five minutes. But every time she
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got halfway through the first paragraph she lost her concentration and had to start over again.
It was impossible to think about any subject other than Harry lately. She could not believe the swift,
headlong rush of events that had led her to the situation in which she found herself.
Above all, she could not understand her own reaction to those events. From the moments she had found
herself on the floor of Harry's library, swept away by her first taste of passion, she had been going about
in a dazed state of mind.
Every time she closed her eyes, she relived the excitement of Harry's kiss. The heat of his mouth still
seared her. The memory of his shockingly intimate touch still had the power to make her weak.
And Harry was still insisting on marriage.
When the door opened she looked up with relief.
"There you are,Augusta . I have been looking for you." Claudia smiled as she came into the room. "What
are you reading? Another novel, I suppose?"
" The Antiquary ."Augusta closed the book. "Very entertaining, with lots of adventure and a lost heir and
plenty of narrow escapes."
"Oh, yes. The newWaverley novel. I should have known. Still trying to work out the identity of the
author?"
"It must be Walter Scott. I am absolutely convinced of it."
"And so are any number of other people, apparently. I vow the fact that the author is keeping his identity
a secret is probably contributing greatly to the sale of his books."
"I do not think so. They are vastly enjoyable stories. They sell for the same reason Byron's epic poems
sell. They are fun to read. One cannot resist turning the pages to see what happens next."
Claudia gave her a gently reproving look. "Do you not think that, as you are now an engaged woman,
you ought to be reading something a bit more elevating in nature? Perhaps one of Mother's books would
be more suited to a lady who is about to become the wife of a serious-minded, well-educated man. You
will not want to embarrass the earl with uninformed conversation."
"If you ask me, Graystone could do with a bit of uninformed conversation,"Augusta muttered. "The man
is too straitlaced by half. Do you know he actually told me I should not dance the waltz with Lovejoy?"
"Did he really?" Claudia sat down across from her cousin and poured herself a cup of tea from the pot
on the end table.
"Practically ordered me not to do so."
Claudia considered that. "Perhaps that is not such bad advice. Lovejoy is very dashing, I'll grant you that
much, but one cannot help but believe he might not be above taking advantage of a lady who allowed him
too many liberties."
Augustaraised her eyes toward heaven and prayed for patience. "Lovejoy is perfectly manageable and
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very much a gentleman." She bit her lip. "Claudia, would you mind very much if I asked you a delicate
question? I would like a little advice concerning the proprieties and, frankly, I cannot think of anyone who
could give me more accurate information on that sort of thing than you."
Claudia straightened her already rigid spine and looked gravely attentive. "I shall try to guide you as best
I can,Augusta . What is troubling you?"
Augustaabruptly wished she had not started this. But it was too late now. She plunged into the matter
that had disturbed her sleep so badly after last night's ball. "Do you think 'tis true that a gentleman has the
right to feel certain promises are made or implied by a lady simply because she allows him to kiss her?"
Claudia frowned, considering the matter closely. "Obviously a lady should not allow anyone except her
fiance or her husband to take such liberties. Mother made that very clear in her Instructions on Behavior
and Deportment for Young Ladies ."
"Yes, I know,"Augusta said, growing impatient. "But let us be realistic
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
got halfway through the first paragraph she lost her concentration and had to start over again.
It was impossible to think about any subject other than Harry lately. She could not believe the swift,
headlong rush of events that had led her to the situation in which she found herself.
Above all, she could not understand her own reaction to those events. From the moments she had found
herself on the floor of Harry's library, swept away by her first taste of passion, she had been going about
in a dazed state of mind.
Every time she closed her eyes, she relived the excitement of Harry's kiss. The heat of his mouth still
seared her. The memory of his shockingly intimate touch still had the power to make her weak.
And Harry was still insisting on marriage.
When the door opened she looked up with relief.
"There you are,Augusta . I have been looking for you." Claudia smiled as she came into the room. "What
are you reading? Another novel, I suppose?"
" The Antiquary ."Augusta closed the book. "Very entertaining, with lots of adventure and a lost heir and
plenty of narrow escapes."
"Oh, yes. The newWaverley novel. I should have known. Still trying to work out the identity of the
author?"
"It must be Walter Scott. I am absolutely convinced of it."
"And so are any number of other people, apparently. I vow the fact that the author is keeping his identity
a secret is probably contributing greatly to the sale of his books."
"I do not think so. They are vastly enjoyable stories. They sell for the same reason Byron's epic poems
sell. They are fun to read. One cannot resist turning the pages to see what happens next."
Claudia gave her a gently reproving look. "Do you not think that, as you are now an engaged woman,
you ought to be reading something a bit more elevating in nature? Perhaps one of Mother's books would
be more suited to a lady who is about to become the wife of a serious-minded, well-educated man. You
will not want to embarrass the earl with uninformed conversation."
"If you ask me, Graystone could do with a bit of uninformed conversation,"Augusta muttered. "The man
is too straitlaced by half. Do you know he actually told me I should not dance the waltz with Lovejoy?"
"Did he really?" Claudia sat down across from her cousin and poured herself a cup of tea from the pot
on the end table.
"Practically ordered me not to do so."
Claudia considered that. "Perhaps that is not such bad advice. Lovejoy is very dashing, I'll grant you that
much, but one cannot help but believe he might not be above taking advantage of a lady who allowed him
too many liberties."
Augustaraised her eyes toward heaven and prayed for patience. "Lovejoy is perfectly manageable and
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
very much a gentleman." She bit her lip. "Claudia, would you mind very much if I asked you a delicate
question? I would like a little advice concerning the proprieties and, frankly, I cannot think of anyone who
could give me more accurate information on that sort of thing than you."
Claudia straightened her already rigid spine and looked gravely attentive. "I shall try to guide you as best
I can,Augusta . What is troubling you?"
Augustaabruptly wished she had not started this. But it was too late now. She plunged into the matter
that had disturbed her sleep so badly after last night's ball. "Do you think 'tis true that a gentleman has the
right to feel certain promises are made or implied by a lady simply because she allows him to kiss her?"
Claudia frowned, considering the matter closely. "Obviously a lady should not allow anyone except her
fiance or her husband to take such liberties. Mother made that very clear in her Instructions on Behavior
and Deportment for Young Ladies ."
"Yes, I know,"Augusta said, growing impatient. "But let us be realistic
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