an intelligent girl. Surely she could not set aside all of her childhood memories of the happy family the three of them had constituted at a few contrary words from her grandmother, Lady Mary thought. She felt confident that after a period of reflection, Abigail would realize how false had been the impressions given her by the viscountess.
Thus it was that Lady Mary went upstairs to begin dressing for dinner with her serene composure once more intact. Later, however, she began to wonder at her earlier confidence. Upon joining her in the front hall to set out for the evening, Abigail had maintained a stony silence toward her which covered the entire distance to Lady Charlotte Greville's residence.
Alighting from the coach, Lady Mary was certain that she had never spent a more unpleasant ride. Ill humor had begun to settle around her shoulders, and it was with an effort that she smilingly greeted their hostess. She glanced toward Abigail and was relieved to see that her daughter's sulky expression had given way to one of anticipation. Surely matters would mend themselves in very short order, she thought. But she was rudely awakened from the last of her complaisance by Abigail's subsequent behavior.
Despite Lady Mary's earlier disapprobation, Viscountess Catlin made a point of introducing the Comte l'Buc to her granddaughter. Abigail greeted him with more warmth than was necessary, even as she tossed a defiant glance in her mother's direction. When he requested her hand in a set, she very prettily accepted and was borne off on the arm of one that Lady Mary had no difficulty in classifying as a predator.
She looked at the viscountess, a distinctly chilly expression in her eyes. “What you have done is unpardonable, my lady. I shall thank you to withdraw your poisonous influence from my daughter's vicinity,” she said quietly.
Viscountess Catlin tossed her head, and for a split second Lady Mary saw the ghost of the arrogant, spoiled society beauty that her mother had once been."What vastly pretty sentiments, upon my word! I wish only the best for my granddaughter, as you would realize if you but put off your blinders, Mary! The Comte l'Buc is a most eligible parti and I do not at all regret bringing Abigail to his notice."
"The Comte l'Buc is a known philanderer and it is rumored that he is not above seducing young girls. Abigail is an innocent and you have tossed her straight into the jackal's jaws! But that is only the half of your foolishness, Mother,” Lady Mary said. “You have told naught but lies about Sir Roger and myself. You have seen fit to interfere in the relationship between myself and my daughter. I give you fair warning, my lady. I shall not stand idly by while you wreak havoc."
The viscount came up in time to overhear her last words. His brows rose in exaggerated astonishment. “What, Mary, do you object to your mother's efforts on Abigail's behalf? How odd, for I seem to recall that as a young girl you liked nothing better than her ... interference."
"That was a great many years ago and that naivety belonged to a very different being,” Lady Mary retorted. She was watching the set, and by the music she knew that it was coming to an end. “Pray excuse me. I must snatch my daughter out of her present peril. The comte shall not long wish to pay court to your granddaughter, I assure you!'’ She swept away, leaving behind the viscountess gasping in outrage.
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Chapter 10
An agony of apprehension and a scuffle of preparation had swept over Europe since Napoleon Bonaparte's triumphant entry into France. While the French army continued to rally regiment by regiment to Bonaparte, the dismay escalated among the English residents and holidaymakers in Brussels. Their precipitate flight on the twenty-fourth of March had been accompanied by scenes of undignified confusion and panic, and even though it subsequently became known that there was no foundation to the report of an early
Thus it was that Lady Mary went upstairs to begin dressing for dinner with her serene composure once more intact. Later, however, she began to wonder at her earlier confidence. Upon joining her in the front hall to set out for the evening, Abigail had maintained a stony silence toward her which covered the entire distance to Lady Charlotte Greville's residence.
Alighting from the coach, Lady Mary was certain that she had never spent a more unpleasant ride. Ill humor had begun to settle around her shoulders, and it was with an effort that she smilingly greeted their hostess. She glanced toward Abigail and was relieved to see that her daughter's sulky expression had given way to one of anticipation. Surely matters would mend themselves in very short order, she thought. But she was rudely awakened from the last of her complaisance by Abigail's subsequent behavior.
Despite Lady Mary's earlier disapprobation, Viscountess Catlin made a point of introducing the Comte l'Buc to her granddaughter. Abigail greeted him with more warmth than was necessary, even as she tossed a defiant glance in her mother's direction. When he requested her hand in a set, she very prettily accepted and was borne off on the arm of one that Lady Mary had no difficulty in classifying as a predator.
She looked at the viscountess, a distinctly chilly expression in her eyes. “What you have done is unpardonable, my lady. I shall thank you to withdraw your poisonous influence from my daughter's vicinity,” she said quietly.
Viscountess Catlin tossed her head, and for a split second Lady Mary saw the ghost of the arrogant, spoiled society beauty that her mother had once been."What vastly pretty sentiments, upon my word! I wish only the best for my granddaughter, as you would realize if you but put off your blinders, Mary! The Comte l'Buc is a most eligible parti and I do not at all regret bringing Abigail to his notice."
"The Comte l'Buc is a known philanderer and it is rumored that he is not above seducing young girls. Abigail is an innocent and you have tossed her straight into the jackal's jaws! But that is only the half of your foolishness, Mother,” Lady Mary said. “You have told naught but lies about Sir Roger and myself. You have seen fit to interfere in the relationship between myself and my daughter. I give you fair warning, my lady. I shall not stand idly by while you wreak havoc."
The viscount came up in time to overhear her last words. His brows rose in exaggerated astonishment. “What, Mary, do you object to your mother's efforts on Abigail's behalf? How odd, for I seem to recall that as a young girl you liked nothing better than her ... interference."
"That was a great many years ago and that naivety belonged to a very different being,” Lady Mary retorted. She was watching the set, and by the music she knew that it was coming to an end. “Pray excuse me. I must snatch my daughter out of her present peril. The comte shall not long wish to pay court to your granddaughter, I assure you!'’ She swept away, leaving behind the viscountess gasping in outrage.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 10
An agony of apprehension and a scuffle of preparation had swept over Europe since Napoleon Bonaparte's triumphant entry into France. While the French army continued to rally regiment by regiment to Bonaparte, the dismay escalated among the English residents and holidaymakers in Brussels. Their precipitate flight on the twenty-fourth of March had been accompanied by scenes of undignified confusion and panic, and even though it subsequently became known that there was no foundation to the report of an early
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