Read Online Lord Darlington's Darling by Gayle Buck - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Gayle Buck
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“Pray don’t be afraid of me, Miss Fairchilde. I am accounted a cold fellow by many, but I assure you that I would not deliber ately put you out of countenance.”
“Oh, no! I am certain you would not,” said Abby hurriedly, raising her eyes to meet his unreadable gaze. “It is just that I am so stupidly backward, you see. I color up at the least provocation.”
“I shall take care not to provoke you, then,” said Lord Darlington, a slight smile touching his thin lips. “Are you enjoying the play?”
Abby was grateful to him for offering a safe topic and casually turning aside her attack of discomfort. She was able therefore to converse quite easily with him for several minutes. The time passed swiftly. She was surprised when the door to the box opened and her sister and brother-in-law reentered. “Oh! The cur tain must be about to rise again.”
Lord Darlington rose to his feet. He reached down for her hand, and when she hesitantly gave it to him, he carried it to his lips in elegant salute. His gaze commanding hers, he said quietly, “I have enjoyed our conversation, Miss Fairchilde.”
“And I, my lord,” said Abby shyly, smiling up at him.
Within a few minutes, which were a flurry of re newed introductions to the Crockets and leave-taking, the Darlington party exited to return to their own box. When the door was shut, Mr. Crocker turned to his wife. With a heavy frown he asked, “What was that fellow doing here?”
“Abby met Lady Darlington and her daughter at the milliner’s shop earlier today. I shall explain it all later,” said Mrs. Crocker quickly as the curtain below began rising,
“Lady Darlington and her daughter were all that was gracious,” said Mrs. Fairchilde.
“For myself, I liked that young buck,” commented Mrs. Paddington decisively.
As Abby turned back to the stage, a smile tugged at her lips. She decided that she liked that young buck, too.
Chapter Seven
Lady Darlington and her daughter paid a social visit the following day. Her ladyship apologized for not calling on the Crockers and Miss Fairchilde earlier. Mrs. Crocker graciously received them. Several minutes passed in pleasant exchange, during which Lady Darlington showed herself very friendly toward Abby.
August came into the sitting room in order to in form his sisters of his intention to join friends over dinner, and he stayed several minutes to converse gracefully with Lady Darlington and her daughter. It was seen by his admiring glance in Lady Bethany’s direction that he was quite taken with her. He parted reluc tantly, but with the promise that he would strengthen his acquaintance with the Darlingtons.
“Such a delightful, lively young man,” remarked Lady Darlington with approval.
“Yes, August manages to keep us all on our toes,” said Mrs. Crocker, smiling.
“I liked him excessively,” said Lady Bethany with a giggle.
Abby beamed at her, pleased that her newly ac quired friend liked her sibling. “He is quite one of my favorite persons, even if he is my brother.”
Before taking her leave, Lady Darlington issued an invitation for the Crockers and dear Miss Fairchilde and her brother to attend a soiree that she was holding for Lady Bethany. “And of course, Mrs. Fairchilde and Mrs. Paddington.”
Mrs. Crocker cast a swift glance at her sister’s eager expression and civilly accepted. “I do not know whether my mother or aunt will accompany us. My mother is invalidish and she and my aunt generally prefer to remain at home.”
“Then if that is so, they will be missed,” said Lady Darlington with a smile.
When the Darlingtons had left, Mrs. Crocker said thoughtfully, “Well, I must say you have made quite a favorable impression on Lady Darlington and her daughter, Abby.”
“I certainly don’t know why,” said Abby. She looked inquiringly at her sister. “They both seem ex tremely affable and well-bred, so there cannot be the least objection, can there?”
“No, of course not.
“Oh, no! I am certain you would not,” said Abby hurriedly, raising her eyes to meet his unreadable gaze. “It is just that I am so stupidly backward, you see. I color up at the least provocation.”
“I shall take care not to provoke you, then,” said Lord Darlington, a slight smile touching his thin lips. “Are you enjoying the play?”
Abby was grateful to him for offering a safe topic and casually turning aside her attack of discomfort. She was able therefore to converse quite easily with him for several minutes. The time passed swiftly. She was surprised when the door to the box opened and her sister and brother-in-law reentered. “Oh! The cur tain must be about to rise again.”
Lord Darlington rose to his feet. He reached down for her hand, and when she hesitantly gave it to him, he carried it to his lips in elegant salute. His gaze commanding hers, he said quietly, “I have enjoyed our conversation, Miss Fairchilde.”
“And I, my lord,” said Abby shyly, smiling up at him.
Within a few minutes, which were a flurry of re newed introductions to the Crockets and leave-taking, the Darlington party exited to return to their own box. When the door was shut, Mr. Crocker turned to his wife. With a heavy frown he asked, “What was that fellow doing here?”
“Abby met Lady Darlington and her daughter at the milliner’s shop earlier today. I shall explain it all later,” said Mrs. Crocker quickly as the curtain below began rising,
“Lady Darlington and her daughter were all that was gracious,” said Mrs. Fairchilde.
“For myself, I liked that young buck,” commented Mrs. Paddington decisively.
As Abby turned back to the stage, a smile tugged at her lips. She decided that she liked that young buck, too.
Chapter Seven
Lady Darlington and her daughter paid a social visit the following day. Her ladyship apologized for not calling on the Crockers and Miss Fairchilde earlier. Mrs. Crocker graciously received them. Several minutes passed in pleasant exchange, during which Lady Darlington showed herself very friendly toward Abby.
August came into the sitting room in order to in form his sisters of his intention to join friends over dinner, and he stayed several minutes to converse gracefully with Lady Darlington and her daughter. It was seen by his admiring glance in Lady Bethany’s direction that he was quite taken with her. He parted reluc tantly, but with the promise that he would strengthen his acquaintance with the Darlingtons.
“Such a delightful, lively young man,” remarked Lady Darlington with approval.
“Yes, August manages to keep us all on our toes,” said Mrs. Crocker, smiling.
“I liked him excessively,” said Lady Bethany with a giggle.
Abby beamed at her, pleased that her newly ac quired friend liked her sibling. “He is quite one of my favorite persons, even if he is my brother.”
Before taking her leave, Lady Darlington issued an invitation for the Crockers and dear Miss Fairchilde and her brother to attend a soiree that she was holding for Lady Bethany. “And of course, Mrs. Fairchilde and Mrs. Paddington.”
Mrs. Crocker cast a swift glance at her sister’s eager expression and civilly accepted. “I do not know whether my mother or aunt will accompany us. My mother is invalidish and she and my aunt generally prefer to remain at home.”
“Then if that is so, they will be missed,” said Lady Darlington with a smile.
When the Darlingtons had left, Mrs. Crocker said thoughtfully, “Well, I must say you have made quite a favorable impression on Lady Darlington and her daughter, Abby.”
“I certainly don’t know why,” said Abby. She looked inquiringly at her sister. “They both seem ex tremely affable and well-bred, so there cannot be the least objection, can there?”
“No, of course not.
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