Read Online The Dashing Miss Fairchild by Emily Hendrickson - Free Book Online
Authors: Emily Hendrickson
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turning to him. Others did such, and no one remarked. Surely it was permissible for a lady to offer a comment to the gentleman at her side?
His slow smile, lighting up those unusual eyes, did the strangest things to her heart. “I am so pleased you like it. There is a play to be presented this coming week that I believe you might enjoy. Would you and Miss Godwin join the? Perhaps Lady Kingsmill and Miss Oliver as well? And Lord Welby, too, of course?"
"Delightful,” Clare managed to say before her wits deserted her. “Simply delightful.'’ The next piece of music rescued her from making a total idiot of herself. Really, whatever possessed her? Her normal poise had completely deserted her.
Following the concert, Lady Kingsmill insisted they all repair to her house for a small, impromptu party. It was far too fine an evening to end it all just yet.
Venetia looked about to pout until Lord Welby beamed his affable gaze upon her, declaring her to be the prettiest thing he had seen in ages, reminding him much of his dear departed wife. Unable to resist such lovely words, she immediately urged Clare to join the group at Lady Kingsmill's.
Thus it was that Clare found herself sitting by Venetia while Mr. Talbot and Susan sat across from them in the hackney for the jaunt across town. Lord Welby and Lady Kingsmill had each taken a chair to the house at Laura Place. The older lady stated she found the chairs got places faster in this congested little town with its streets that went up and down and curved everywhere.
Once established in Lady Kingsmill's drawing room, Mr. Talbot drew Clare to one side. “What is this you have received? News of value?"
Lord Welby interrupted them to offer, “I have daily checked the papers at Duffields Library, and there has been nary a word about a missing child in any one of them."
Admirably concealing her vexation at the intrusion of the kindly gentleman, who after all wished only to help, Clare nodded sagely. “Most strange,” she replied.
"The letters,” prompted Mr. Talbot. His eyes had taken on a green glitter to them that Clare found challenging.
"Well, my sister agreed that the girl, Jane, did indeed marry the Earl of Millsham. They were living at Millsham Hall until her husband died in a hunting accident. My sister did not know where the widow lived now."
"Hardly a thing to force her to abandon a child in your coach, however.'’ The glitter in the green eyes dimmed, and Clare had the satisfaction of suspecting that he also had been annoyed when Lord Welby had joined them.
"Unless there were mitigating factors. But there are other letters to consider.'’ She tossed him a defiant look, then turned away to speak to Venetia.
The housekeeper entered with a tray of delectable cakes and the inevitable macaroons for Lord Welby. He announced he preferred coffee to any other drink, and the group settled down to conversation and sweets.
Due to the general conversation and Clare's perverse desire that Mr. Talbot be forced to call upon her on the morrow to obtain the rest of the information, the subject was not approached again that evening. He made no effort on that score either, leading Clare to wonder if he were merely bored, or wished to see her in private.
* * * *
"I thought the concert last night at the Octagon quite fine,'’ Venetia said while marching up the stairs the next morning. “Indeed, were it not for those tiresome tabbies who do their best to make our life uncomfortable, our time in Bath should prove most interesting.” Venetia flounced into the drawing room after a rather breathless trip up to the first floor. She had forgone breakfast in her room to join Clare for the morning meal. She seemed bent on keeping Clare company this morning for some reason.
"Lord Welby is such a dear man. He made quite a point of noticing us, along with Lady Kingsmill. Together I feel they did much to allay the nasty little gossips. It was a fortunate moment when we encountered Susan
His slow smile, lighting up those unusual eyes, did the strangest things to her heart. “I am so pleased you like it. There is a play to be presented this coming week that I believe you might enjoy. Would you and Miss Godwin join the? Perhaps Lady Kingsmill and Miss Oliver as well? And Lord Welby, too, of course?"
"Delightful,” Clare managed to say before her wits deserted her. “Simply delightful.'’ The next piece of music rescued her from making a total idiot of herself. Really, whatever possessed her? Her normal poise had completely deserted her.
Following the concert, Lady Kingsmill insisted they all repair to her house for a small, impromptu party. It was far too fine an evening to end it all just yet.
Venetia looked about to pout until Lord Welby beamed his affable gaze upon her, declaring her to be the prettiest thing he had seen in ages, reminding him much of his dear departed wife. Unable to resist such lovely words, she immediately urged Clare to join the group at Lady Kingsmill's.
Thus it was that Clare found herself sitting by Venetia while Mr. Talbot and Susan sat across from them in the hackney for the jaunt across town. Lord Welby and Lady Kingsmill had each taken a chair to the house at Laura Place. The older lady stated she found the chairs got places faster in this congested little town with its streets that went up and down and curved everywhere.
Once established in Lady Kingsmill's drawing room, Mr. Talbot drew Clare to one side. “What is this you have received? News of value?"
Lord Welby interrupted them to offer, “I have daily checked the papers at Duffields Library, and there has been nary a word about a missing child in any one of them."
Admirably concealing her vexation at the intrusion of the kindly gentleman, who after all wished only to help, Clare nodded sagely. “Most strange,” she replied.
"The letters,” prompted Mr. Talbot. His eyes had taken on a green glitter to them that Clare found challenging.
"Well, my sister agreed that the girl, Jane, did indeed marry the Earl of Millsham. They were living at Millsham Hall until her husband died in a hunting accident. My sister did not know where the widow lived now."
"Hardly a thing to force her to abandon a child in your coach, however.'’ The glitter in the green eyes dimmed, and Clare had the satisfaction of suspecting that he also had been annoyed when Lord Welby had joined them.
"Unless there were mitigating factors. But there are other letters to consider.'’ She tossed him a defiant look, then turned away to speak to Venetia.
The housekeeper entered with a tray of delectable cakes and the inevitable macaroons for Lord Welby. He announced he preferred coffee to any other drink, and the group settled down to conversation and sweets.
Due to the general conversation and Clare's perverse desire that Mr. Talbot be forced to call upon her on the morrow to obtain the rest of the information, the subject was not approached again that evening. He made no effort on that score either, leading Clare to wonder if he were merely bored, or wished to see her in private.
* * * *
"I thought the concert last night at the Octagon quite fine,'’ Venetia said while marching up the stairs the next morning. “Indeed, were it not for those tiresome tabbies who do their best to make our life uncomfortable, our time in Bath should prove most interesting.” Venetia flounced into the drawing room after a rather breathless trip up to the first floor. She had forgone breakfast in her room to join Clare for the morning meal. She seemed bent on keeping Clare company this morning for some reason.
"Lord Welby is such a dear man. He made quite a point of noticing us, along with Lady Kingsmill. Together I feel they did much to allay the nasty little gossips. It was a fortunate moment when we encountered Susan
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