Nicola Cornick by The Larkswood Legacy Page B

further from Annabella’s mind. She felt truly beautiful in the gold and silver dress, and the admiring glances cast her way were a delicious contrast to the pitying looks usually reserved for her at such events when she was obliged to turn out in her old, outmoded gowns. Then there was the warmth of Sir William’s hand beneath her elbow as he guided her into the first dance. Her dance card was already filling up, her company sought by plenty of eligible young men. It was promising to be a delightful evening.
    ‘You look quite captivating tonight, Mrs St Auby,’ Sir William observed, as he led her into the dance. ‘I might wish not to have to share your company with all these other gentlemen!’
    Annabella smiled, a little flirtatiously. It was an evening made for romance and the experience wasmost enjoyable. She cast him a look from under her lashes.
    ‘Are you always so direct, sir?’
    ‘No…’ Sir William’s smile broadened ‘…generally I am only so outspoken when I want something a great deal!’
    The movement of the dance fortunately separated them at that moment and gave Annabella the opportunity to compose herself.
    ‘I cannot believe that you speak to all young ladies like that, sir,’ she said severely when they came together again. ‘They would likely slap your face or faint dead away!’
    ‘I never give them the chance,’ Sir William said laconically.
    ‘Oh, indeed?’
    ‘No, for I have never addressed myself thus to a young lady. As a type they bore me!’
    Annabella choked back a laugh. ‘Upon my word, sir, you are very severe! To condemn all my contemporaries thus—leaving aside the doubt it cast upon my own status in your eyes! Which do you dispute? That I am young, or that I am a lady?’
    Sir William’s gaze considered her enchanting face. ‘Ah, now you are trying to trap me, ma’am, and it is too bad of you! You must know that I consider you to be indisputably a lady!’
    ‘Punish you, rather, for your dismissive view of my sex!’ Annabella considered him thoughtfully. ‘Do you really have such a low opinion of us, Sir William?’
    ‘Why, not in the least! But I would never generalise.’ Sir William turned her expertly. ‘My interest usually lies in people as individuals and at the moment—’ his smile was mocking ‘—one individual in particular!’
    Annabella’s euphoria lasted until just before supper, when she happened to find herself in the ladies’ room at the same time as Miss Hurst, who was pinning up a torn flounce. Miss Hurst watched, her brown eyes bright, as Annabella tweaked a curl back inside the silver circlet.
    ‘La, what a charming dress!’ she said with gracious condescension. ‘Lady Kilgaren is the kindest creature in the world, always taking care of waifs and strays! And Sir William…’ here Miss Hurst paused, her brown eyes brimful of malicious laughter ‘…well, he is the kindest creature too, except when he wants something—when he has a particular reason for acting the gallant!’ She gave a little trill of laughter. ‘But I expect he has told you all about that by now, Mrs St Auby!’ And she gathered up the skirts of her dress in one hand and, laughing still, went out of the door.
    Annabella stood quite still before the mirror, her comb forgotten in one hand as Miss Hurst’s words began to do their poisonous work. A particular reason, Miss Hurst had said. But what could be Sir William’s reason for acting the gallant with her? She had no money, and he had no need to hunt a fortune anyway. Certainly he was a friend of Alicia and James Mullineaux, but then all of Viscount Mundell’s set had been kind to her because of that connection. Her heart missed a beat. Surely Miss Hurst did not mean to imply that Sir William was interested in setting her up as his mistress? Though he had perhaps been more explicit in his attentions than a more conventional man, there had been nothing disrespectful in his attitude, no indication that he intended