words. You are no doubt correct that my aunt is at this moment trying to find a penal colony for me at the greatest distance from London. What I cannot forgive is your shocking wink that caused this trouble.”
“Surely this affair is not my fault! It is my Lord Chamberlain who embarrassed himself beyond redemption.”
“If you had not laughed, I would have been able to calm myself.”
“How could I not be amused? Honestly, I do hope the poor man survives the night.”
“But no one caught you laughing,” said Genie, getting at the heart of the injustice. “They were only looking at me.”
“Naturally they were looking at you. Between the two of us there can be no comparison.” The man’s easy smile turned flirtatious, but Genie was accustomed to flattery regarding her appearance and considered herself immune to its charms. The magnitude of her failure weighed down her shoulders. She wished she could tear off the heavy headpiece, but she had brought upon herself enough scandal for one day—all thanks to the man before her.
“I do wish I had never seen you,” said Genie in uncharacteristically clipped tones. “And since you are no doubt correct that my aunt is even now booking my passage to the Americas or Botany Bay, I will take comfort in the fact that I will never see you again. Good day, sir!”
With fortuitous timing, Genie was called to join her aunt, and she practically flew into the coach on the plumes of her own headdress. Unfortunately, her sweeping exit was hindered by the logistics of maneuvering three hoop skirts belonging to herself, her aunt, and her cousin, which was done with such haste Genie feared her gown would be sadly crushed. Her aunt demanded the curtains be drawn, as if the mere sight of Eugenia Talbot was so offensive the whole of London must be protected.
“Disaster! Oh, how could you do this to me?” Lady Bremerton lay back on the plush squabs of the town coach as it jolted forward, her hand on her forehead for dramatic flair. “I should have known you needed more training, more tutelage. After all, your father’s family can have no concept of what is expected in higher society let alone what is proper in court.”
Genie swallowed down a retort. She had intended to prove she was every bit as polished as the other debutantes. Acting the hoyden before the queen proved otherwise.
“I am sorry Aunt Cora,” said Genie, her contrition a tight knot in her chest. “Sorry Cousin Louisa.” Louisa’s eyes were sympathetic, but her aunt would give no quarter.
“Sorry will not do you any good, nor will speaking to a known rake,” chastised her aunt.
“A known rake?”
“Mr. Grant. I saw you speaking with him. He will do you no good.”
“I know that is true,” said Genie with a flush.
“Oh, what is to be done? You are ruined, ruined for sure. My reputation is in tatters. There is nothing else for it; you must be married. And quick!”
A Midsummer Bride
Available now from
Sourcebooks Casablanca
London, England, June 1810
“So we have a deal?” Duncan Maclachlan, Earl of Thornton, handed a quill pen to Lord Langley, trying not to let his enthusiasm show. Being a generally reserved man, it was not a difficult task to accomplish.
“Yes, we do.” Lord Langley dipped his pen in the ink and signed his name to the contract. “I look forward to working with you in the future.”
“As do I.” Thornton breathed deep. This transaction was definitely going to help his situation. The financial crisis was becoming dire. “Have ye plans to leave London for yer country house?”
“Yes, yes, I suppose I should.” The elderly Lord Langley leaned back in his chair, his bulk making the chair squeak in protest. “I do not wish to travel, but staying in London for the summer, that would be even worse. And yourself? Do you have plans for the summer?”
“House party.”
Lord Langley grimaced. “Not for me. Too much bother. All those children running
“Surely this affair is not my fault! It is my Lord Chamberlain who embarrassed himself beyond redemption.”
“If you had not laughed, I would have been able to calm myself.”
“How could I not be amused? Honestly, I do hope the poor man survives the night.”
“But no one caught you laughing,” said Genie, getting at the heart of the injustice. “They were only looking at me.”
“Naturally they were looking at you. Between the two of us there can be no comparison.” The man’s easy smile turned flirtatious, but Genie was accustomed to flattery regarding her appearance and considered herself immune to its charms. The magnitude of her failure weighed down her shoulders. She wished she could tear off the heavy headpiece, but she had brought upon herself enough scandal for one day—all thanks to the man before her.
“I do wish I had never seen you,” said Genie in uncharacteristically clipped tones. “And since you are no doubt correct that my aunt is even now booking my passage to the Americas or Botany Bay, I will take comfort in the fact that I will never see you again. Good day, sir!”
With fortuitous timing, Genie was called to join her aunt, and she practically flew into the coach on the plumes of her own headdress. Unfortunately, her sweeping exit was hindered by the logistics of maneuvering three hoop skirts belonging to herself, her aunt, and her cousin, which was done with such haste Genie feared her gown would be sadly crushed. Her aunt demanded the curtains be drawn, as if the mere sight of Eugenia Talbot was so offensive the whole of London must be protected.
“Disaster! Oh, how could you do this to me?” Lady Bremerton lay back on the plush squabs of the town coach as it jolted forward, her hand on her forehead for dramatic flair. “I should have known you needed more training, more tutelage. After all, your father’s family can have no concept of what is expected in higher society let alone what is proper in court.”
Genie swallowed down a retort. She had intended to prove she was every bit as polished as the other debutantes. Acting the hoyden before the queen proved otherwise.
“I am sorry Aunt Cora,” said Genie, her contrition a tight knot in her chest. “Sorry Cousin Louisa.” Louisa’s eyes were sympathetic, but her aunt would give no quarter.
“Sorry will not do you any good, nor will speaking to a known rake,” chastised her aunt.
“A known rake?”
“Mr. Grant. I saw you speaking with him. He will do you no good.”
“I know that is true,” said Genie with a flush.
“Oh, what is to be done? You are ruined, ruined for sure. My reputation is in tatters. There is nothing else for it; you must be married. And quick!”
A Midsummer Bride
Available now from
Sourcebooks Casablanca
London, England, June 1810
“So we have a deal?” Duncan Maclachlan, Earl of Thornton, handed a quill pen to Lord Langley, trying not to let his enthusiasm show. Being a generally reserved man, it was not a difficult task to accomplish.
“Yes, we do.” Lord Langley dipped his pen in the ink and signed his name to the contract. “I look forward to working with you in the future.”
“As do I.” Thornton breathed deep. This transaction was definitely going to help his situation. The financial crisis was becoming dire. “Have ye plans to leave London for yer country house?”
“Yes, yes, I suppose I should.” The elderly Lord Langley leaned back in his chair, his bulk making the chair squeak in protest. “I do not wish to travel, but staying in London for the summer, that would be even worse. And yourself? Do you have plans for the summer?”
“House party.”
Lord Langley grimaced. “Not for me. Too much bother. All those children running
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