Read Online Lord Dearborn's Destiny by Brenda Hiatt - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Brenda Hiatt
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will be delighted, my lord," Mrs. Winston-Fitts said for her. "We shall go on well enough till her return, I doubt not."
Lord Dearborn's groom alighted and assisted Rosalind into the seat beside the Earl. She cast one fearful glance back towards her mother and cousin before he whipped up his pair and set off at a sedate trot, threading his way between the other conveyances on the choked carriage path.
"I see that Miss Rosalind already has the elusive Lord Dearborn in her pocket," remarked Lady Mountheath waspishly as the phaeton moved away. "You are to be congratulated." Her daughters, Miss Lucy and Miss Fanny, were in their second and third Seasons respectively, and neither had yet had the luxury of refusing a single offer.
"Hardly in her pocket, my lady," replied Mrs. Winston-Fitts complacently, "but he does seem most attentive, I must admit. Perhaps you noticed last night at Lady Sefton's that he took her in to supper?"
That Lady Mountheath had was evident by the tightening of her smile. "Such a quiet, unassuming girl," she said sourly. "I have never encouraged such missishness in my own daughters, but I must say that it seems to become yours."
Mrs. Winston-Fitts was stricken momentarily speechless by this attack, but Ellie was not similarly affected. "Yes, I have noticed that Miss Fanny and Miss Lucy have no trouble expressing their opinions on any subject —or person," she said sweetly. "It is a pity that all gentlemen do not recognize the undoubted charm of such openness."
Lady Mountheath raised her lorgnette to examine this unexpected adversary. "Indeed, Miss O'Day," she said. "I have always abhorred anything akin to artifice in a young lady, to include false modesty —and cynicism."
Mrs. Millworth broke in with an animated description of some of the newest purchases for Carlton House in an obvious effort to avert any further unpleasantness, but the tension between Lady Mountheath and Miss O'Day did not noticeably abate. A few minutes later, Lord Dearborn and Rosalind completed their circuit and pulled to a halt alongside the group.
As Rosalind was handed down, Mrs. Millworth suggested that she and her original companions walk on. Lady Mountheath, however, apparently felt that her girls had been insulted and that some recompense was due them.
"I trust you had a scintillating discourse with your companion, my lord?" she asked Lord Dearborn archly. "Truly, I cannot think of another young lady with quite Miss Winston-Fitts's talent for conversation. Her wit is legendary."
Before the startled Earl could reply, Ellie said wickedly, "That is doubtless because she only speaks when she has something worthwhile to say, my lady, unlike some I could name. It is the quality, rather than the quantity, of words spoken that denotes true wit."
"Well said, Miss O'Day, and I heartily agree," said Lord Dearborn before Lady Mountheath could reply. "Too many people confuse excess verbiage with intelligence, but any goose can make noise."
Lady Mountheath opened and closed her mouth several times before squawking in a strangled voice that sounded remarkably goose-like, "I shall bid you good-day then, my lord. Come, girls." Turning, she herded her daughters ahead of her, strengthening the barnyard image.
"I never did care much for that woman," remarked Lord Dearborn conversationally once she was out of earshot.
"She has the most vicious tongue I have ever heard," said Ellie heatedly. "I pray you will not regard anything she said, Rosalind."
Rosalind, who had stood as though frozen at her mother's side throughout the exchange, murmured, "Thank you, Ellie. I—I can't understand why she should dislike me so."
"It is perfectly obvious that she is motivated by jealousy," said Ellie roundly. "I can well see why, with those two hatchet-faced daughters of hers."
"Ellie!" exclaimed Rosalind, aghast, though Lord Dearborn seemed hard pressed to stifle a chuckle.
"Very well, I suppose I should not have said that," admitted Ellie, "but
Lord Dearborn's groom alighted and assisted Rosalind into the seat beside the Earl. She cast one fearful glance back towards her mother and cousin before he whipped up his pair and set off at a sedate trot, threading his way between the other conveyances on the choked carriage path.
"I see that Miss Rosalind already has the elusive Lord Dearborn in her pocket," remarked Lady Mountheath waspishly as the phaeton moved away. "You are to be congratulated." Her daughters, Miss Lucy and Miss Fanny, were in their second and third Seasons respectively, and neither had yet had the luxury of refusing a single offer.
"Hardly in her pocket, my lady," replied Mrs. Winston-Fitts complacently, "but he does seem most attentive, I must admit. Perhaps you noticed last night at Lady Sefton's that he took her in to supper?"
That Lady Mountheath had was evident by the tightening of her smile. "Such a quiet, unassuming girl," she said sourly. "I have never encouraged such missishness in my own daughters, but I must say that it seems to become yours."
Mrs. Winston-Fitts was stricken momentarily speechless by this attack, but Ellie was not similarly affected. "Yes, I have noticed that Miss Fanny and Miss Lucy have no trouble expressing their opinions on any subject —or person," she said sweetly. "It is a pity that all gentlemen do not recognize the undoubted charm of such openness."
Lady Mountheath raised her lorgnette to examine this unexpected adversary. "Indeed, Miss O'Day," she said. "I have always abhorred anything akin to artifice in a young lady, to include false modesty —and cynicism."
Mrs. Millworth broke in with an animated description of some of the newest purchases for Carlton House in an obvious effort to avert any further unpleasantness, but the tension between Lady Mountheath and Miss O'Day did not noticeably abate. A few minutes later, Lord Dearborn and Rosalind completed their circuit and pulled to a halt alongside the group.
As Rosalind was handed down, Mrs. Millworth suggested that she and her original companions walk on. Lady Mountheath, however, apparently felt that her girls had been insulted and that some recompense was due them.
"I trust you had a scintillating discourse with your companion, my lord?" she asked Lord Dearborn archly. "Truly, I cannot think of another young lady with quite Miss Winston-Fitts's talent for conversation. Her wit is legendary."
Before the startled Earl could reply, Ellie said wickedly, "That is doubtless because she only speaks when she has something worthwhile to say, my lady, unlike some I could name. It is the quality, rather than the quantity, of words spoken that denotes true wit."
"Well said, Miss O'Day, and I heartily agree," said Lord Dearborn before Lady Mountheath could reply. "Too many people confuse excess verbiage with intelligence, but any goose can make noise."
Lady Mountheath opened and closed her mouth several times before squawking in a strangled voice that sounded remarkably goose-like, "I shall bid you good-day then, my lord. Come, girls." Turning, she herded her daughters ahead of her, strengthening the barnyard image.
"I never did care much for that woman," remarked Lord Dearborn conversationally once she was out of earshot.
"She has the most vicious tongue I have ever heard," said Ellie heatedly. "I pray you will not regard anything she said, Rosalind."
Rosalind, who had stood as though frozen at her mother's side throughout the exchange, murmured, "Thank you, Ellie. I—I can't understand why she should dislike me so."
"It is perfectly obvious that she is motivated by jealousy," said Ellie roundly. "I can well see why, with those two hatchet-faced daughters of hers."
"Ellie!" exclaimed Rosalind, aghast, though Lord Dearborn seemed hard pressed to stifle a chuckle.
"Very well, I suppose I should not have said that," admitted Ellie, "but
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