Late for the Wedding by Amanda Quick Page A

forthright. The
    last was no accident. She had deliberately patterned herself after
    her aunt. Lavinia rarely bothered to veil her intelligence, nor did
    she hesitate to state her opinions.
      After all those explosive demonstrations, I believe I feel the need
    of some cooling ice cream," Anthony announced, getting to his feet.
      Can I persuade the two of you to join me?"
      You will not have to ask me a second time," Emeline assured him.
      It is very warm in this hall, is it not?"
      Ice cream sounds wonderful," Priscilla said.   It is rather hot in
    here. I had not noticed until this moment."
    Emeline laughed.   That is because you were too occupied with the
    wonders of Professor Kirk's demonstrations."
    Anthony stood back to allow Emeline and Priscilla to go ahead of
    him down the aisle toward the front of the hall. The crowd thickened
    briefly as several people left their seats at the same time and made
    for the doors.
    When the path cleared a moment later, Emeline caught sight of
    the man who lounged with negligent ease, one shoulder propped
    against the wall. A disturbing sensation went around her. This was
    not the first time Dominic Hood had materialized in the vicinity of
    herself and her companions in the past few days.
      Bloody hell," Anthony muttered behind her.   Hood is here."
    Priscilla was the only one who was unabashedly delighted to see
    him.   I did not know that Mister Hood was interested in science."
      What an astounding surprise," Anthony growled.
      Calm yourself," Emeline said in low tones.   I do not know why it
    is that you and Mister Hood have taken such a dislike to each other, but
    I do not want any awkward scenes today. Is that understood?"
      What occurred yesterday at the museum was not my fault."
      Mister Hood may have started things off on the wrong foot when he
    gave us his opinion of that statue of Hercules and the Hydra, but
    you, sir, made matters a good deal worse when you informed him
    that he knew nothing about art."
      I merely spoke the truth," Anthony said, icily virtuous.   Hood has
    no eye for art or antiquities."
      That may be true, but it was very poor manners to tell him so to
    his face."

  
      He should have kept his remarks about the statue to himself. I
    wonder if he will prove to be as ignorant about science?"
      I am serious, Anthony. There will be no scenes. Do you under
    stand?"
    He smiled coldly in a way that was uncomfortably reminiscent of
    Mister March.
      I give you my word that I will not start a public quarrel," he said.
    There was no time to pin him down on the details of that too
    precisely phrased promise, because they had almost reached the
    door. Emeline busied herself tying her bonnet strings. She used the
    moment to study Dominic Hood more closely, wondering again what
    it was that had created such immediate hostility between him and
    Anthony. In her opinion, they should have been instant friends, she
    thought. On the surface, they appeared to have a great deal in
    common. Dominic was the same age as Anthony, who had turned
    twenty-two last month. They were also of a similar height and both
    were endowed with lean, athletic frames.
    They shared a sense of style too, she thought. The coat Dominic
    wore was remarkably similar to Anthony's, dark blue and cut to
    emphasize his shoulders. Their pleated trousers and patterned
    waistcoats were almost identical. They both had handsome fobs
    attached to their pocket watches and intricate knots tied in their
    snowy white cravats.
    It was true that Dominic appeared to possess the sort of
    resources that enabled him to patronize a more expensive tailor, but
    the overall effect was nearly identical to the effect that Anthony's
    tailor achieved. Perhaps that was because neither man depended on
    his clothes for the impression he made, Emeline thought. Each of
    them radiated a certain forcefulness of personality that would have
    been obvious even if both dressed in rags.
    At that moment Dominic