glance.
“You will regret it if you have abducted her!” she threw at him.
“I can but wonder at your persistence in that delusion,” he said easily. “I freely confess, though, that I will in no way wish you success in your search if you mean to force that poor child back into the abominable life she was leading. Pray be so good as to inform her guardian I will be happy to discuss the matter with him if he so desires. As for the girl, whatever her present circumstances, I cannot think they are likely to be worse than on the island.”
As she seemed to have no more to say, he pulled the bell rope, and when his butler came, bade Miss Brockton farewell. She rose, unable to pursue her enquiries without creating an undignified scene, and after staring at him for a long moment in silence, abruptly took her departure.
* * * *
It was a select party that night at Lady Devoran’s, with only a couple of dozen guests. Miranda was already there by the time the Floodes arrived, and Araminta had no need of being told who she was. Entering the room where the guests were congregated, Araminta’s glance flew immediately to the group of men surrounding Miranda. The girl’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment her step faltered, for Miranda was indeed lovely, in a most striking way. Then, realising there would be many interested spectators of this meeting, she raised her chin, smiled unconcernedly, and greeted her hostess.
Lady Devoran was a well made woman in her late forties, a widow with an only son. Tom, in his mid twenties, had made an offer to Araminta towards the end of the season, and had been rejected, so this, their first encounter since, was embarrassing for them both. But Araminta smiled at him, the faintest suggestion of an apology in her eyes, and he made some polite remarks about her visit to Essex, so that the awkward moment passed. Other friends came across the room to speak with her, and she was highly gratified to observe that several of Miranda’s court were amongst these. At last Denzil, who had been chatting with an older man, strolled across.
“Welcome back to town, Araminta.”
“I am surprised you beat me to it!”she responded cheerfully, laughing up into his face. “I had thought you intended to stay in Cornwall for a few months.”
“I did, but I discovered some unfinished business that required my presence in town,” he said, smiling at her in his old way.
Hoping he was implying he had missed her, and intended to make his offer at last, she smiled back warmly.
“I have heard a vast amount of gossip about your ward,” she plunged. “I suppose that is she, in the white dress? Will you not present me?”
He smiled appreciatively, led her across the room watched surreptitiously by everyone present, and made her known to Miranda.
The two girls inspected one another curiously while they uttered conventional greetings. Miranda saw a dark haired, brown eyed beauty, with rounded features and an excellent figure, though a few inches shorter than herself. Denzil had certainly selected the best looking of the girls she had yet seen, she reflected, firmly suppressing the stab of envy that assailed her.
“I have heard so much of you from my mother,” Araminta said winningly. “She was most taken with you, and hoped we might be friends.”
Miranda would not have interpreted Mrs Floode’s attitude in precisely those terms, but she reminded herself she had little experience of other people, and smiled, politely expressing the same hope.
Just then Lady Devoran began to shepherd her guests into the music room where they were to be entertained by a small professional group of musicians and singers, and Miranda went to sit with Judith while Araminta found a seat beside Denzil. There was no time for further conversation until after the concert, when they were at supper.
Seeing Tom Devoran bear Miranda off to the supper room, Denzil made his way to Judith and guided her to a small table at the side of the
“You will regret it if you have abducted her!” she threw at him.
“I can but wonder at your persistence in that delusion,” he said easily. “I freely confess, though, that I will in no way wish you success in your search if you mean to force that poor child back into the abominable life she was leading. Pray be so good as to inform her guardian I will be happy to discuss the matter with him if he so desires. As for the girl, whatever her present circumstances, I cannot think they are likely to be worse than on the island.”
As she seemed to have no more to say, he pulled the bell rope, and when his butler came, bade Miss Brockton farewell. She rose, unable to pursue her enquiries without creating an undignified scene, and after staring at him for a long moment in silence, abruptly took her departure.
* * * *
It was a select party that night at Lady Devoran’s, with only a couple of dozen guests. Miranda was already there by the time the Floodes arrived, and Araminta had no need of being told who she was. Entering the room where the guests were congregated, Araminta’s glance flew immediately to the group of men surrounding Miranda. The girl’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment her step faltered, for Miranda was indeed lovely, in a most striking way. Then, realising there would be many interested spectators of this meeting, she raised her chin, smiled unconcernedly, and greeted her hostess.
Lady Devoran was a well made woman in her late forties, a widow with an only son. Tom, in his mid twenties, had made an offer to Araminta towards the end of the season, and had been rejected, so this, their first encounter since, was embarrassing for them both. But Araminta smiled at him, the faintest suggestion of an apology in her eyes, and he made some polite remarks about her visit to Essex, so that the awkward moment passed. Other friends came across the room to speak with her, and she was highly gratified to observe that several of Miranda’s court were amongst these. At last Denzil, who had been chatting with an older man, strolled across.
“Welcome back to town, Araminta.”
“I am surprised you beat me to it!”she responded cheerfully, laughing up into his face. “I had thought you intended to stay in Cornwall for a few months.”
“I did, but I discovered some unfinished business that required my presence in town,” he said, smiling at her in his old way.
Hoping he was implying he had missed her, and intended to make his offer at last, she smiled back warmly.
“I have heard a vast amount of gossip about your ward,” she plunged. “I suppose that is she, in the white dress? Will you not present me?”
He smiled appreciatively, led her across the room watched surreptitiously by everyone present, and made her known to Miranda.
The two girls inspected one another curiously while they uttered conventional greetings. Miranda saw a dark haired, brown eyed beauty, with rounded features and an excellent figure, though a few inches shorter than herself. Denzil had certainly selected the best looking of the girls she had yet seen, she reflected, firmly suppressing the stab of envy that assailed her.
“I have heard so much of you from my mother,” Araminta said winningly. “She was most taken with you, and hoped we might be friends.”
Miranda would not have interpreted Mrs Floode’s attitude in precisely those terms, but she reminded herself she had little experience of other people, and smiled, politely expressing the same hope.
Just then Lady Devoran began to shepherd her guests into the music room where they were to be entertained by a small professional group of musicians and singers, and Miranda went to sit with Judith while Araminta found a seat beside Denzil. There was no time for further conversation until after the concert, when they were at supper.
Seeing Tom Devoran bear Miranda off to the supper room, Denzil made his way to Judith and guided her to a small table at the side of the
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