Read Online In Pursuit of Miriam by Helen A. Grant - Free Book Online

marriage prospects will hardly be affected by it, whereas your reputation would be in ruin if you did such a thing.” Miriam paused for breath. “I know I will never do the like again and so I would not have missed the experience for the world.”
    Just then she saw Aunt Beatrice striding towards her with a grim look on her face.
    â€œHow could you dance like that, making a spectacle of yourself?” Aunt Beatrice hissed as she sat beside Miriam. “Everyone was watching and they were scandalized. If Sir Thomas gets to hear of this, and it is likely that he shall, I would not be at all surprised if he withdrew his attentions.” Her aunt was trembling in righteous indignation.
    Before Miriam could respond, the angry lady continued, “It was disgraceful that Lord Chantry should dance with you in such a manner but even worse that you allowed it. All my hard work to find you a suitable husband has been ruined. You must apologize to me immediately.” She stood up, hands on hips, waiting.
    Miriam had no intentions of apologizing because she had no regrets whatsoever, and she certainly would not shed a tear if Sir Thomas withdrew his attentions.
    â€œLord Chantry merely stopped me from falling when my leg gave way, and as we were in the middle of the dance floor, it would have been difficult to stop dancing at that moment.” Miriam defended his actions. “He would have most certainly allowed me to sit down had I asked to and so the blame is all mine, Aunt Beatrice.”
    â€œThat does not make the situation any better. I think we had best go home before you ruin your reputation completely and bring further shame on me.” As she spoke she was dragging Miriam to her feet. “My friend Lady Pelham is leaving now; I think I will ask her if she has room for us in her carriage.”
    Fortunately there was room in the carriage, which pleased Miriam in two ways: one, her aunt had to stop lecturing her on her behaviour; and two, she was so tired she did not think she could have managed to walk home without being in a great deal of discomfort.
    On returning to the house Miriam excused herself and called her maid to help her get ready for bed. Sleep, however, did not come easily and nor did she want it to. She wanted to relive those few minutes in Lord Chantry’s arms while the experience was still clear in her mind. She knew she would treasure those moments for the rest of her life.
    When she and Lucy had been children they had dreamed of dancing at grand balls when they were grown up. By the time they reached adulthood Miriam had come to the realization that for her this would never happen, but now, just this once, it had. Not only had she danced, she had danced the waltz, and she danced it very improperly and with a most handsome young lord.
    Miriam knew she could cope with the scoldings she would get from her aunt over the next few days; her only concern was how she could face Lord Chantry if she met him again. Because he had felt sorry for her and asked her to dance, people would now be saying he had not acted in a gentlemanly manner. She was aware, however, that for him this would not affect his quest to find a wife, as his title and fortune, together with his good looks, made him one of the most eligible bachelors in the country.

 
 
 
 
Chapter Seven
The Candidates
    The day after the Brights’ social gathering Vincent found himself alone in the house, with the exception of the servants, as the family had gone to visit a relative. After a late breakfast he retired to the library and, selecting a book from the shelf, settled into a comfortable leather chair.
    He found he was unable to concentrate on the book as his mind was occupied with what he should do next. He was due to leave Bath the following week, and as he did not have the funds to go back to London, it appeared he’d have to go back to Yorkshire. He still considered that getting married would be the