Read Online The Aim of a Lady by Laura Matthews - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Laura Matthews
Tags: Regency Romance
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our native oddities, Lord Alma."
Alma cursed himself for being a blatherskite. With a slight flush he remarked, “I happened to pick up a book in the library by mistake.”
“Heavy going, I should imagine,” she retorted with a grin. “I wonder that you bothered.”
“I was bored,” he said without thinking.
“I have invited Frank Edwards to visit this afternoon. He is the finest fencer in the area, besides George, and I had hoped you might enjoy having a bit of sport.”
He turned to her guiltily. “I have not been a pleasant guest, Miss Savile, and I hope you will forgive me. I cannot understand why such a little inconvenience should so discompose me. I am used to being very active, you know, but I would not have you rack your brains for ways to amuse me.”
“It is a challenge.” She laughed as she gathered some brilliantly yellow daffodils into the basket she carried. Her eyes were impish as she told him mysteriously, “I think I shall have a surprise ready for you tomorrow.”
He regarded her dubiously. “What is it?”
“You shall have to wait and see. I am not altogether sure it will work out,” she mused. In an effort to turn the conversation she treated him to some escapades of George’s youth which soon had him laughing. They returned to the Park in charity with one another, but he did not join her for luncheon.
When Frank Edwards arrived Mrs. Lewis and Diana had settled in the small parlor. He bore with him the equipment he needed for fencing, since Diana had requested him to do so, but he was more intent on flattering her than on participating in the sport with Alma, who joined them shortly.
Mrs. Lewis regarded Edwards benignly, as did all of the old women of the neighborhood, since he adopted an exaggerated gallantry which was pleasing to them. Alma took an immediate dislike to him.
“I have had George’s equipment set out for you, Lord Alma. I thought you might use the Long Gallery.” Diana made no move to accompany them when they turned to depart.
“You don’t come with us, Diana?” Frank asked quizzingly.
“I am sure you will do very well without me.”
“Not I,” he declared fervently, his eyes sparkling. “Come with us, do. I dare swear you do not often have the chance to watch someone fence, and I know you are interested.”
Alma was puzzled that his hostess had chosen not to accompany them and added his invitation to observe. When Diana turned to Mrs. Lewis and asked if she would like to see a fencing match, the old woman’s face lit with enthusiasm and eventually all four headed for the Long Gallery.
Frank was an excellent fencer and conceived of this as an opportunity to exhibit one of his skills to Diana. The object of this exercise, however, was more interested in the general interaction between the two, explaining their advances, retreats, thrusts, and parries to Mrs. Lewis, who murmured admiringly the while.
“You see, Frank is beating in fourth, and feinting with a straight thrust, while Lord Alma parries with the fourth and Frank deceives and lunges. Well done.”
Mrs. Lewis had not the faintest idea what all these terms meant, but she was entranced by the spectacle all the same and urged Diana to keep up her commentary. Alma frequently allowed Frank to take the initiative but his defensive tactics were brilliant and Diana longed to fence with him, though she refused to suggest it again herself. If he wished to fence with her, an amateur, he would have to propose it himself. Perhaps he would become bored enough for even that.
The familiar pinched look began to appear on Alma’s face after a lengthy exhibition and Diana feared he would not admit his fatigue. She watched for another ten minutes, becoming impatient with Frank for not realizing that his opponent was spent. Unobserved she rang and when a footman arrived in answer to the summons, she sent him off directly to have tea served in the main parlor and announced to the two that their bout must be
Alma cursed himself for being a blatherskite. With a slight flush he remarked, “I happened to pick up a book in the library by mistake.”
“Heavy going, I should imagine,” she retorted with a grin. “I wonder that you bothered.”
“I was bored,” he said without thinking.
“I have invited Frank Edwards to visit this afternoon. He is the finest fencer in the area, besides George, and I had hoped you might enjoy having a bit of sport.”
He turned to her guiltily. “I have not been a pleasant guest, Miss Savile, and I hope you will forgive me. I cannot understand why such a little inconvenience should so discompose me. I am used to being very active, you know, but I would not have you rack your brains for ways to amuse me.”
“It is a challenge.” She laughed as she gathered some brilliantly yellow daffodils into the basket she carried. Her eyes were impish as she told him mysteriously, “I think I shall have a surprise ready for you tomorrow.”
He regarded her dubiously. “What is it?”
“You shall have to wait and see. I am not altogether sure it will work out,” she mused. In an effort to turn the conversation she treated him to some escapades of George’s youth which soon had him laughing. They returned to the Park in charity with one another, but he did not join her for luncheon.
When Frank Edwards arrived Mrs. Lewis and Diana had settled in the small parlor. He bore with him the equipment he needed for fencing, since Diana had requested him to do so, but he was more intent on flattering her than on participating in the sport with Alma, who joined them shortly.
Mrs. Lewis regarded Edwards benignly, as did all of the old women of the neighborhood, since he adopted an exaggerated gallantry which was pleasing to them. Alma took an immediate dislike to him.
“I have had George’s equipment set out for you, Lord Alma. I thought you might use the Long Gallery.” Diana made no move to accompany them when they turned to depart.
“You don’t come with us, Diana?” Frank asked quizzingly.
“I am sure you will do very well without me.”
“Not I,” he declared fervently, his eyes sparkling. “Come with us, do. I dare swear you do not often have the chance to watch someone fence, and I know you are interested.”
Alma was puzzled that his hostess had chosen not to accompany them and added his invitation to observe. When Diana turned to Mrs. Lewis and asked if she would like to see a fencing match, the old woman’s face lit with enthusiasm and eventually all four headed for the Long Gallery.
Frank was an excellent fencer and conceived of this as an opportunity to exhibit one of his skills to Diana. The object of this exercise, however, was more interested in the general interaction between the two, explaining their advances, retreats, thrusts, and parries to Mrs. Lewis, who murmured admiringly the while.
“You see, Frank is beating in fourth, and feinting with a straight thrust, while Lord Alma parries with the fourth and Frank deceives and lunges. Well done.”
Mrs. Lewis had not the faintest idea what all these terms meant, but she was entranced by the spectacle all the same and urged Diana to keep up her commentary. Alma frequently allowed Frank to take the initiative but his defensive tactics were brilliant and Diana longed to fence with him, though she refused to suggest it again herself. If he wished to fence with her, an amateur, he would have to propose it himself. Perhaps he would become bored enough for even that.
The familiar pinched look began to appear on Alma’s face after a lengthy exhibition and Diana feared he would not admit his fatigue. She watched for another ten minutes, becoming impatient with Frank for not realizing that his opponent was spent. Unobserved she rang and when a footman arrived in answer to the summons, she sent him off directly to have tea served in the main parlor and announced to the two that their bout must be