Read Online Felicia by Leonora Blythe - Free Book Online

unobtrusively and found, to her dismay, that a few of the guests were already assembled. She quickly made her way to Lady Louisa’s side, but her desire to go unnoticed was thwarted when David Burton detached himself from a group of people and joined her.
    “Good evening, Lady Louisa, Miss Richards,” he said as he bowed deeply. “What a charming picture you both make. You quite brighten up this dark corner.”
    Felicia blushed prettily and Lady Louisa chuckled. “Go and make an elegant leg to Miss Fitzroy, David, and take Miss Richards with you. I refuse to be cast into the shade by having her stand next to me.”
    Mr. Burton smiled. “That will be my pleasure, Lady Louisa,” he answered and drew Felicia’s hand onto his arm. “Miss Richards?”
    Felicia curtsied and moved gracefully toward the group in the center of the room, unaware that everyone was looking at her for she was busy whispering to Mr. Burton, “It is not necessary to introduce me around. After all, I am Lady Louisa’s companion, not a relative.”
    “What? And be accused by all my friends of keeping you all to myself? They would never forgive me.” He drew her deftly into the group and made the introductions quickly. He knew they would all be curious as to who she was, but also knew that their good manners would prevail and keep their questions for later.
    He had barely recognized in Felicia the dowdy girl he had met earlier in the library. The dress she wore now was the height of fashion, and fitted beautifully. It was light blue silk falling to the ground in soft pleats, and was caught at the waist by a girdle of roses. A frill of sapphire chiffon framed her alabaster white shoulders. Matching roses were threaded through the curls that Lady Louisa’s maid had coaxed into a Psyche knot, with a few careless tendrils, caressing her cheeks.
    She acknowledged the introductions with a polite nod and stood to one side, listening to the general talk, trying to remember all the names.
    Lord Rowbotham, a dandy of the first water, eyed her appreciatively. He liked what he saw and wondered if she also had a fortune. He regretfully decided that the answer must be negative, for Lord Umber would have mentioned it. He beamed at her anyway and sidled over to her.
    Felicia tried to suppress a smile at the sight he made, and almost succeeded until she caught Mr. Burton’s eye. However, she managed to turn her smile into one of polite inquiry which set Lord Rowbotham at ease.
    “I say, Miss Richards, what’s the latest on dit about Umber and his orchids?”
    Taken aback by the question, Felicia stared at him blankly. “I beg your pardon? Orchids? I am afraid I don’t understand.”
    “Flowers, you know,” he explained kindly. “I noticed a maid putting a whole display of them in the hallway on my way down tonight. Never thought that Umber would agree to wasting those precious blooms on us.”
    “He didn’t,” Felicia replied faintly, as a cold feeling gripped her. “I cut them myself.”
    Lord Rowbotham looked at her in amazement. “You mean he ain’t even seen them yet? I thought it peculiar when I saw them. They are far better than mine, and he would easily have won the contest…”
    “You mean that he was growing them especially for an exhibition?” Felicia queried. She wondered why Lady Louisa had not said anything, and then remembered that she had cut them at the last moment, without consulting her.
    “Far worse,” Lord Rowbotham said gravely. “A wager.”
    “I fear he will not be pleased then.” At the moment she felt only disdain for her host. Gambling was such a petty reason to grow such magnificent blooms.
    Lord Rowbotham nodded his head in agreement before saying placatingly, “But he cannot blame you, if you didn’t know what they were, now can he? What say you, David?”
    Mr. Burton raised a questioning eyebrow. “What’s that, Cuthbert?”
    “The orchids that Miss Richards has cut by mistake. Ian will