Read Online Compromised by Christmas by Katy Madison - Free Book Online
Authors: Katy Madison
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Malmsbury preened before one of the gilt-encrusted
mirrors, the duke's two elderly aunts played cards, several women
sat gossiping in one corner, but the gentlemen were absent. Max had
led the men off on a masculine pursuit after nuncheon.
"That is lovely lace." Lady Angela pointed her long
sharp nose at Roxana's lap. "You do that very fast."
"Thank you," said Roxana.
Lady Malmsbury wandered over, glanced at Roxana's
handiwork and sniffed. "I confess I much prefer Brussels lace."
Roxana resisted the urge to grit her teeth. "Of
course, there is none prettier." Nor more expensive. "I prefer it
too." The impulse to touch the chemisette that filled in the
neckline of her green dress guided her hand to her neck. She wanted
to point out that it was trimmed with expensive Mechlin lace. She
lowered her hand. "I'm fond of Battenburg lace too."
"Oh, but one uses that only for table linens," said
Lady Malmsbury.
The duchess entered the room with a couple followed
by a petite young woman whose fawnlike eyes dominated her face.
Fanny led the newcomers around, reacquainting everyone. They
eventually made their way to where Roxana sat.
She stood and made her curtsy to Lord and Lady
Lambert and their daughter. After a polite exchange Miss Lambert
greeted Lady Angela with a hug. They began an excited chat,
catching up on things that had happened since the close of the
London season. Fanny patted Roxana's arm before moving away.
As the older Lamberts drifted to other acquaintances,
taking Lady Malmsbury with them, Roxana's status as an outsider was
painfully obvious. She moved to the side of the sofa, so the two
girls could continue their animated exchange. But she could not
help but overhear their conversation.
"Mama said we must come posthaste, for if the Trents
were inviting us, the duke must be considering marriage. Before,
when they invited my parents, my older sisters were not invited,"
said Lady Angela.
Miss Lambert appeared startled by the notion, her
brown eyes growing larger. "Do you think he picked us to come?"
"The duchess invited you," said Roxana and then
wished she could bite off her tongue. She didn't know what prompted
that tiny irrational surge of jealousy to make her want to burst
their bubble.
Two pairs of eyes, one of pale blue and the other of
velvety brown, turned in her direction.
"After the duke came home, she decided to invite more
of the younger set," Roxana said, trying to undo the damage. Who
was she to interfere with their hopes and aspirations?
"Who?" asked Lady Angela.
"Yes, who else is invited?" echoed Miss Lambert.
Roxana knew the names only from the place cards she'd
written out and the room assignments. The names meant nothing to
her. She searched in her mind's eye for the last minute additions,
who had not arrived yet. "The Misses Ferris, Lord Hampton and a Mr.
Allensworth. Mind you I do not know if they will come."
"No one would turn down an invitation to this
Christmas party unless they were on their deathbed," said Lady
Angela.
"Yes, everyone fights for invitations. I have heard
their hunts are the best and the food is to die for, and then the
gifts they give . . ." said Miss Lambert. "We were so afraid they
would not continue the house parties after the old duke
passed."
"Gifts?" said Roxana weakly.
"And the other sons," said Lady Angela. "The duke has
had a great deal of tragedy in recent years."
"But he bears it so well," said Miss Lambert.
The girls both sighed in unison. Roxana wondered if
Lady Julia was more mature.
"Did you ask about the gifts?" asked Miss Lambert
politely. "Last time all the ladies received beautiful carved ivory
fans. And the men ebony walking sticks. One year it was cloisonné
snuff boxes for the men and gold lockets for the women."
"I just have handkerchiefs for everyone," said Lady
Angela. "Mama said one can never have too many handkerchiefs."
"My parents said a young lady cannot give personal
gifts or she'll be thought fast." Miss Lambert grimaced.
mirrors, the duke's two elderly aunts played cards, several women
sat gossiping in one corner, but the gentlemen were absent. Max had
led the men off on a masculine pursuit after nuncheon.
"That is lovely lace." Lady Angela pointed her long
sharp nose at Roxana's lap. "You do that very fast."
"Thank you," said Roxana.
Lady Malmsbury wandered over, glanced at Roxana's
handiwork and sniffed. "I confess I much prefer Brussels lace."
Roxana resisted the urge to grit her teeth. "Of
course, there is none prettier." Nor more expensive. "I prefer it
too." The impulse to touch the chemisette that filled in the
neckline of her green dress guided her hand to her neck. She wanted
to point out that it was trimmed with expensive Mechlin lace. She
lowered her hand. "I'm fond of Battenburg lace too."
"Oh, but one uses that only for table linens," said
Lady Malmsbury.
The duchess entered the room with a couple followed
by a petite young woman whose fawnlike eyes dominated her face.
Fanny led the newcomers around, reacquainting everyone. They
eventually made their way to where Roxana sat.
She stood and made her curtsy to Lord and Lady
Lambert and their daughter. After a polite exchange Miss Lambert
greeted Lady Angela with a hug. They began an excited chat,
catching up on things that had happened since the close of the
London season. Fanny patted Roxana's arm before moving away.
As the older Lamberts drifted to other acquaintances,
taking Lady Malmsbury with them, Roxana's status as an outsider was
painfully obvious. She moved to the side of the sofa, so the two
girls could continue their animated exchange. But she could not
help but overhear their conversation.
"Mama said we must come posthaste, for if the Trents
were inviting us, the duke must be considering marriage. Before,
when they invited my parents, my older sisters were not invited,"
said Lady Angela.
Miss Lambert appeared startled by the notion, her
brown eyes growing larger. "Do you think he picked us to come?"
"The duchess invited you," said Roxana and then
wished she could bite off her tongue. She didn't know what prompted
that tiny irrational surge of jealousy to make her want to burst
their bubble.
Two pairs of eyes, one of pale blue and the other of
velvety brown, turned in her direction.
"After the duke came home, she decided to invite more
of the younger set," Roxana said, trying to undo the damage. Who
was she to interfere with their hopes and aspirations?
"Who?" asked Lady Angela.
"Yes, who else is invited?" echoed Miss Lambert.
Roxana knew the names only from the place cards she'd
written out and the room assignments. The names meant nothing to
her. She searched in her mind's eye for the last minute additions,
who had not arrived yet. "The Misses Ferris, Lord Hampton and a Mr.
Allensworth. Mind you I do not know if they will come."
"No one would turn down an invitation to this
Christmas party unless they were on their deathbed," said Lady
Angela.
"Yes, everyone fights for invitations. I have heard
their hunts are the best and the food is to die for, and then the
gifts they give . . ." said Miss Lambert. "We were so afraid they
would not continue the house parties after the old duke
passed."
"Gifts?" said Roxana weakly.
"And the other sons," said Lady Angela. "The duke has
had a great deal of tragedy in recent years."
"But he bears it so well," said Miss Lambert.
The girls both sighed in unison. Roxana wondered if
Lady Julia was more mature.
"Did you ask about the gifts?" asked Miss Lambert
politely. "Last time all the ladies received beautiful carved ivory
fans. And the men ebony walking sticks. One year it was cloisonné
snuff boxes for the men and gold lockets for the women."
"I just have handkerchiefs for everyone," said Lady
Angela. "Mama said one can never have too many handkerchiefs."
"My parents said a young lady cannot give personal
gifts or she'll be thought fast." Miss Lambert grimaced.
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