Read Online The Man in the Green Coat by Carola Dunn - Free Book Online
Authors: Carola Dunn
Tags: Regency Romance
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a new waistcoat or a superior degree of lovesickness.
Usually Mr Lucius Everett was highly gratified by this evidence of his half-sister’s popularity, but today he desired a word in private with his stepmama, and in consequence wished the crowd to the devil.
He stood leaning against the doorpost, his eyes fixed critically on Dorothea Everett’s ethereal beauty. For the first time, he wondered what her many suitors found to admire in that air of fragile docility, which he had always thought highly appropriate in a young lady.
Judging by the sample in the drawing room, Dorothea’s friends were all equally well-bred, insipid females, though none compared with her in looks. Her suitors ranged from infatuated youths, who found her gentleness unthreatening, to a wealthy earl in his forties on the lookout for a conformable bride. For leavening, he noted, there were one or two out-and-outers, with rakish reputations. He was not worried. A word in Dorrie’s ear and she would unquestioningly drop their acquaintance.
There was something to be said for docility, after all.
At last, the last visitor took his leave. Mr Everett strode across the room, bowed to his stepmother and kissed her hand. She was no more than three or four years older than he, but he made it a point to treat her always with punctilious courtesy when anyone else was present, even her daughter.
“Good morning, ma’am. I trust I did not wake you when I came home last night? Morning, Dorrie. You are a little pale today. Do not wear yourself to a shadow with gadding about!”
“Oh no, Luke!” She looked up at him apprehensively. “I am very well, truly.”
“I did not like to see Sir Hubert here, nor Lord Aintree. You must not allow them to dangle after you. I know you will do your best to discourage them.”
“Yes, Luke.”
Satisfied, he turned back to Lady Cecilia. “I need your help, ma’am,” he requested. “You are better acquainted with the ton than I. Do you know of a lady who goes by the name of Madame Aurore?”
“Madame Aurore? A Frenchwoman? I have never heard of such a person, but I am not widely acquainted with the émigré community. Dorothea, pray go and fetch my embroidery.”
“Yes, mama. Luke, if you have the time, I should like to speak with you before you go out.”
“Of course, little sister. I have an appointment with the Foreign Secretary at two, but there is plenty of time before I need leave.”
As Dorothea closed the door behind her, he once again turned to his stepmother, with raised eyebrows.
“Luke, are you sure this Madame Aurore is a lady? Such an odd name!”
“I believe it to be a nursery name, such as young children might call a friend of their parents. I most sincerely hope you are not about to tell me of someone by that name who is less than respectable!” Mr Everett’s brows were drawn in a forbidding frown.
“Oh no, Luke, I have never heard it in any context, I promise you. Can you tell me no more about her?”
“Only that she is a widow who came to this country some eight or nine years ago.”
“A widow!” exclaimed Lady Cecilia with evident relief.
“Cecilia, you thought me entangled with an unknown charmer, confess it!” Luke laughed, and she smiled in reply.
“Of course, there is no reason you should not be ‘entangled’ with a widow, but you would surely have a little more recent information about any ‘charmer.’ However, it is past time that you fell in love, Luke!”
His mouth took on its usual stern line, and his searching eyes held hers. “I was in love once,” he reminded her.
She dropped heir gaze and blushed, but said sharply, “Calf love, and well you know it, Luke Everett. We were children. Do not pretend to me that I blighted your life when I married your father. I believe you have persuaded yourself of it, and used it as an excuse for wearing the willow!”
“No, you are fair and far out there. But I was in love with you when my father wooed and won you, and
Usually Mr Lucius Everett was highly gratified by this evidence of his half-sister’s popularity, but today he desired a word in private with his stepmama, and in consequence wished the crowd to the devil.
He stood leaning against the doorpost, his eyes fixed critically on Dorothea Everett’s ethereal beauty. For the first time, he wondered what her many suitors found to admire in that air of fragile docility, which he had always thought highly appropriate in a young lady.
Judging by the sample in the drawing room, Dorothea’s friends were all equally well-bred, insipid females, though none compared with her in looks. Her suitors ranged from infatuated youths, who found her gentleness unthreatening, to a wealthy earl in his forties on the lookout for a conformable bride. For leavening, he noted, there were one or two out-and-outers, with rakish reputations. He was not worried. A word in Dorrie’s ear and she would unquestioningly drop their acquaintance.
There was something to be said for docility, after all.
At last, the last visitor took his leave. Mr Everett strode across the room, bowed to his stepmother and kissed her hand. She was no more than three or four years older than he, but he made it a point to treat her always with punctilious courtesy when anyone else was present, even her daughter.
“Good morning, ma’am. I trust I did not wake you when I came home last night? Morning, Dorrie. You are a little pale today. Do not wear yourself to a shadow with gadding about!”
“Oh no, Luke!” She looked up at him apprehensively. “I am very well, truly.”
“I did not like to see Sir Hubert here, nor Lord Aintree. You must not allow them to dangle after you. I know you will do your best to discourage them.”
“Yes, Luke.”
Satisfied, he turned back to Lady Cecilia. “I need your help, ma’am,” he requested. “You are better acquainted with the ton than I. Do you know of a lady who goes by the name of Madame Aurore?”
“Madame Aurore? A Frenchwoman? I have never heard of such a person, but I am not widely acquainted with the émigré community. Dorothea, pray go and fetch my embroidery.”
“Yes, mama. Luke, if you have the time, I should like to speak with you before you go out.”
“Of course, little sister. I have an appointment with the Foreign Secretary at two, but there is plenty of time before I need leave.”
As Dorothea closed the door behind her, he once again turned to his stepmother, with raised eyebrows.
“Luke, are you sure this Madame Aurore is a lady? Such an odd name!”
“I believe it to be a nursery name, such as young children might call a friend of their parents. I most sincerely hope you are not about to tell me of someone by that name who is less than respectable!” Mr Everett’s brows were drawn in a forbidding frown.
“Oh no, Luke, I have never heard it in any context, I promise you. Can you tell me no more about her?”
“Only that she is a widow who came to this country some eight or nine years ago.”
“A widow!” exclaimed Lady Cecilia with evident relief.
“Cecilia, you thought me entangled with an unknown charmer, confess it!” Luke laughed, and she smiled in reply.
“Of course, there is no reason you should not be ‘entangled’ with a widow, but you would surely have a little more recent information about any ‘charmer.’ However, it is past time that you fell in love, Luke!”
His mouth took on its usual stern line, and his searching eyes held hers. “I was in love once,” he reminded her.
She dropped heir gaze and blushed, but said sharply, “Calf love, and well you know it, Luke Everett. We were children. Do not pretend to me that I blighted your life when I married your father. I believe you have persuaded yourself of it, and used it as an excuse for wearing the willow!”
“No, you are fair and far out there. But I was in love with you when my father wooed and won you, and
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