Read Online Season for Scandal by Theresa Romain - Free Book Online Page B

that. Until Kirkpatrick found her, she would observe and learn. A likely looking subject meandered by: a laughing noblewoman in ivory silk and lace in conversation with a knot of friends. As Jane watched, she adjusted the angle of her head; the beau monde had beautiful posture, their chins always high. And the smiles—they hardly showed any teeth, did they? Smiles were mysterious; laughter was subdued.
    And the curtsy; she realized now, there were infinite degrees of obeisance. She must bend her knees more—like so.
    “Lady Kirkpatrick, you honor me.”
    Jane continued her observations for two full seconds before she recalled that she was Lady Kirkpatrick. And that she had just unintentionally greeted someone.
    She turned and saw that man from India—Mr. Bellamy—who had been at her wedding. He had been speaking with one of Lord and Lady Alleyneham’s daughters, and they were both standing near the refreshment table.
    Jane’s stomach gave a curious growl, and she realized she was as eager for lobster patties as she was for a test of her newly observed behaviors.
    “Lady Audrina.” With careful calculation, Jane made her curtsy. Her host’s daughter did not appear shocked by the greeting; therefore Jane presumed she had performed it correctly this time. Or perhaps nothing shocked the youngest of the earl and countess’s five unmarried daughters. Lady Audrina Bradleigh was dark and lively, a Mediterranean beauty in a season dominated by blond sylphs.
    “Lady Kirkpatrick, how do you do this evening?” Bellamy looked elegant but old-fashioned. His silver-shot dark hair was tied back in a queue, and his tailcoat was accompanied by knee breeches. Above a snowy fall of lace at his throat, his deeply tanned face broke into a smile so bright that it was impossible not to reflect the expression.
    “Fine, thank you, Mr. Bellamy.” She extended her hand; instead of shaking it, he made a jostling bow over it. “I remember your exciting tales of travel from my wedding day.”
    “Indeed, indeed. And where is your noble husband? Surely he accompanied you. I hoped to see him again.”
    “Yes, he’s here. Probably delighting the hearts of half the women in the ballroom.” Jane used one of her new fan tricks to flutter her polite disinterest, as though an absent flirt of a husband must be perfectly acceptable to any newly wed bride.
    “Fortunate women, and fortunate man.” Bellamy bowed again. “Not that I mean to imply he is dallying with them. No doubt he has important things on his mind.”
    “No doubt.” Jane’s smile didn’t even waver, though the innocent words felt barbed.
    Lady Audrina laughed. “Kirkpatrick is rather dashing. But so is Mr. Bellamy. He tells the most excellent stories. Won’t you tell us more about the people you met in India?”
    “I shouldn’t.” He waved off the request. “Most of my tales aren’t suitable for young women.”
    Jane protested. “That sounds like—”
    “—the best sort of tale,” Lady Audrina finished. The two women grinned at one another.
    Bellamy raised placating hands. “I can see I’m in the company of true travelers.”
    “Oh, I’ve never traveled anywhere.” Jane did another sort of fluttery thing with her fan.
    “No matter, my lady. Traveling is a longing of the soul, not merely an activity of the body.”
    “A longing of the soul?” Lady Audrina’s brow puckered. “I had thought of it as an entertainment. A pastime.”
    “It can be all those things,” Jane replied. “Just thinking of other parts of the world—doesn’t it make this corner seem larger?”
    “My feelings exactly,” Bellamy said. “Everyone hungers for novelty. Some find it in fashion or society; some by roaming the world.”
    Jane felt a moment of kinship with this sun-worn merchant. They were both outsiders to the polite world, weren’t they? Living within its ranks like travelers in a foreign country; observing its customs; following its rules.
    Sometimes causing