Read Online April Lady by Georgette Heyer - Free Book Online Page A

improbable that he would believe she really had overlooked it. She herself was aghast at her carelessness. She was so sure that she had given the bill to Cardross with all the others collected from a drawer crammed with them that her first thought on seeing Madame Lavalle's renewed demand was that that exclusive modiste had erred. But an agitated search had brought the previous demand to light, wedged at the very back of the drawer. It was by far the heaviest single item amongst her debts, casting into the shade the milliner's bill which had staggered Cardross. What he would say she dared not consider, even less what he might do. At the best he must believe her to be woefully extravagant (which, indeed, she knew she had been), and he would be very angry, though forgiving. At the worst—but to speculate on what he might do at the worst was so fatal to resolution that she would not let herself do it.
    With a childlike hope of pleasing him, she had arrayed herself in a gown which she knew (on the authority of that arbiter of taste, Mr. Hethersett) became her to admiration. It had instantly won for her a charming compliment, and she was now able to reply, not without pride: "No, no, it is paid for!" She added honestly, after a moment's reflection: "You paid for it!"
    "It is a great satisfaction to me to know that I didn't waste my money," he said gravely, but with laughter in his eyes.
    This was a much more promising start to the interview than she had expected. She smiled shyly at him, and was just about to embark on a painful explanation of her new embarrassment when he said: "Are you Letty's envoy, then? I own, I might listen with more patience to you than to her, but on this subject I am determined to remain adamant!"
    Not sorry to be diverted from her real errand, she said: "Of course, I do see that it would be throwing herself away quite shockingly, but I believe you will be obliged, in the end, to consent. Well, I thought myself that it was just a fancy that would pass when she had seen more of society, and had met other gentlemen, but it isn't so, Cardross! She hasn't swerved from her devotion to Mr. Allandale, even though she has been made up to by I don't know how many others— and all of them," she added reflectively, "of far greater address than poor Mr. Allandale!"
    "Nell!" he interrupted. "Can you tell me what she perceives in that dead bore to dote upon?"
    She shook her head. "No, there is no accounting for it," she replied. "She doesn't know either, which is what makes me feel that it is a case of true love, and certainly no passing fancy."
    "They are totally unsuited!" he said impatiently. "She would ruin him in a year, what's more! She is as extravagant as you are, my love!" He saw the stricken look in her face, the colour ebbing from her cheeks, and instantly said: "What an unhandsome thing to say to you! I beg your pardon: that is all forgotten—a page which we have stuck down, and shan't read again. My dear Nell, if you could but have heard that absurd young man addressing me in flowing periods this morning! Do you know that he proposed in all seriousness to carry Letty off to Brazil?"
    Her thoughts were very far from Letty's affairs, but she answered mechanically: "Yes, she told me of his appointment."
    He regarded her with a slight crease between his brows. "You are looking very troubled, Nell. Why? Are you taking this nonsense to heart?"
    Now, if ever, was the moment to tell him that the page had not yet been stuck down. The words refused to be uttered. She said instead: "I can't help but be sorry for them. I know it is a bad match, and indeed, Cardross, I understand what your sentiments must be."
    "I imagine you might! To be wishing Letty joy of a shockingly bad bargain would be fine conduct in a guardian! To own the truth, I wish I were not her guardian—or that I had never permitted her aunt to take charge of her. That woman wants both manner and sense, and, as far as I can discover, reared her own