Read Online Rhyme and Reason by Jo Ann Ferguson - Free Book Online
Authors: Jo Ann Ferguson
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lady opaque enough to linger.
“Will you be all right?” asked Lord Wentworth as Mr. Simpkins went back to oversee the removal of his carriage.
“Yes, thank you.” She drew the door closed. “I know Lady Fanning appreciates your assistance, my lord.”
“And do you?”
She had been about to slap the side of the carriage to give Simon the signal to start. As lief, with her hand half raised, she asked, “Pardon me?”
“I merely wished to be certain you are fine as well.” He reached into the carriage and put his hand on her wrist. With a smile, he said, “You seem calm, for your heartbeat is not racing.”
“I am fine, thank you.” She pulled her arm away. Again he was plying her with his balms. At his touch, her pulse had jumped like grease on a hot stove.
“I am glad we concur again.” As he motioned to her coachee, he tipped his hat toward her. “I trust you will have a much more pleasant afternoon, ladies.”
As soon as the carriage was underway, Valeria leaned forward, her eyes wide. “When did you meet Lord Wentworth?” Color returned to her cheeks. “Do tell me everything , Emily.”
“There is not everything to tell. He is Papa’s friend.”
“And yours, too.” Leaning back against the seat, she wafted her hand in front of her face. “Or he would like to be. Be careful, Emily. He is a dangerous man.”
“Dangerous?”
“He has been the cause of more heart palpitations within the breasts of young women and their mothers than any one man has a right to be.”
Emily chuckled. “He has no interest in calling on me.”
“No?” Valeria patted her hand. “Listen to someone more experienced and wiser than you in the ways of men. A rogue does not look at a woman as Demon Wentworth looks at you unless he has something very definite in mind.” She raised her chin. “And you can be certain it is not an honorable offer of marriage.”
“I do not want to marry him!”
“This is all for the good.” Her smile returned. “Now tell me, Emily, what errands brought you to Old Bond Street.”
Emily relaxed. Chatting with Valeria was sure to halt her thoughts about the disturbing viscount and her curiosity about who would be the recipient of her book he had bought.
Valeria’s house, where she had lived with her late husband, was as gloriously adorned as the lady herself. Lord Fanning had been rich as a nabob, and Valeria had wasted little time spending his money.
Sitting in a sunny room, Emily admired the freshly painted friezes. Once her father’s house had been as magnificent, but now she found it difficult to pay for maintenance. London fogs and smoke had little sympathy for paint and paper.
“I do hope your sister can convince Graham to pay more attention to her tonight at the rout.” Valeria smiled as she leaned back on a divan. “I am surprised Miriam has failed to convince him of her interest. After all, she is the pattern-card of loveliness.”
Emily shrugged and stirred her tea. “Who is to say why Mr. Simpkins ignores her? I assume she shall meet someone else who will intrigue her heart.”
“And what of you, dear Emily? Now that Mr. Colley is following you about like a love-smitten puppy, there is talk that you might be making an announcement soon.”
“Quell the talk, if you can. My sole interest in the Season is finding a good husband for Miriam.”
“And none for yourself?” Valeria gestured broadly. “My dear Albert was as generous before his untimely death as his estate has been since. You should find yourself a man who dotes upon you and gives you your heart’s desire. How lovely you would look in the gown I saw in Madame’s this morning! All ruffles and lace that you, slight thing that you are, can wear better than someone with my unfortunate figure.”
Emily was accustomed to Valeria’s need to be endlessly complimented on her appearance and taste. She spoke the reassuring words without thinking.
Valeria lifted a book from under the rosewood table
“Will you be all right?” asked Lord Wentworth as Mr. Simpkins went back to oversee the removal of his carriage.
“Yes, thank you.” She drew the door closed. “I know Lady Fanning appreciates your assistance, my lord.”
“And do you?”
She had been about to slap the side of the carriage to give Simon the signal to start. As lief, with her hand half raised, she asked, “Pardon me?”
“I merely wished to be certain you are fine as well.” He reached into the carriage and put his hand on her wrist. With a smile, he said, “You seem calm, for your heartbeat is not racing.”
“I am fine, thank you.” She pulled her arm away. Again he was plying her with his balms. At his touch, her pulse had jumped like grease on a hot stove.
“I am glad we concur again.” As he motioned to her coachee, he tipped his hat toward her. “I trust you will have a much more pleasant afternoon, ladies.”
As soon as the carriage was underway, Valeria leaned forward, her eyes wide. “When did you meet Lord Wentworth?” Color returned to her cheeks. “Do tell me everything , Emily.”
“There is not everything to tell. He is Papa’s friend.”
“And yours, too.” Leaning back against the seat, she wafted her hand in front of her face. “Or he would like to be. Be careful, Emily. He is a dangerous man.”
“Dangerous?”
“He has been the cause of more heart palpitations within the breasts of young women and their mothers than any one man has a right to be.”
Emily chuckled. “He has no interest in calling on me.”
“No?” Valeria patted her hand. “Listen to someone more experienced and wiser than you in the ways of men. A rogue does not look at a woman as Demon Wentworth looks at you unless he has something very definite in mind.” She raised her chin. “And you can be certain it is not an honorable offer of marriage.”
“I do not want to marry him!”
“This is all for the good.” Her smile returned. “Now tell me, Emily, what errands brought you to Old Bond Street.”
Emily relaxed. Chatting with Valeria was sure to halt her thoughts about the disturbing viscount and her curiosity about who would be the recipient of her book he had bought.
Valeria’s house, where she had lived with her late husband, was as gloriously adorned as the lady herself. Lord Fanning had been rich as a nabob, and Valeria had wasted little time spending his money.
Sitting in a sunny room, Emily admired the freshly painted friezes. Once her father’s house had been as magnificent, but now she found it difficult to pay for maintenance. London fogs and smoke had little sympathy for paint and paper.
“I do hope your sister can convince Graham to pay more attention to her tonight at the rout.” Valeria smiled as she leaned back on a divan. “I am surprised Miriam has failed to convince him of her interest. After all, she is the pattern-card of loveliness.”
Emily shrugged and stirred her tea. “Who is to say why Mr. Simpkins ignores her? I assume she shall meet someone else who will intrigue her heart.”
“And what of you, dear Emily? Now that Mr. Colley is following you about like a love-smitten puppy, there is talk that you might be making an announcement soon.”
“Quell the talk, if you can. My sole interest in the Season is finding a good husband for Miriam.”
“And none for yourself?” Valeria gestured broadly. “My dear Albert was as generous before his untimely death as his estate has been since. You should find yourself a man who dotes upon you and gives you your heart’s desire. How lovely you would look in the gown I saw in Madame’s this morning! All ruffles and lace that you, slight thing that you are, can wear better than someone with my unfortunate figure.”
Emily was accustomed to Valeria’s need to be endlessly complimented on her appearance and taste. She spoke the reassuring words without thinking.
Valeria lifted a book from under the rosewood table
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