Read Online The Reluctant Duchess by Catherine Winchester - Free Book Online
Authors: Catherine Winchester
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to see you here.”
“You are that Miss Wyatt?” Sophie asked. “How very nice it is to finally put a face to the name.”
Annabelle thought that Sophie looked a little uncomfortable but was doing her best to be polite. She returned the smile, though her expression was tight.
“Thank you. The Dowager Duchess was good enough to invite me and as I discovered, she is a very hard lady to say no to.”
“ Please, dear, call me Lavinia. And she’s correct; I do like to get my way.” Lavinia smiled, seemingly pleased with herself.
They chatted for a while longer, although Annabelle felt uncomfortable the whole time and mainly kept quiet. Then she spotted Richard again, this time without her brother, but surrounded by three very pretty young ladies, all of whom he was clearly flirting with. She wished that she could disappear but there was nowhere to go.
He began to make his way over to them but was waylaid a few times by other ladies, all with coquettish mannerisms and simpering smiles. Richard seemed to be enjoying the attention, making them smile and giggle. It hurt to watch him charm so many other young women, so although it took quite a bit to willpower on her part, she turned away and kept her gaze determinedly averted.
Thankfully w hen he did finally approach them, she was pleased to note that he was alone.
“I hope you shot enough to keep my larder stocked up,” Lavinia said as he joined them.
“I think we are safe from the poorhouse for a while longer,” he teased. “And Annabelle, I hope you have been made to feel welcome?”
“Very,” she smiled politely at him.
“Good, because I would like to let you know that your brother is a sycophantic, ingratiating bore. How you two could be related is beyond me.”
Annabelle saw Jonathan also grimace at Richard’s words, so presumably he too had experienced Frederick’s less than charming personality.
“I hardly know him,” Annabelle admitted. “But what little I do know, I never liked.”
Just then , the bell rang to signify that lunch was served.
“Ah well, he is seated well away from us at lunch , so we should be safe for a while. Might I escort you to your seat?” Richard offered her his elbow.
“Please.”
As they walked over to the table he leant in closer and in a low voice told her, “You look exquisite today and your hair is quite lovely.”
Her free ha nd went self-consciously to her hair.
“Don’t , it’s perfect.”
She smiled and blushed.
There were no end seats at the table, so Richard didn’t have to sit at the head but to her surprise, she was seated next to him, an unknown man to her right. Opposite them sat Jonathan and Sophie. Lavinia had seated herself a few chairs away.
Lunch was six courses, beginning with soup, followed by the fish course of oysters, then a mint sorbet. The main course was cold game pie, warm baked egg, asparagus tips and celery ragout, with freshly cooked bread and butter. The servants kept everyone’s glasses topped up but Annabelle had decided to stick to water for the remainder of the meal. So far it didn’t look as if her brother had noticed her presence but if that didn’t last, she wanted her wits about her.
Finally des sert was served and plates of delicacies laid out along the table for diners to help themselves to. Richard was about to say something to her, probably to compliment her but she reached under the table for his hand and squeezed hard.
“Well, this does look good,” was all he said, squeezing her hand back to let her know he understood that she didn’t want attention drawn to her, but he didn’t let her hand go and neither did she tug hers away.
“Very,” Jonathan agreed. “And I love that each biscuit has your family coat of arms on; a very nice touch.”
“Yes, mother always did have an eye for details.”
Conversation continued as they sampled various desserts but as she had before, Annabelle remained mostly silent. Now that she had been exposed as a
“You are that Miss Wyatt?” Sophie asked. “How very nice it is to finally put a face to the name.”
Annabelle thought that Sophie looked a little uncomfortable but was doing her best to be polite. She returned the smile, though her expression was tight.
“Thank you. The Dowager Duchess was good enough to invite me and as I discovered, she is a very hard lady to say no to.”
“ Please, dear, call me Lavinia. And she’s correct; I do like to get my way.” Lavinia smiled, seemingly pleased with herself.
They chatted for a while longer, although Annabelle felt uncomfortable the whole time and mainly kept quiet. Then she spotted Richard again, this time without her brother, but surrounded by three very pretty young ladies, all of whom he was clearly flirting with. She wished that she could disappear but there was nowhere to go.
He began to make his way over to them but was waylaid a few times by other ladies, all with coquettish mannerisms and simpering smiles. Richard seemed to be enjoying the attention, making them smile and giggle. It hurt to watch him charm so many other young women, so although it took quite a bit to willpower on her part, she turned away and kept her gaze determinedly averted.
Thankfully w hen he did finally approach them, she was pleased to note that he was alone.
“I hope you shot enough to keep my larder stocked up,” Lavinia said as he joined them.
“I think we are safe from the poorhouse for a while longer,” he teased. “And Annabelle, I hope you have been made to feel welcome?”
“Very,” she smiled politely at him.
“Good, because I would like to let you know that your brother is a sycophantic, ingratiating bore. How you two could be related is beyond me.”
Annabelle saw Jonathan also grimace at Richard’s words, so presumably he too had experienced Frederick’s less than charming personality.
“I hardly know him,” Annabelle admitted. “But what little I do know, I never liked.”
Just then , the bell rang to signify that lunch was served.
“Ah well, he is seated well away from us at lunch , so we should be safe for a while. Might I escort you to your seat?” Richard offered her his elbow.
“Please.”
As they walked over to the table he leant in closer and in a low voice told her, “You look exquisite today and your hair is quite lovely.”
Her free ha nd went self-consciously to her hair.
“Don’t , it’s perfect.”
She smiled and blushed.
There were no end seats at the table, so Richard didn’t have to sit at the head but to her surprise, she was seated next to him, an unknown man to her right. Opposite them sat Jonathan and Sophie. Lavinia had seated herself a few chairs away.
Lunch was six courses, beginning with soup, followed by the fish course of oysters, then a mint sorbet. The main course was cold game pie, warm baked egg, asparagus tips and celery ragout, with freshly cooked bread and butter. The servants kept everyone’s glasses topped up but Annabelle had decided to stick to water for the remainder of the meal. So far it didn’t look as if her brother had noticed her presence but if that didn’t last, she wanted her wits about her.
Finally des sert was served and plates of delicacies laid out along the table for diners to help themselves to. Richard was about to say something to her, probably to compliment her but she reached under the table for his hand and squeezed hard.
“Well, this does look good,” was all he said, squeezing her hand back to let her know he understood that she didn’t want attention drawn to her, but he didn’t let her hand go and neither did she tug hers away.
“Very,” Jonathan agreed. “And I love that each biscuit has your family coat of arms on; a very nice touch.”
“Yes, mother always did have an eye for details.”
Conversation continued as they sampled various desserts but as she had before, Annabelle remained mostly silent. Now that she had been exposed as a
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