Read Online Brilliant Devices by Shelley Adina - Free Book Online Page B

lay in several acres of park and gardens that Davina told them duplicated exactly the estates of Sir Geoffrey Arundel, the governor, in Derbyshire, though sadly, the elms and maples of that county had not survived the winters of the Canadas and had been replaced by pine and fir. The gardens still glowed, however, in the middle of October, and—
    “My goodness!” Claire exclaimed as the Bentley came to a stop under the portico. “Today is my birthday and I completely forgot until this moment.”
    “ Ksiztico. You’ve chosen a nice way to celebrate.” The earl smiled at her and kissed her cheek. “Happy eighteenth, Lady Claire. All Edmonton will be at your feet by midnight, or I’m a sad representative of the species.”
    All Edmonton, it seemed, was in the ballroom, whirling in the patterns of the dance and chattering with such gusto that Claire could barely hear her own name as the majordomo announced it.
    Earl and Countess Dunsmuir, of Duns muir House, London, and Hatley Park, Victoria.
    Lady Claire Trevelyan, of Gwyn Place, Cornwall.
    Miss Alice Chalmers, of the Texican Territory.
    Mr. Andrew Malvern, B.S., R.S.E., of London.
    Captain Ian Hollys, Baronet, Royal Aeronautic Corps, London.
    Baronet? Heavens. What was a baronet doing flying a ship for an earl, companions at arms notwithstanding? She must find out during their waltz.
    “So much for keeping a low profile,” Alice whispered as they descended the grand staircase. She clutched a great handful of her skirts so hard they would be fearfully crushed. “I should’ve given an alias.”
    “I am very glad you did not,” Davina said behind her. “I plan to introduce you to everyone, and I should hate to have to remember it.”
    Alice groaned, and before she could recover, Andrew had stepped up to write his name upon her card and then whirl her off onto the floor.
    “Dear me,” Davina murmured , watching. “I am afraid our attempts at teaching her a few steps this afternoon were … inadequate.”
    “Andrew will make sure she comes to no harm.” And sure enough, when Alice turned the wrong way, Andrew tightened his hand upon her waist and steered her back into the frothing current of the dancers. “She must learn that the first rule of dancing is to allow the man to lead.”
    Davina looked amused. “Is this wisdom the product of personal experience?”
    “I have not had much personal experience. But that is what the dance mistress at school always told us.”
    “Claire, you must not stare at them so.”
    “I am not staring. I am merely following the pattern of the dance and admiring the gowns of the other ladies.”
    “If you say so, dear. Come. I want John to introduce you to Count von Zeppelin.”
    With a determined effort, Claire pushed the image of Andrew’s gloved hand on Alice’s co rseted back out of her mind. A dream was about to come true. She must not let that pleasure be muted by … by … well, she must not let it be muted.
    She followed Davina and John to a small group standing next to the royal purple drapes that framed the tall windows overlooking the garden. A slender man in his fifties turned with a smile, his moustaches curled at the ends like the feather in Alice’s hair. “John, mein lieber freund . We meet again.”
    The two men embraced in the European fashion and John turned to indicate his wife. Davina smiled her charming smile and extended her hand in its pristine opera glove. “ Count, it is lovely to see you again. I trust the Baroness is well? Did she accompany you on this trip?”
    Von Zeppelin bent over her hand. “Alas, no. She has just become a grandmother for the third time, so she has stayed at home to assist our daughter.”
    “I hope you will give our best wishes to the new mother,” John told him. “I would like to introduce you to a young lady who admires your work greatly. Count Ferdinand von Girsberg-Zeppelin, allow me to present Lady Claire Trevelyan, a dear friend of the family.”
    Claire dipped