Read Online Magical Masquerade: A Regency Masquerade by Hilary Gilman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Hilary Gilman
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that nature.’
‘Well, now you have me.’ Minette deliberately
thrust aside the thought of Eugénie and what would happen when she returned.
She could no more help being of use to Arabella than she could help breathing. Perhaps,
by the time she herself had to return home, Arabella would have become
betrothed and it would not matter so much, or perhaps she could persuade Eugénie
to continue to take an interest in her young sister-in-law.
She put her arm through Arabella’s and said, ‘Let
us go and show Philip how well you look.’
He was waiting for them in a small salon that led
off the dining room. Like all the rooms in Rochford House, it was handsomely appointed
and full of treasures that the Duke had brought home from his travels. By a
happy accident, it was papered in china-blue and white, providing a charming
background for the two young women. In a glass-fronted cabinet along one wall,
were presented the priceless Chinese porcelain vases and plates the room was
designed to display.
‘Look what Minette has given me!’ cried Arabella as
she entered. She ran up to her brother and stood gazing up at him, her whole
countenance glowing with delight.
To Minette’s dismay, his face hardened as he turned
from his sister to look at her. ‘My betrothal gift to you—?’ He shrugged. ‘You prefer the sapphires, no doubt. It is a trumpery necklace,
after all. I had thought the fact that it belonged to your—sainted—queen might
have made it more acceptable to you.’
Arabella’s face had fallen ludicrously. ‘Oh, please
don’t be angry with Minette. It was my fault. She meant just to lend it to me,
but I loved it so much—’
‘I see.’ He smiled down at his sister. ‘It looks
very well on you, Bella, but if you do not object, I think I will buy you a
necklace of your own. Until then, you may certainly borrow this one.’
Arabella was satisfied and danced across the room
to preen herself in front of a mirror that hung above
the fireplace. Rochford regarded Minette steadily, a frown drawing his black
brows close together. ‘You are the most incalculable creature. When I gave you
that necklace, you were, for the first time, almost affectionate towards me. In
fact, you kissed my cheek—my good cheek. And now you give it away to my schoolgirl
sister as though it meant nothing.’
Minette realised that she had hurt him bitterly,
and her instinct to heal his hurt was stronger than her discretion. She crossed
the few steps that separated them and, placing one hand against his chest,
stood on tiptoe to fleetingly touch his scarred face with the tips of her
fingers. ‘This is your good cheek, I think,’ she said softly. ‘Your scars are
badges of honour, of courage, like a soldier’s.’
His lean cheek grew pale, and his lips tightened. ‘What
game are you playing now?’ he demanded in a harsh voice.
She drew back, shocked by his reaction. ‘No game, I
promise.’
‘Yet only a few weeks ago, the very sight of my
face sickened you. Oh, do not bother to deny it. I saw it clear enough when you
turned from me.’
She bit back the hot words that rose to her lips,
aghast at the fury she felt, not at him but at Eugénie for her unthinking
cruelty. Perhaps her silence served her well as, after a moment, he said in a milder
voice. ‘Forgive me. I should be thankful, I suppose, that you have, apparently,
overcome your revulsion.’
She looked up then, and a little smile trembled on
her lips. He saw it and suddenly held out a hand to her. ‘Minette?’
But then Arabella bounced across the room to demand
that Minette tie her ribbons more becomingly, the butler entered to announce
dinner, and the moment was lost.
Minette, who had lived all her life in a confined stone
house crammed with the decaying belongings with which her grandmother had fled
France, had still not become accustomed to the beauty of her new surroundings.
The dining room in which she now found herself was papered in deep burgundy
red. The
‘Well, now you have me.’ Minette deliberately
thrust aside the thought of Eugénie and what would happen when she returned.
She could no more help being of use to Arabella than she could help breathing. Perhaps,
by the time she herself had to return home, Arabella would have become
betrothed and it would not matter so much, or perhaps she could persuade Eugénie
to continue to take an interest in her young sister-in-law.
She put her arm through Arabella’s and said, ‘Let
us go and show Philip how well you look.’
He was waiting for them in a small salon that led
off the dining room. Like all the rooms in Rochford House, it was handsomely appointed
and full of treasures that the Duke had brought home from his travels. By a
happy accident, it was papered in china-blue and white, providing a charming
background for the two young women. In a glass-fronted cabinet along one wall,
were presented the priceless Chinese porcelain vases and plates the room was
designed to display.
‘Look what Minette has given me!’ cried Arabella as
she entered. She ran up to her brother and stood gazing up at him, her whole
countenance glowing with delight.
To Minette’s dismay, his face hardened as he turned
from his sister to look at her. ‘My betrothal gift to you—?’ He shrugged. ‘You prefer the sapphires, no doubt. It is a trumpery necklace,
after all. I had thought the fact that it belonged to your—sainted—queen might
have made it more acceptable to you.’
Arabella’s face had fallen ludicrously. ‘Oh, please
don’t be angry with Minette. It was my fault. She meant just to lend it to me,
but I loved it so much—’
‘I see.’ He smiled down at his sister. ‘It looks
very well on you, Bella, but if you do not object, I think I will buy you a
necklace of your own. Until then, you may certainly borrow this one.’
Arabella was satisfied and danced across the room
to preen herself in front of a mirror that hung above
the fireplace. Rochford regarded Minette steadily, a frown drawing his black
brows close together. ‘You are the most incalculable creature. When I gave you
that necklace, you were, for the first time, almost affectionate towards me. In
fact, you kissed my cheek—my good cheek. And now you give it away to my schoolgirl
sister as though it meant nothing.’
Minette realised that she had hurt him bitterly,
and her instinct to heal his hurt was stronger than her discretion. She crossed
the few steps that separated them and, placing one hand against his chest,
stood on tiptoe to fleetingly touch his scarred face with the tips of her
fingers. ‘This is your good cheek, I think,’ she said softly. ‘Your scars are
badges of honour, of courage, like a soldier’s.’
His lean cheek grew pale, and his lips tightened. ‘What
game are you playing now?’ he demanded in a harsh voice.
She drew back, shocked by his reaction. ‘No game, I
promise.’
‘Yet only a few weeks ago, the very sight of my
face sickened you. Oh, do not bother to deny it. I saw it clear enough when you
turned from me.’
She bit back the hot words that rose to her lips,
aghast at the fury she felt, not at him but at Eugénie for her unthinking
cruelty. Perhaps her silence served her well as, after a moment, he said in a milder
voice. ‘Forgive me. I should be thankful, I suppose, that you have, apparently,
overcome your revulsion.’
She looked up then, and a little smile trembled on
her lips. He saw it and suddenly held out a hand to her. ‘Minette?’
But then Arabella bounced across the room to demand
that Minette tie her ribbons more becomingly, the butler entered to announce
dinner, and the moment was lost.
Minette, who had lived all her life in a confined stone
house crammed with the decaying belongings with which her grandmother had fled
France, had still not become accustomed to the beauty of her new surroundings.
The dining room in which she now found herself was papered in deep burgundy
red. The
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