Read Online The Dreadful Debutante by M. C. Beaton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: M. C. Beaton
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said the marquess, entering a coffeehouse in the Strand. Mira crunched across the discarded oyster shells on the sawdust-covered floor and followed him to a table in a shadowy corner.
The marquess ordered coffee for both of them. His eyes looked black behind the stump of a candle that burned in its flat stick on the tabletop between them.
“Now, Miss Mira,” he said, “begin at the beginning and go on to the end.”
“Charles took me driving today.”
There was a silence.
“Go on,” prompted the marquess gently.
“He told me he is to propose to Drusilla tomorrow. He told me to mend my ways. Worse than that—”
“There’s worse?”
“Yes, he loves Drusilla so much that he is selling out. He will probably buy a property near us in the country, and he will be my brother-in-law.”
“My opinion,” said the marquess, “is that Lord Charles has probably grown and changed since the days of your childhood into a rather pompous man. If you keep on searching for the easygoing companion of your youth, you will continue to be disappointed.”
“It is so very hard to take,” said Mira in a low voice. “I know I am behaving disgracefully, but I had to talk to
someone.
”
The great Marquess of Grantley gave a wry smile. He was not used to hearing himself described as “someone.”
“You are going to have to be very brave,” he said, “and put it all behind you and concentrate on trying to enjoy this Season. If you try very hard, pretense will soon become reality.”
“Another thing disturbs me,” said Mira. “I did not like lying to my parents or ridiculing Mrs. Gardener. I first had a feeling that such a tattle-tale deserved it, but she only spoke the truth as given to her by that Lady Jansen.”
“I am afraid the fault was really all mine.” The marquess poured more coffee. “I told the story of our adventure to amuse my mother. Lady Jansen was present. I should have known it was too good a piece of gossip to remain unspread. I am sorry I had to lie and encourage you to lie as well, but your reputation was at stake.”
“I think Lady Jansen is a despicable woman,” said Mira fiercely, “and yet you took her in to supper and appeared well pleased with her.”
“I was, and I have forgiven her,” said the marquess. “She is a lady of good sense.”
“I do not think spreading dangerous and malicious gossip a sign of good sense!”
“Your sex
will
gossip.”
“Not I! If you told me not to tell anyone something, then I would not!”
“You are not typical of your sex, my chuck. Young society ladies do not venture out at night dressed as boys.”
“Well, you cannot know that,” retorted Mira, all mad reason. She waved an expansive arm. “This coffeehouse could be full of them.”
“That I doubt, Miss Mira. You are an original. Are you sure you can return home without being observed?”
She tugged a large key out of her pocket. “I took the spare key to the back door when I left.”
“When you finish your coffee, I suggest I take you home. Do you feel better?”
“Somewhat. Not much. If I were in the country, I would take my mare, Sally, out of the stables and ride and ride.”
He hesitated and then said, “If you are very sure your absence will not be discovered, I could lend you a mount, and we could go for a night ride.”
Those green eyes sparkled. “I would like that above all things.”
“Then I rely on you to keep quiet about it.”
Mira surveyed him with a quaint haughtiness. “You do not need to tell
me
to keep quiet. I have my virtues, my lord.”
His eyes shone with amusement. “Are you a very good rider?”
“I am accounted so. There is no need to find me a quiet lady’s mount.”
“Then we will take some exercise. You will need to walk home with me while I change into riding clothes. Fortunately for you I am an indulgent
The marquess ordered coffee for both of them. His eyes looked black behind the stump of a candle that burned in its flat stick on the tabletop between them.
“Now, Miss Mira,” he said, “begin at the beginning and go on to the end.”
“Charles took me driving today.”
There was a silence.
“Go on,” prompted the marquess gently.
“He told me he is to propose to Drusilla tomorrow. He told me to mend my ways. Worse than that—”
“There’s worse?”
“Yes, he loves Drusilla so much that he is selling out. He will probably buy a property near us in the country, and he will be my brother-in-law.”
“My opinion,” said the marquess, “is that Lord Charles has probably grown and changed since the days of your childhood into a rather pompous man. If you keep on searching for the easygoing companion of your youth, you will continue to be disappointed.”
“It is so very hard to take,” said Mira in a low voice. “I know I am behaving disgracefully, but I had to talk to
someone.
”
The great Marquess of Grantley gave a wry smile. He was not used to hearing himself described as “someone.”
“You are going to have to be very brave,” he said, “and put it all behind you and concentrate on trying to enjoy this Season. If you try very hard, pretense will soon become reality.”
“Another thing disturbs me,” said Mira. “I did not like lying to my parents or ridiculing Mrs. Gardener. I first had a feeling that such a tattle-tale deserved it, but she only spoke the truth as given to her by that Lady Jansen.”
“I am afraid the fault was really all mine.” The marquess poured more coffee. “I told the story of our adventure to amuse my mother. Lady Jansen was present. I should have known it was too good a piece of gossip to remain unspread. I am sorry I had to lie and encourage you to lie as well, but your reputation was at stake.”
“I think Lady Jansen is a despicable woman,” said Mira fiercely, “and yet you took her in to supper and appeared well pleased with her.”
“I was, and I have forgiven her,” said the marquess. “She is a lady of good sense.”
“I do not think spreading dangerous and malicious gossip a sign of good sense!”
“Your sex
will
gossip.”
“Not I! If you told me not to tell anyone something, then I would not!”
“You are not typical of your sex, my chuck. Young society ladies do not venture out at night dressed as boys.”
“Well, you cannot know that,” retorted Mira, all mad reason. She waved an expansive arm. “This coffeehouse could be full of them.”
“That I doubt, Miss Mira. You are an original. Are you sure you can return home without being observed?”
She tugged a large key out of her pocket. “I took the spare key to the back door when I left.”
“When you finish your coffee, I suggest I take you home. Do you feel better?”
“Somewhat. Not much. If I were in the country, I would take my mare, Sally, out of the stables and ride and ride.”
He hesitated and then said, “If you are very sure your absence will not be discovered, I could lend you a mount, and we could go for a night ride.”
Those green eyes sparkled. “I would like that above all things.”
“Then I rely on you to keep quiet about it.”
Mira surveyed him with a quaint haughtiness. “You do not need to tell
me
to keep quiet. I have my virtues, my lord.”
His eyes shone with amusement. “Are you a very good rider?”
“I am accounted so. There is no need to find me a quiet lady’s mount.”
“Then we will take some exercise. You will need to walk home with me while I change into riding clothes. Fortunately for you I am an indulgent
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