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Authors: Loretta Chase
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like an older brother who wants the treat for himself as well. I should like him to have it. I believe the experience will be good for him. At any rate, it is innocent entertainment for a change."
"I hope it may be," said Lilith slowly. "The question is whether it would be good for Cecily. She is inexperienced, young, and impressionable, and he is exceedingly handsome — and, as you said, worldly."
"Yes, of course, but we are going to the circus, my dear, not the Cyprians' Ball," was the brisk reply. "Rockridge and
I will be there, and I daresay we may keep a handful of lively young people in order."
This Lilith could not deny. Glenda's common sense was always to be relied upon. Furthermore, for all her open warmth, Lady Rockridge was a thoroughly reliable dragon.
The following Tuesday was quickly agreed upon, Lilith being engaged to dine that evening with Lord Liverpool. The invitees were mainly of political persuasion, and Cecily, had already expressed a disinclination to accompany her aunt.
"She told me she would feel like the village idiot in such company," Lilith said with a smile.
"Meaning, I take it, she expected to be bored to pieces. Well, we shall spare her that, shall we?"
----
5
The Tuesday evening found the eminently sophisticated man of the world, Lord Robert Downs, at Astley's. He had dextrously managed matters so that he sat next Miss Glen-wood — only, he told himself, for the amusement of watching her childlike excitement. This infantile enthusiasm manifesting itself in sparkling blue eyes, half-parted moist, pink lips, and a propensity to clutch at his sleeve during moments of high suspense, he might have been accounted tolerably amused.
From time to time the lips came disconcertingly close to his ear, as Miss Glenwood was inclined to whisper eager comments on the proceedings.
"How do they do it?" she asked during a display of equestrian feats. "It takes forever to learn how to keep your seat without a saddle — but to stand — and turn — and leap in the air — I could never do that. The last time I tried to stand — "
Lord Robert's head whipped towards her. "You what?"
Captivated once more by the performance, she did not appear to hear him.
"They make it seem so easy," she said after a moment. "Yet it wants tremendous concentration."
"Miss Glenwood, did you just say you have tried to stand upon a horse?" Lord Robert asked, appalled.
"Once only. I can ride without a saddle, but no more. I shall never be an acrobat," was the modest reply.
"You do not ride saddleless," he insisted.
"But of course I do. Why, I have done it several times already in Hyde Park." She must have remarked his look of horror finally, because she hastened to explain that she had done so very early in the morning, and naturally she had her own groom from home with her, and of course she wore her brother's old clothes. One could scarcely ride bareback in a woman's riding habit, she pointed out patiently.
"Miss Glenwood — "
He got no further. Lady Rockridge's dragon eye having noted the two golden heads bent close together, she promptly ordered her husband to change places with Robert.
While the innocent Cecily was throwing Lord Robert into a dither, her aunt was experiencing her own brand of disquiet.
Sir Thomas had as usual forgotten her existence in his absorption with a political issue, but this was habitual with him. At any rate, Lilith had never expected or wished him to live in her pocket, even after their betrothal.
Tonight's issue was again the Grand Duchess Catherine's blatant hostility towards Prinny, her efforts to humiliate him at every turn, and her skill in making everyone detest her. The Czar's sister seemed to devote all her waking hours to making mischief. Since she had considerable influence over her brother, and wrote him constantly, it was feared Alexander's proposed visit to England would not be an auspicious one.
Thomas, who had any number of ideas regarding what might be done to
"I hope it may be," said Lilith slowly. "The question is whether it would be good for Cecily. She is inexperienced, young, and impressionable, and he is exceedingly handsome — and, as you said, worldly."
"Yes, of course, but we are going to the circus, my dear, not the Cyprians' Ball," was the brisk reply. "Rockridge and
I will be there, and I daresay we may keep a handful of lively young people in order."
This Lilith could not deny. Glenda's common sense was always to be relied upon. Furthermore, for all her open warmth, Lady Rockridge was a thoroughly reliable dragon.
The following Tuesday was quickly agreed upon, Lilith being engaged to dine that evening with Lord Liverpool. The invitees were mainly of political persuasion, and Cecily, had already expressed a disinclination to accompany her aunt.
"She told me she would feel like the village idiot in such company," Lilith said with a smile.
"Meaning, I take it, she expected to be bored to pieces. Well, we shall spare her that, shall we?"
----
5
The Tuesday evening found the eminently sophisticated man of the world, Lord Robert Downs, at Astley's. He had dextrously managed matters so that he sat next Miss Glen-wood — only, he told himself, for the amusement of watching her childlike excitement. This infantile enthusiasm manifesting itself in sparkling blue eyes, half-parted moist, pink lips, and a propensity to clutch at his sleeve during moments of high suspense, he might have been accounted tolerably amused.
From time to time the lips came disconcertingly close to his ear, as Miss Glenwood was inclined to whisper eager comments on the proceedings.
"How do they do it?" she asked during a display of equestrian feats. "It takes forever to learn how to keep your seat without a saddle — but to stand — and turn — and leap in the air — I could never do that. The last time I tried to stand — "
Lord Robert's head whipped towards her. "You what?"
Captivated once more by the performance, she did not appear to hear him.
"They make it seem so easy," she said after a moment. "Yet it wants tremendous concentration."
"Miss Glenwood, did you just say you have tried to stand upon a horse?" Lord Robert asked, appalled.
"Once only. I can ride without a saddle, but no more. I shall never be an acrobat," was the modest reply.
"You do not ride saddleless," he insisted.
"But of course I do. Why, I have done it several times already in Hyde Park." She must have remarked his look of horror finally, because she hastened to explain that she had done so very early in the morning, and naturally she had her own groom from home with her, and of course she wore her brother's old clothes. One could scarcely ride bareback in a woman's riding habit, she pointed out patiently.
"Miss Glenwood — "
He got no further. Lady Rockridge's dragon eye having noted the two golden heads bent close together, she promptly ordered her husband to change places with Robert.
While the innocent Cecily was throwing Lord Robert into a dither, her aunt was experiencing her own brand of disquiet.
Sir Thomas had as usual forgotten her existence in his absorption with a political issue, but this was habitual with him. At any rate, Lilith had never expected or wished him to live in her pocket, even after their betrothal.
Tonight's issue was again the Grand Duchess Catherine's blatant hostility towards Prinny, her efforts to humiliate him at every turn, and her skill in making everyone detest her. The Czar's sister seemed to devote all her waking hours to making mischief. Since she had considerable influence over her brother, and wrote him constantly, it was feared Alexander's proposed visit to England would not be an auspicious one.
Thomas, who had any number of ideas regarding what might be done to
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