Read Online The Marriage Mart by Teresa DesJardien - Free Book Online

not disagree.
    She was not sure she had made much of an impression herself, however, for Lord Revenshaven had not asked if he might take her about again, or if he might come to call.
    Mary could not be unduly disturbed, however, for tomorrow evening she was to go with Lt. Hargood to a dinner and musicale. It might sting to have a gentleman be lukewarm to one’s company, but it was the briefest sting when one considered that another man had requested the favor for the very next day.
    The play was a farce, entitled, “Her Sister’s Husband’s Folly,” and it was a little risqué. At first Mary did not know if she ought to laugh at the innuendos, for Lt. Hargood’s face was stoically arranged. After pretending to cough several times into her napkin, she accidentally caught the lieutenant’s eye, and then they were laughing together. They then gave themselves up to an evening of mild vulgarity, and enjoyed themselves very well.
    Mrs. Pennett pretended to disapprove, for a while anyway, until Mary caught her grinning behind her fan at a lewd joke.
    After the actors took their bows, Lt. Hargood apologized, even while he laughed a little. “I had no idea! I suppose the title should have tipped me to the way of things, but…”
    “I will not think you wicked if you will not think it of me,” Mary said with a smile.
    “I never could. No, it takes a true lady to make a fellow feel comfortable in such a situation.”
    “Why, I thank you for the compliment, Lieutenant.”
    “But it was amusing when the husband walked in on them dancing, wasn’t it?” And then they were laughing again.
    They talked for another hour, until finally the theater proprietor entered the lieutenant’s hired box and discreetly coughed, clearly wanting to close his establishment.
    Mary was pleased when, as Hargood left her at her front door, he asked if he might come to call soon. “Lovely,” had been her answer.
    When she went inside, she looked through the bits of correspondence the butler had set aside for each member of the family. She found several invitations to parties in her pile, and among them was a note from Rothayne. At once she broke the seal and read the contents, which merely read:
    You’re not here! I will assume you will receive
    me tomorrow morning. At ten. Until then--
    Your Adoring, John
     
    Of course she would receive him. Even if she’d had plans, she would have cancelled them, for John was calling tomorrow.
    ***
    Mary was dressed and waiting in the front parlor by a quarter to ten. She was plying her needle absentmindedly while actually glancing out of the corner of her eye toward the view of the drive. What did the Blade have in mind today? Was it merely a visit? An outing? Was Lord Bretwyn to be a part of any excursion?
    When she saw the crested carriage arrive, she glanced even more surreptitiously, intrigued to see two strangers come from the vehicle after John. She waited, almost patiently, until her visitors were announced, and put her embroidery tambor aside as they were led into the room. She stood in her lemon yellow gown--one of her prettiest--and when the butler had bowed himself out, made them a pretty curtsy.
    “Lady Mary, you look lovely today,” John said, smiling as he took her hands. He turned at once to the couple who had followed him into the room. “Lord Faver and Lady Gardner, this is Lady Mary Wagnall.” He went on to introduce them to Mary in turn.
    They murmured their how-do-you-dos, and then John announced, “We are off to the British Museum collections today.”
    It was not as jolly a carriage party as the one to picnic at Lord Bretwyn’s estate had been, for Lord Faver and his aunt were not of the kind to be silly, but they were very pleasant, and Mary and Lady Gardner discovered they had read many books in common.
    “For myself, I do not care what her detractors say of Mrs. Ratcliffe. And even though there are whispers that ‘she’ is really a ‘he,’ I have enjoyed every book so