places open), she was unable to utter the falsehood. She examined her card quickly. If she must stand up with Mr. Farnham, it would be so much bet ter to offer him a country set. With relief, she saw one was open. “I have a country-dance,” she said, trying for a polite tone.
Mr. Farnham took her card and penned in his name on the appropriate line. He bowed, and after a few ingratiating words, he took himself off.
“Well!” Mrs. Crocker turned to her sister with a speculative expression in her brown eyes. “I did not realize you were becoming such an adroit flirt, Abby.”
Abby flushed. “It is nothing of the kind,” she re torted with more spirit than was her wont.
“Pray do not be unkind, Melissa,” said Mrs. Fairchilde reprovingly. “I for one am very proud of Abby for attaching such a fine-looking gentleman. On the basis of a chance meeting, too! It is very wonderful.”
“Hmph! I like that young buck Darlington the best of them all,” said Mrs. Paddington.
August slanted a startled glance at his aunt, then looked at his sister’s revealing face. He pursed his lips in a soundless whistle.
Mrs. Crocker’s brows rose. She looked again at her sister. “The marquess? Has his lordship been making himself agreeable, Abby?”
“Very agreeable,” said Abby with a hint of defiance.
“You need not eat me,” said Mrs. Crocker mildly.
August gave a crack of laughter, swiftly changing it into a cough as several pairs of eyes turned his way. “Something in my throat,” he mumbled.
Abby did not heed her brother, having at once felt contrite over her spurt of temper. “I am sorry, Me lissa! It is just that—-I scarcely know what will hap pen next!”
Mrs. Crocker chuckled. “I can well imagine your feelings, my dear! First Lord Fielding, then Lord Dar lington, and now this Mr. Farnham. I never thought to see you so sought after.”
“Before you know it, we’ll be tripping over a slew of admirers at the town house,” said August flippantly.
“Oh, how nonsensical you are!” exclaimed Abby, nevertheless pleased by her brother’s somewhat blind affection. She shook her head at August, but soon a disquieting thought occurred to her. Somewhat wist fully, she asked, “Is it so very bad to attach a few suitors?”
“Of course not! But we mustn’t let the object of the Season to be forgotten,” said Mrs. Crocker, shak ing her finger.
Abby nodded. “Of course.”
“Oh, do not be hammering at her all the time, Me lissa,” said August, all of his easy humor disappeared.
“But Melissa is quite right, August,” said Abby. With a sigh she said, “I must be credibly established.”
Mrs. Crocker smiled reassuringly, “Pray do not look so anxious, Abby. Look, here is Lady Bethany to give your thoughts a different direction.”
August turned quickly. His fair face became bur nished with a faint touch of red. “Lady Bethany!”
“Mr. Fairchilde!” Lady Bethany curtsied gracefully, then fastened her laughing gaze on her youthful admirer. “I trust you intend to dance with me before the eve ning is quite over!”
“Of course! I mean, I shall be happy to dance with you!” exclaimed August, flushing deeply. All saw that he was supremely pleased.
Lady Bethany turned her attention to the ladies and thereafter bestowed only a word or two more on Au gust, but Abby noticed it was enough for her brother. Even though she smiled, she hoped that August was not deeply enamored of Lady Bethany Hart, since that damsel had placed her affections on quite an other gentleman.
With the reflection, she was reminded of Mr. Farn ham. Lady Bethany’s appearance had indeed given Abby’s thoughts a turn, but it was not a comfortable one. As soon as could be managed, Abby slipped the note to her friend. She was glad to be rid of it. Lady Bethany ’s quick smile and glowing eyes were scant reward for her uneasiness. Abby hoped Mr. Farnham had written his good-bye, and there would be no more notes.
Lady Bethany
Mr. Farnham took her card and penned in his name on the appropriate line. He bowed, and after a few ingratiating words, he took himself off.
“Well!” Mrs. Crocker turned to her sister with a speculative expression in her brown eyes. “I did not realize you were becoming such an adroit flirt, Abby.”
Abby flushed. “It is nothing of the kind,” she re torted with more spirit than was her wont.
“Pray do not be unkind, Melissa,” said Mrs. Fairchilde reprovingly. “I for one am very proud of Abby for attaching such a fine-looking gentleman. On the basis of a chance meeting, too! It is very wonderful.”
“Hmph! I like that young buck Darlington the best of them all,” said Mrs. Paddington.
August slanted a startled glance at his aunt, then looked at his sister’s revealing face. He pursed his lips in a soundless whistle.
Mrs. Crocker’s brows rose. She looked again at her sister. “The marquess? Has his lordship been making himself agreeable, Abby?”
“Very agreeable,” said Abby with a hint of defiance.
“You need not eat me,” said Mrs. Crocker mildly.
August gave a crack of laughter, swiftly changing it into a cough as several pairs of eyes turned his way. “Something in my throat,” he mumbled.
Abby did not heed her brother, having at once felt contrite over her spurt of temper. “I am sorry, Me lissa! It is just that—-I scarcely know what will hap pen next!”
Mrs. Crocker chuckled. “I can well imagine your feelings, my dear! First Lord Fielding, then Lord Dar lington, and now this Mr. Farnham. I never thought to see you so sought after.”
“Before you know it, we’ll be tripping over a slew of admirers at the town house,” said August flippantly.
“Oh, how nonsensical you are!” exclaimed Abby, nevertheless pleased by her brother’s somewhat blind affection. She shook her head at August, but soon a disquieting thought occurred to her. Somewhat wist fully, she asked, “Is it so very bad to attach a few suitors?”
“Of course not! But we mustn’t let the object of the Season to be forgotten,” said Mrs. Crocker, shak ing her finger.
Abby nodded. “Of course.”
“Oh, do not be hammering at her all the time, Me lissa,” said August, all of his easy humor disappeared.
“But Melissa is quite right, August,” said Abby. With a sigh she said, “I must be credibly established.”
Mrs. Crocker smiled reassuringly, “Pray do not look so anxious, Abby. Look, here is Lady Bethany to give your thoughts a different direction.”
August turned quickly. His fair face became bur nished with a faint touch of red. “Lady Bethany!”
“Mr. Fairchilde!” Lady Bethany curtsied gracefully, then fastened her laughing gaze on her youthful admirer. “I trust you intend to dance with me before the eve ning is quite over!”
“Of course! I mean, I shall be happy to dance with you!” exclaimed August, flushing deeply. All saw that he was supremely pleased.
Lady Bethany turned her attention to the ladies and thereafter bestowed only a word or two more on Au gust, but Abby noticed it was enough for her brother. Even though she smiled, she hoped that August was not deeply enamored of Lady Bethany Hart, since that damsel had placed her affections on quite an other gentleman.
With the reflection, she was reminded of Mr. Farn ham. Lady Bethany’s appearance had indeed given Abby’s thoughts a turn, but it was not a comfortable one. As soon as could be managed, Abby slipped the note to her friend. She was glad to be rid of it. Lady Bethany ’s quick smile and glowing eyes were scant reward for her uneasiness. Abby hoped Mr. Farnham had written his good-bye, and there would be no more notes.
Lady Bethany
Similar Books
