Read Online Poetic Justice by Alicia Rasley - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Alicia Rasley
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dress. "I'd choose him over a prince any day."
Devlyn, though admirably well-shouldered, was taken, and thus of no use to Jessica. She gave into her accustomed candor, for Ada already knew everything about Uncle Emory and his obstinacy. "What about the gentlemen here? Surely some of them are worth considering." A stir at the entrance caught her attention, for as the butler introduced the Earl of Tressilian, all conversation ceased. He was a dark, brooding man in full Navy splendor, and as he walked to the princess and lifted her hand to his lips with seductive grace, Devlyn started purposefully across the ballroom.
"Him, for example."
Ada was made of stronger stuff, though. "Your uncle wouldn't even need to get poison pen letters to disapprove of the earl! A grieving widower with difficult children and a drinking problem?"
"He's out of mourning, isn't he?" Jessica said a bit sullenly. "And he doesn't look foxed."
"Of course not. They say he only drinks alone, late at night." Ada laughed out loud as Devlyn reached his wife and without much ado led her away from the Navy man onto the dance floor. "Ooh, do you think they will duel? That would certainly cap the princess's party, her husband and her most illustrious guest meeting at dawn!"
"I don't think so, Ada. Lord Devlyn hardly seems the sort to shoot a man who merely smiles, however heartbreakingly." On second thought, Jessica decided, Tressilian wasn't the sort of man to make a comfortable husband. "Damien," she added with a chuckle, "goes mad with envy whenever he sees that one. A real Byronic hero, right down to the brooding mouth. But you are right, Tressilian is not the sort to please Uncle Emory. What about that one there?"
"But what about Damien?" Ada asked with a significant look. "You're supposed to be madly in love with him."
Irritated, Jessica kept her gaze roaming over the brightly lit ballroom. "I never said I was madly in love with him. I said I thought, since he's run free in our house since we were children, that Uncle Emory might approve of him. I was wrong." Bitterness edged her voice. "Damien didn't even attempt to change his mind. Arguing, you see, is beneath him."
Ada sighed gustily in sympathy. "Not such a devoted swain after all. You would think, from his poetry, that he would slay dragons for you."
"He won't even put down his pen for me. I, of course, am expected to give up my collection for him." Jessica almost let the oppression overtake her again. Then she grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing footman and sternly reminded herself that she was at a wonderful party, surrounded by acres of silk and the light from a thousand candles, and that even if she couldn't marry any of these men, she might at least dance with them. "Lovely champagne, this. Ada, have a glass with me."
Absently, Ada shook her head. "Champagne makes me giggle. And since I'm already married, giggling does me no good!" She craned her neck to see past a knot of debutantes. "Perhaps that nice Lord Mumblethorpe will do. Your uncle can't call him a rake like Tressilian, for he isn't the least in the petticoat line. I think he'd make a most comfortable husband."
"I am certain he would, for the sort of girl who wouldn't mind being known as Lady Mumblethorpe." The champagne was having an effect; she could hardly get the name out. "As for me, I think I would give that prospect a pass, even did he look like Tressilian."
"You're so cruel, Jessie! Lady Anything-at-all would suit most girls. Hmmm. Is that a bishop coming out of the cardroom? He's young, isn't he, for a bishop. And not so badlooking, rather genial, in fact."
"I expect he won a good deal at picquet." Jessica let the bishop stroll past before she pulled Ada closer and whispered, "Do you think Uncle would want a bishop in the family? He'd have to watch his language!"
Ada laughed and added significantly, "And what's more, Jessie, you'd have to watch yours! And you wouldn't. I know you, you'd forget yourself and
Devlyn, though admirably well-shouldered, was taken, and thus of no use to Jessica. She gave into her accustomed candor, for Ada already knew everything about Uncle Emory and his obstinacy. "What about the gentlemen here? Surely some of them are worth considering." A stir at the entrance caught her attention, for as the butler introduced the Earl of Tressilian, all conversation ceased. He was a dark, brooding man in full Navy splendor, and as he walked to the princess and lifted her hand to his lips with seductive grace, Devlyn started purposefully across the ballroom.
"Him, for example."
Ada was made of stronger stuff, though. "Your uncle wouldn't even need to get poison pen letters to disapprove of the earl! A grieving widower with difficult children and a drinking problem?"
"He's out of mourning, isn't he?" Jessica said a bit sullenly. "And he doesn't look foxed."
"Of course not. They say he only drinks alone, late at night." Ada laughed out loud as Devlyn reached his wife and without much ado led her away from the Navy man onto the dance floor. "Ooh, do you think they will duel? That would certainly cap the princess's party, her husband and her most illustrious guest meeting at dawn!"
"I don't think so, Ada. Lord Devlyn hardly seems the sort to shoot a man who merely smiles, however heartbreakingly." On second thought, Jessica decided, Tressilian wasn't the sort of man to make a comfortable husband. "Damien," she added with a chuckle, "goes mad with envy whenever he sees that one. A real Byronic hero, right down to the brooding mouth. But you are right, Tressilian is not the sort to please Uncle Emory. What about that one there?"
"But what about Damien?" Ada asked with a significant look. "You're supposed to be madly in love with him."
Irritated, Jessica kept her gaze roaming over the brightly lit ballroom. "I never said I was madly in love with him. I said I thought, since he's run free in our house since we were children, that Uncle Emory might approve of him. I was wrong." Bitterness edged her voice. "Damien didn't even attempt to change his mind. Arguing, you see, is beneath him."
Ada sighed gustily in sympathy. "Not such a devoted swain after all. You would think, from his poetry, that he would slay dragons for you."
"He won't even put down his pen for me. I, of course, am expected to give up my collection for him." Jessica almost let the oppression overtake her again. Then she grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing footman and sternly reminded herself that she was at a wonderful party, surrounded by acres of silk and the light from a thousand candles, and that even if she couldn't marry any of these men, she might at least dance with them. "Lovely champagne, this. Ada, have a glass with me."
Absently, Ada shook her head. "Champagne makes me giggle. And since I'm already married, giggling does me no good!" She craned her neck to see past a knot of debutantes. "Perhaps that nice Lord Mumblethorpe will do. Your uncle can't call him a rake like Tressilian, for he isn't the least in the petticoat line. I think he'd make a most comfortable husband."
"I am certain he would, for the sort of girl who wouldn't mind being known as Lady Mumblethorpe." The champagne was having an effect; she could hardly get the name out. "As for me, I think I would give that prospect a pass, even did he look like Tressilian."
"You're so cruel, Jessie! Lady Anything-at-all would suit most girls. Hmmm. Is that a bishop coming out of the cardroom? He's young, isn't he, for a bishop. And not so badlooking, rather genial, in fact."
"I expect he won a good deal at picquet." Jessica let the bishop stroll past before she pulled Ada closer and whispered, "Do you think Uncle would want a bishop in the family? He'd have to watch his language!"
Ada laughed and added significantly, "And what's more, Jessie, you'd have to watch yours! And you wouldn't. I know you, you'd forget yourself and
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