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Authors: Catherine Lloyd
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middle of the ballroom. Surrounded by a glittering
astonished company, unashamed, he shouted.”Clara!”
Clara froze. “Oh no, no, no ... it cannot
be.”
Edgar moved in front of her, shielding her
and the orchestra whined to a halt, uncertain how to proceed in the face of
this interruption.
Branson’s cloak was spattered in mud and
his boots as well. He was dressed in a gentleman’s frock coat but in the
ballroom, surrounded by bejewelled gowns and black evening suits, her cousin
looked as if he had blown in on a strong North wind.
Chapter Seven
“CLARA, I CANNOT endure! Do not test me or I shall do what
I promised.”
Clara emerged from behind Edgar’s
protection. She held her hand up to stop him from saying more. “Not here,
Branson. I will speak with you, but not here.” Perspiration collected at her
brow and behind her ears as she waited for his answer.
“What is this—what is going on here?”
Strachan burst through the throng of dancers and onlookers wearing his red
serge dress uniform. “You do not have to speak to this ruffian, Miss Hamilton.
Sir, I will thank you to leave immediately.”
Branson regarded Strachan with a cold
sneer. “The lady is my wife and I shall speak to her where ever and whenever I
please. Would you like to contradict me in front of this assembly?”
Clara darted between them. “Thank you,
Captain Strachan for your concern. Mr. Hamilton and I will continue our
conversation in the solarium. Please, I beg of you, sir,” she said in a frantic
hushed voice. “I cannot endure another scene. I shall die.”
Strachan instantly backed away, silenced by
her emotion.
Branson took Clara’s arm and steered her
unhurriedly to the solarium as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
She glanced back. Strachan was standing helplessly to one side and the entire
party seemed stunned into silence. Clara was depending on Edgar to make light
of the interruption and her brother did not disappoint.
“My dear hostess, it seems my
brother-in-law has made a puddle on this elegant parquet floor. I worry I will
break my leg and I am by far the best dancer here. Can nothing be done?”
The party broke into peals of laughter and
the music resumed while footmen were dispatched to clean the floor.
“YOU HAVE told Strachan. I could see it in the look he gave
me. You have confirmed his suspicion that you are not my wife. That was unwise,
Clara.”
“It is the truth. Whatever you might think
about it, it is the truth and I could not lie to him. What do you want,
Branson?”
“What does he mean to you?” The muscle in
his jaw twitched.
“Captain Strachan is engaged to be married. The
question is insulting.”
“He cannot be trusted but then neither can you
it seems. How does Miss Trudy Delisle feel about her fiancé offering you his
protection?”
“Shut up,” she hissed, narrowing her eyes. “You
have no right to speak to me about trust. Do you see the dress I am wearing? It
is the gown I was to be married in. I wear my shame tonight after suffering the
humiliation of telling my father my betrothal was a cruel trick!”
“None of which was necessary,” he ground out. “I
said you were safe with me but you chose to run off with Strachan the first
chance you got! I doubt your father will be pleased. There is not much money in
being a regimental soldier.”
“William’s father is Lord Strachan. Being the
youngest son of three, William went in for soldiering at his father’s recommendation.
As the son of a lord, Strachan’s rise will be rapid.”
“Whereas the rest of us must earn our stripes.”
His voice was cold but there were signs of deep emotion working over his face. “It
appears you have made up your mind to have the fellow. I am happy for you, Clara.
Strachan is god-fearing, rich, and likely to forgive any number of rumours
about you that reach his ear.”
The blood left her face. Clara nodded blindly,
gripped by panic. “Branson, please. I am
astonished company, unashamed, he shouted.”Clara!”
Clara froze. “Oh no, no, no ... it cannot
be.”
Edgar moved in front of her, shielding her
and the orchestra whined to a halt, uncertain how to proceed in the face of
this interruption.
Branson’s cloak was spattered in mud and
his boots as well. He was dressed in a gentleman’s frock coat but in the
ballroom, surrounded by bejewelled gowns and black evening suits, her cousin
looked as if he had blown in on a strong North wind.
Chapter Seven
“CLARA, I CANNOT endure! Do not test me or I shall do what
I promised.”
Clara emerged from behind Edgar’s
protection. She held her hand up to stop him from saying more. “Not here,
Branson. I will speak with you, but not here.” Perspiration collected at her
brow and behind her ears as she waited for his answer.
“What is this—what is going on here?”
Strachan burst through the throng of dancers and onlookers wearing his red
serge dress uniform. “You do not have to speak to this ruffian, Miss Hamilton.
Sir, I will thank you to leave immediately.”
Branson regarded Strachan with a cold
sneer. “The lady is my wife and I shall speak to her where ever and whenever I
please. Would you like to contradict me in front of this assembly?”
Clara darted between them. “Thank you,
Captain Strachan for your concern. Mr. Hamilton and I will continue our
conversation in the solarium. Please, I beg of you, sir,” she said in a frantic
hushed voice. “I cannot endure another scene. I shall die.”
Strachan instantly backed away, silenced by
her emotion.
Branson took Clara’s arm and steered her
unhurriedly to the solarium as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
She glanced back. Strachan was standing helplessly to one side and the entire
party seemed stunned into silence. Clara was depending on Edgar to make light
of the interruption and her brother did not disappoint.
“My dear hostess, it seems my
brother-in-law has made a puddle on this elegant parquet floor. I worry I will
break my leg and I am by far the best dancer here. Can nothing be done?”
The party broke into peals of laughter and
the music resumed while footmen were dispatched to clean the floor.
“YOU HAVE told Strachan. I could see it in the look he gave
me. You have confirmed his suspicion that you are not my wife. That was unwise,
Clara.”
“It is the truth. Whatever you might think
about it, it is the truth and I could not lie to him. What do you want,
Branson?”
“What does he mean to you?” The muscle in
his jaw twitched.
“Captain Strachan is engaged to be married. The
question is insulting.”
“He cannot be trusted but then neither can you
it seems. How does Miss Trudy Delisle feel about her fiancé offering you his
protection?”
“Shut up,” she hissed, narrowing her eyes. “You
have no right to speak to me about trust. Do you see the dress I am wearing? It
is the gown I was to be married in. I wear my shame tonight after suffering the
humiliation of telling my father my betrothal was a cruel trick!”
“None of which was necessary,” he ground out. “I
said you were safe with me but you chose to run off with Strachan the first
chance you got! I doubt your father will be pleased. There is not much money in
being a regimental soldier.”
“William’s father is Lord Strachan. Being the
youngest son of three, William went in for soldiering at his father’s recommendation.
As the son of a lord, Strachan’s rise will be rapid.”
“Whereas the rest of us must earn our stripes.”
His voice was cold but there were signs of deep emotion working over his face. “It
appears you have made up your mind to have the fellow. I am happy for you, Clara.
Strachan is god-fearing, rich, and likely to forgive any number of rumours
about you that reach his ear.”
The blood left her face. Clara nodded blindly,
gripped by panic. “Branson, please. I am
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