Lord Devere's Ward by Sue Swift Page A

still young and beautiful, and rich to boot. What’s not to love, or even just to bed?”
    “Sybilla!” Kate found her friend’s cynicism new and startling.
    “Don’t be such a prude, Kate. He isn’t married.
    Do you think he’s untouched?”
    “Well, he hasn’t touched me,” Kate said, concealing her disappointment. “He thinks of me as his child.”
    “I didn’t mean to imply either of you had behaved improperly.” Sybilla hastened to assure her friend that she had no reason to doubt Kate’s honor.
    “You must have observed things are different for men than they are for us.”
    “You sound bitter.”
    Sybilla’s wide, expressive mouth tightened. “It’s hard not to be bitter, with my father continually reminding me of my faults, the chiefest of which appears to be that I was not born male.”
    “That is most unfair and unreasonable. You are not responsible for your gender.”
    “All Father seems to ever say to me is to complain that he will not have a son to follow in his illustrious footsteps.” Sybilla rolled her eyes. “It is all too tiresome.”
    “He is very prominent in the government, is he not?”

    “Yes, he prides himself on being one of Prinny’s—excuse me, His Majesty’s—inner circle.” They two young women had reached the fringes of the crowd surrounding Lady Ursula’s buffet tables.
    Kate snorted. “For all the good that may do for him.” Like most of England, Kate had great contempt for the licentious, lazy Prince Regent, now George IV.
    “I quite agree. But the royal blunders do not prevent Father from bemoaning his sonless state.” Sybilla picked up a plate and began to load it with delicacies. “Have you eaten yet?”
    “Yes. I’ll have some lemonade while you eat. It’s good to see you, Sibby, but we only just met, remember?” Kate murmured as Bryan and Louisa approached.
    Louisa wore an expression Kate had labeled her
    “Sunday go to church” look, a bland smile that went nowhere near her blank, bored eyes. Bryan, stuck to Lou’s side like a burr in a spaniel’s tail, continued to chatter into her ear until the pair arrived at the buffet table. Louisa detached herself from Bryan in favor of the food. Bryan, ever the gentleman, came to make his bow to Kate, who introduced him to her friend.
    Kate held her breath as Sybilla Farland smiled up at Bryan through her thick, dark lashes. Unlike Louisa, who Kate had noticed had already become spoiled with the attentions of town beaux, Sybilla was a bit out of the ordinary in looks. Small and dark, she had a tendency toward gruffness and plain speaking which Kate imagined would not stand her in good stead at stylish parties, where hypocrisy held sway.

    As Bryan bowed over her friend’s hand, Kate could see that he was immediately struck by Sybilla’s large, dark eyes, which always held a glint of intelligence and humor. Her pale primrose taffeta set off her peachy skin and dark coloring. While Sybilla had no interest in fashion, she was nevertheless dressed in high style. Kate presumed that Sybilla had an excellent dresser; Sybilla herself wouldn’t notice if she were dressed in sackcloth as long as the apparel was comfortable.
    Kate grinned as Bryan’s eyes shifted to Sybilla’s welcoming smile, then down to her bodice, cut low in the fashion of the day. After clearing his throat, Bryan asked if he might call upon Lady Sybilla. Visiting cards were exchanged as Pauline trotted up, in the company of their hostess, fresh from croquet and ready for luncheon.
    “Lady Ursula, this is marvelous. All the desserts one could possibly want!” Pauline made a dive for the buffet table.
    “Paul, stop acting the hoyden or Mamma will hear about your want of conduct!” Louisa frowned.
    Pauline stopped in her headlong flight and hid behind Kate, red-faced with embarrassment.
    Kate exchanged a speaking glance with Sybilla, who dabbed her mouth with her napkin, concealing her smile. “Pauline,” Kate said softly. “Let me