but I wonder if she could be Mrs. Whitby.”
“I’ll wager she is,” Diana said, her heart racing in excitement. “Markwell would let her know the flat was for hire, and they would want to be close together, yet maintain a semblance of respectability.” She wanted to inform Harrup and looked to the front of the stall to see if he was engaged in conversation.
She saw him staring off at the crowd, completely neglectful of his companion, who stared the other way, equally bored. She looked from one profile to the other. Harrup’s jaw was clamped, giving him an angry look. Lady Selena appeared all of ten or twelve—a veritable child, though undeniably beautiful.
Following his sister’s gaze, Ronald said, “Isn’t she exquisite?”
“Talk to her, Ronald. I want to speak to Harrup.”
Ronald leaned forward and said in his gentle voice that couldn’t frighten a mouse, “Have you read Waverley , Lady Selena?”
She appeared flattered at this slim attention. “I have been meaning to,” she answered, and smiled. Mr. Beecham had lovely eyes, all soft and glowing. They didn’t pierce right through like Harrup’s, nor look so closely at your bosom, either. For his part, Ronald had the strangest sensation of hearing celestial music when he beheld the vision.
Her answer was sufficient encouragement for him to burst forth into raptures over Walter Scott. Diana poked Harrup’s shoulder and when she had his attention told him her suspicions about Mrs. Whitby. He appeared interested. “I’ll drop around tomorrow and see if she’s there. Best say no more at this time,” he cautioned, glancing to his fiancée.
Lady Selena was engrossed in Ronald’s story of Edward Waverley and Rose Bradwardine. The complications of Hanoverians and Jacobites sounded confusing, but she listened to the soft-spoken young gentleman with the shy smile and was emboldened to tell him it sounded very exciting.
“You must read it,” Ronald told her. “I’ll lend my copy to you as soon as I’ve finished. Not later than tomorrow.”
Lady Selena found no folly in this suggested time. “Will you finish it in one day?” she asked, batting her eyes in admiration.
“It’s too good to put down. I didn’t want to come here tonight. But I’m glad I did,” he admitted. “The best of men cannot suspend their fate,” he added with a curious smile.
Lady Selena blushed and glanced fearfully at Harrup, who displayed no evidence of jealousy. The curtain was rising. He turned aside and said “Hush” as though she were an infant. Selena obediently fell silent and turned her head to the stage.
When the audience roared with laughter, Selena smiled in confusion and thought this was rather a warm play for Harrup to have taken her to. When the first intermission came, Harrup offered to take the ladies out for wine. “Or you and Ronald can stay here, Di, and I’ll have it brought in,” he offered.
She was happy to sit and watch the audience move about. Ronald wasn’t much company, but the wine was excellent, and the break passed quickly. She noticed Harrup had taken Lady Selena to visit another box. The gentlemen were ogling Selena, and Harrup stood like a proud father, preening himself at his conquest. They certainly made a handsome couple, she had to acknowledge that much.
They returned when the bell rang and took up their same seats as before during the second act. At the next intermission, Harrup turned to Diana and said, “Would you like to stretch your legs?”
“You’ve already shown your fiancée off. I guess your reputation can bear being seen with me.”
“I was hoping to have some private conversation with you. I’ve discovered something of interest that I don’t wish Lady Selena to hear.
“Excuse us. Miss Beecham wants to get some exercise,” Harrup said to his fiancée before leaving.
Lady Selena breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Ronald as the others left.
“She’s here,” Harrup said, as soon as they were
“I’ll wager she is,” Diana said, her heart racing in excitement. “Markwell would let her know the flat was for hire, and they would want to be close together, yet maintain a semblance of respectability.” She wanted to inform Harrup and looked to the front of the stall to see if he was engaged in conversation.
She saw him staring off at the crowd, completely neglectful of his companion, who stared the other way, equally bored. She looked from one profile to the other. Harrup’s jaw was clamped, giving him an angry look. Lady Selena appeared all of ten or twelve—a veritable child, though undeniably beautiful.
Following his sister’s gaze, Ronald said, “Isn’t she exquisite?”
“Talk to her, Ronald. I want to speak to Harrup.”
Ronald leaned forward and said in his gentle voice that couldn’t frighten a mouse, “Have you read Waverley , Lady Selena?”
She appeared flattered at this slim attention. “I have been meaning to,” she answered, and smiled. Mr. Beecham had lovely eyes, all soft and glowing. They didn’t pierce right through like Harrup’s, nor look so closely at your bosom, either. For his part, Ronald had the strangest sensation of hearing celestial music when he beheld the vision.
Her answer was sufficient encouragement for him to burst forth into raptures over Walter Scott. Diana poked Harrup’s shoulder and when she had his attention told him her suspicions about Mrs. Whitby. He appeared interested. “I’ll drop around tomorrow and see if she’s there. Best say no more at this time,” he cautioned, glancing to his fiancée.
Lady Selena was engrossed in Ronald’s story of Edward Waverley and Rose Bradwardine. The complications of Hanoverians and Jacobites sounded confusing, but she listened to the soft-spoken young gentleman with the shy smile and was emboldened to tell him it sounded very exciting.
“You must read it,” Ronald told her. “I’ll lend my copy to you as soon as I’ve finished. Not later than tomorrow.”
Lady Selena found no folly in this suggested time. “Will you finish it in one day?” she asked, batting her eyes in admiration.
“It’s too good to put down. I didn’t want to come here tonight. But I’m glad I did,” he admitted. “The best of men cannot suspend their fate,” he added with a curious smile.
Lady Selena blushed and glanced fearfully at Harrup, who displayed no evidence of jealousy. The curtain was rising. He turned aside and said “Hush” as though she were an infant. Selena obediently fell silent and turned her head to the stage.
When the audience roared with laughter, Selena smiled in confusion and thought this was rather a warm play for Harrup to have taken her to. When the first intermission came, Harrup offered to take the ladies out for wine. “Or you and Ronald can stay here, Di, and I’ll have it brought in,” he offered.
She was happy to sit and watch the audience move about. Ronald wasn’t much company, but the wine was excellent, and the break passed quickly. She noticed Harrup had taken Lady Selena to visit another box. The gentlemen were ogling Selena, and Harrup stood like a proud father, preening himself at his conquest. They certainly made a handsome couple, she had to acknowledge that much.
They returned when the bell rang and took up their same seats as before during the second act. At the next intermission, Harrup turned to Diana and said, “Would you like to stretch your legs?”
“You’ve already shown your fiancée off. I guess your reputation can bear being seen with me.”
“I was hoping to have some private conversation with you. I’ve discovered something of interest that I don’t wish Lady Selena to hear.
“Excuse us. Miss Beecham wants to get some exercise,” Harrup said to his fiancée before leaving.
Lady Selena breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Ronald as the others left.
“She’s here,” Harrup said, as soon as they were
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