else she wanted.
She had thanked the girl and said everything was perfect.
Belle fidgeted on her seat for a few minutes, then got up and inspected the contents of the silver dishes.
The serving girl entered with another pot of coffee and placed it on the table.
‘Will there be anything else, Miss Seldon?
Belle replaced the last silver lid. ‘What I should really like would be dollar pancakes.’
‘Dollar pancakes, miss?’
‘You know, those little pancakes, with maple syrup, oh, and streaky bacon, thin and crisp, not like those soggy slices in there.’ She gestured to one of the serving dishes.
Ursula held back the comment that rose to her lips.
‘And the Countess, my sister, has she had her breakfast?’
‘Her ladyship is having it in bed this morning, miss. I’ll tell Chef about the pancakes. Is there anything else you would like?’
‘Just them.’ Belle sat down in a manner that said she was not prepared to wait long for her breakfast.
The maid gave a little bob and disappeared.
‘I never knew dollar pancakes could hold such attraction,’ said Ursula mildly. ‘I found the devilled kidneys and scrambled eggs extremely tasty.
‘I don’t see why I shouldn’t have what I want.’
Ursula decided that it was Mr Warburton’s absence that was upsetting Belle, rapidly reviewed possible comments, rejected them all and said, ‘You obviously intend horseback riding this morning. I wish I could join you, the weather looks wonderful, another sunny day.’
Belle said nothing, her eyes still on the empty place at the breakfast table.
The door opened and in came Mr Warburton.
‘William!’ Belle exclaimed, clapping her hands together. ‘I am so glad to have you join us; I was afraid you had breakfasted.’
‘Little Liberty Belle,’ he said, seating himself in the third place. ‘What a delight to find both you ladies here.’ He gave a gracious tilt of his head to Ursula then immediately returned his attention to Belle, smiling at her with warmth.
In response, she glowed. There was no other word for it, thought Ursula. It was as though a candle had been lit inside her.
‘Where are we to ride, William? Do let’s have a real good gallop somewhere.’
He held her gaze with his for an intimate moment; it was as though they were alone in the room, and a dreadful thought occurred to Ursula. She tried to dismiss it as absurd; they would surely not have had the opportunity. Yet Belle was an enterprising and determined girl. Anything she set her mind on, she usually achieved.
Mr Warburton rose and started lifting lids.
Ursula saw that he was dressed in a country suit.
‘I’m afraid, Belle, that our ride will have to be postponed. Your sister has other plans for this morning.’ He piled kedgeree on his plate, and came back to his place.
Mutiny crossed Belle’s face.
‘Another boring visit to another of her boring friends? Well, I won’t go. I am having no fun at all.’
The Countess entered the breakfast room in time to hear Belle’s remarks, and took in the situation with one comprehensive glance.
‘Belle, darling, I am sorry about your ride but there will soon be another opportunity. Please change into that elegant yellow muslin dress of yours and be ready to leave with me in half an hour. Lady Paxton has all three of her extremely handsome sons eager to make your acquaintance. One has recently visited New York and wants to know more about life there.’
‘I am waiting for my breakfast.’
‘Ah, yes, breakfast. I am afraid, my dear, that dollar pancakes are not part of Chef’s current repertoire. He will research and produce some for breakfast tomorrow. You should know, Belle, that if we ride in the mornings, we do so much earlier than this. Richard and Charles have already returned from their exercise. I will arrange for coffee and rolls to be brought to your room so you can eat while you change. Julian Paxton really is extraordinarily attractive,’ she added in a throw-away
She had thanked the girl and said everything was perfect.
Belle fidgeted on her seat for a few minutes, then got up and inspected the contents of the silver dishes.
The serving girl entered with another pot of coffee and placed it on the table.
‘Will there be anything else, Miss Seldon?
Belle replaced the last silver lid. ‘What I should really like would be dollar pancakes.’
‘Dollar pancakes, miss?’
‘You know, those little pancakes, with maple syrup, oh, and streaky bacon, thin and crisp, not like those soggy slices in there.’ She gestured to one of the serving dishes.
Ursula held back the comment that rose to her lips.
‘And the Countess, my sister, has she had her breakfast?’
‘Her ladyship is having it in bed this morning, miss. I’ll tell Chef about the pancakes. Is there anything else you would like?’
‘Just them.’ Belle sat down in a manner that said she was not prepared to wait long for her breakfast.
The maid gave a little bob and disappeared.
‘I never knew dollar pancakes could hold such attraction,’ said Ursula mildly. ‘I found the devilled kidneys and scrambled eggs extremely tasty.
‘I don’t see why I shouldn’t have what I want.’
Ursula decided that it was Mr Warburton’s absence that was upsetting Belle, rapidly reviewed possible comments, rejected them all and said, ‘You obviously intend horseback riding this morning. I wish I could join you, the weather looks wonderful, another sunny day.’
Belle said nothing, her eyes still on the empty place at the breakfast table.
The door opened and in came Mr Warburton.
‘William!’ Belle exclaimed, clapping her hands together. ‘I am so glad to have you join us; I was afraid you had breakfasted.’
‘Little Liberty Belle,’ he said, seating himself in the third place. ‘What a delight to find both you ladies here.’ He gave a gracious tilt of his head to Ursula then immediately returned his attention to Belle, smiling at her with warmth.
In response, she glowed. There was no other word for it, thought Ursula. It was as though a candle had been lit inside her.
‘Where are we to ride, William? Do let’s have a real good gallop somewhere.’
He held her gaze with his for an intimate moment; it was as though they were alone in the room, and a dreadful thought occurred to Ursula. She tried to dismiss it as absurd; they would surely not have had the opportunity. Yet Belle was an enterprising and determined girl. Anything she set her mind on, she usually achieved.
Mr Warburton rose and started lifting lids.
Ursula saw that he was dressed in a country suit.
‘I’m afraid, Belle, that our ride will have to be postponed. Your sister has other plans for this morning.’ He piled kedgeree on his plate, and came back to his place.
Mutiny crossed Belle’s face.
‘Another boring visit to another of her boring friends? Well, I won’t go. I am having no fun at all.’
The Countess entered the breakfast room in time to hear Belle’s remarks, and took in the situation with one comprehensive glance.
‘Belle, darling, I am sorry about your ride but there will soon be another opportunity. Please change into that elegant yellow muslin dress of yours and be ready to leave with me in half an hour. Lady Paxton has all three of her extremely handsome sons eager to make your acquaintance. One has recently visited New York and wants to know more about life there.’
‘I am waiting for my breakfast.’
‘Ah, yes, breakfast. I am afraid, my dear, that dollar pancakes are not part of Chef’s current repertoire. He will research and produce some for breakfast tomorrow. You should know, Belle, that if we ride in the mornings, we do so much earlier than this. Richard and Charles have already returned from their exercise. I will arrange for coffee and rolls to be brought to your room so you can eat while you change. Julian Paxton really is extraordinarily attractive,’ she added in a throw-away
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