Read Online Crossed Quills by Carola Dunn - Free Book Online Page B

Prendergast. “
     “Would she not? I cannot imagine anyone disliking her, but no doubt you saw more of her during Miss Lisle’s Season than I did in two short days.”
     “Oh, as to that, I liked her very well. She was very kind to me when Mama could not cope. But it is a question of whether the world, the starchiest part of the world, will regard her as a suitable...chaperon’s chaperon!” Bina’s smooth forehead wrinkled in thought. Her brother held his breath. “A respectable, well-bred widow of a certain age....Wynn, I cannot see why she should not be acceptable.”
     Wynn breathed again. “To you, to the world, what of George? He is not acquainted with the Lisles, is he? Or barely. Mrs Lisle would have to live in the house to be of any use to you.”
     “George will be only too delighted to welcome anyone who obviates the need to receive his aunt,” Bina said dryly. “When I tell him she was kind to me, he will greet her with raptures. Or if he does not, I shall want to know why. But Pippa and Miss Kitty will have to stay, too, of course. I hope Millie’s nose will not be put out of joint. Is Kitty pretty? Your opinion, now, not Mr Chubb’s.”
     “Very pretty,” said Wynn, pausing before he added, “and as dark as her sister.”
     “Aha! Millie will be glad to hear it. And is she as amiable as Pippa?”
     “Much more so. I don’t wish to malign your friend, Bina, but I should say she can be prickly upon occasion.”
     Bina smiled, a reminiscent smile. “Yes, Pippa was never a commonplace, compliant sort of girl. I shall have to make sure she has an agreeable experience this time. Pray invite them, Wynn, and leave George and Millicent to me. This is going to be such fun!”
    * * * *
      This is going to be simply dreadful, Pippa thought, gazing unhappily out of the carriage window. As well as suffering through at least a few balls and routs for Mama’s sake, she was going to have to struggle to keep her alter ego secret from Lord Selworth while helping him with his speech. If he resided with the Debenhams in Town, it was a doomed struggle.
     Even the pleasant prospect of seeing Albinia again was marred by a sense of obligation. However kindly she tried to convey her need of Mama’s chaperonage, her offer of accommodation was the height of generosity. As for her husband, he must be very fond indeed to allow three strangers in his home for a stay of several months, and to go so far as to send this comfortable carriage to fetch them.
     “Mama, I cannot believe we ought to have accepted the Debenhams’ invitation,” Pippa said for the dozenth time.
     Mrs Lisle shook her head, smiling. “I should not have dreamt of angling for such hospitality, still less of making it a part of Prometheus’s conditions. However, as it was freely offered, I have no hesitation in accepting. With no rent to pay, there will be much more money to dress you two properly. Not to mention the advantages of having an address in the best part of Town.”
     “I think it is simply splendid of Mrs Debenham,” said Kitty, “but Miss Warren does seem to believe Mama’s presence is necessary to them. And she is happy to share her Season with me, as far as I can make out!” She took from her reticule the crossed and recrossed letter Millicent Warren had sent along with her sister’s invitation.
     While Kitty and Mrs Lisle pored again over the indecipherable scribble, Pippa reflected upon the disadvantages of living with two practical optimists. Mama and her sister simply did not understand Pippa’s concerns. Though capable of dealing with adversity, both accepted good fortune without a second thought, never fretting about the dark cloud behind every silver lining.
     Put thus, it sounded ridiculous, Pippa admonished herself. She really must learn to take the smooth with the rough, not to cross her bridges before she came to them—while continuing not to count her chickens before they hatched. And to avoid