breathed a relieved sigh and looked towards her dressing room door. ‘It is safe to come out, Younie.’

      Her maid appeared in the doorway. ‘That was a near go, wasn’t it?’

      ‘Indeed.’ Celia retrieved the mask from beneath her dressing table. ‘We’d best wait until we are certain she is sleeping.’

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