Read Online The Wicked Baron by Sarah Mallory - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sarah Mallory
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way it burned in her chest when she swallowed it, but she struggled on, and had finished the whole cupful when Lady Broxted remarked that it was almost time for the cascade to be revealed.
‘Pho, plenty of time yet, it is barely eight o’clock,’ said her husband, consulting his watch. ‘There is nearly an hour to wait.’
Lady Broxted fidgeted with her fan.
‘But the cascade is only on display for fifteen minutes, my dear, and there is always such a crush. If one is late, it is difficult to see anything.’
The earl looked a little contemptuous. ‘I have already experienced the spectacle, several times,’ he announced. ‘I shall stay here.’
‘Very true, my lord,’ agreed Mrs Price. ‘Having seen the cascade on several occasions, I too should much prefer to remain here. No doubt you are the same, Lady Broxted, but the girls must not miss it.’ She smiled at Lord Fairbridge and Mr Woollatt. ‘Perhaps, sirs, you would like to escort them?’
‘Indeed we would!’ exclaimed the viscount, jumping up. ‘That is, I can’t speak for Woollatt, of course, but I should very much like to—I mean…’ He trailed off in confusion, a flush darkening his fair cheek.
Mr Woollatt rose to his feet and said smoothly, ‘We would be delighted to escort Miss Rivington and Miss Priceto the cascade, my lady. That is, if you think you can trust us to take such precious treasures through the gardens.’
Mrs Price laughed gaily and spread her fan.
‘Mr Woollatt, how charmingly you compliment our young ladies. Of course we trust you, do we not, Lady Broxted?’
‘Indeed we do, my dear sir. Off you go now. You will be able to secure a good view of the cascade, and when you return we shall go together to see Madame Saqui performing.’
Carlotta regarded her aunt with a little surprise, but a moment’s reflection made her realise that Lady Broxted considered both gentlemen worthy suitors and she was eager to promote them. She wondered what her aunt would say if she expressed a desire to remain in the supper box, but Julia was already standing up and the viscount was tenderly placing her paisley shawl about her shoulders. Carlotta could only acquiesce with a good grace.
With plenty of time to spare, Mr Woollatt led them all on a circuitous route through the gardens, pointing out the various statues and grottoes on their way. His tone was very much that of a man instructing a child. Julia and Lord Fairbridge were so engrossed in each other that they did not notice, but Carlotta found herself trying to think of something outrageous to say to shock him out of his complacency. Just when she thought she could no longer endure making polite conversation a bell rang out, summoning the crowds to the cascade and the wide path quickly filled up.
‘Now you see how wise we were to get here early, Miss Rivington?’ murmured Mr Woollatt, drawing her forward. ‘We are not quite at the front of the crowd, but I think we shall have a capital view from here.’
With a fanfare, the curtain was drawn back to reveal the display; Julia laughed and clapped enthusiastically, but Carlotta was aware of a little disappointment. The metal representation of a stream and miller’s wheel was ingenious, but it clanked noisily, and her artist’s eye found the garish setting and lurid colours a little childish. However, as they strolled back to their box, Julia was so enthusiastic about what they had seen that Carlotta suppressed her criticism. Remembering her resolution to be charitable, she even found a few words of praise for the spectacle when they returned to the supper box and her aunt asked her for her opinion. Satisfied that she had acquitted herself well, Carlotta settled down beside Lady Broxted to enjoy a light supper of paper-thin ham, followed by fruit tarts and syllabub laced with wine, while they watched the crowds parading through the Grove.
‘Goodness, I vow there are an extraordinary number of gentlemen here tonight,’ remarked
‘Pho, plenty of time yet, it is barely eight o’clock,’ said her husband, consulting his watch. ‘There is nearly an hour to wait.’
Lady Broxted fidgeted with her fan.
‘But the cascade is only on display for fifteen minutes, my dear, and there is always such a crush. If one is late, it is difficult to see anything.’
The earl looked a little contemptuous. ‘I have already experienced the spectacle, several times,’ he announced. ‘I shall stay here.’
‘Very true, my lord,’ agreed Mrs Price. ‘Having seen the cascade on several occasions, I too should much prefer to remain here. No doubt you are the same, Lady Broxted, but the girls must not miss it.’ She smiled at Lord Fairbridge and Mr Woollatt. ‘Perhaps, sirs, you would like to escort them?’
‘Indeed we would!’ exclaimed the viscount, jumping up. ‘That is, I can’t speak for Woollatt, of course, but I should very much like to—I mean…’ He trailed off in confusion, a flush darkening his fair cheek.
Mr Woollatt rose to his feet and said smoothly, ‘We would be delighted to escort Miss Rivington and Miss Priceto the cascade, my lady. That is, if you think you can trust us to take such precious treasures through the gardens.’
Mrs Price laughed gaily and spread her fan.
‘Mr Woollatt, how charmingly you compliment our young ladies. Of course we trust you, do we not, Lady Broxted?’
‘Indeed we do, my dear sir. Off you go now. You will be able to secure a good view of the cascade, and when you return we shall go together to see Madame Saqui performing.’
Carlotta regarded her aunt with a little surprise, but a moment’s reflection made her realise that Lady Broxted considered both gentlemen worthy suitors and she was eager to promote them. She wondered what her aunt would say if she expressed a desire to remain in the supper box, but Julia was already standing up and the viscount was tenderly placing her paisley shawl about her shoulders. Carlotta could only acquiesce with a good grace.
With plenty of time to spare, Mr Woollatt led them all on a circuitous route through the gardens, pointing out the various statues and grottoes on their way. His tone was very much that of a man instructing a child. Julia and Lord Fairbridge were so engrossed in each other that they did not notice, but Carlotta found herself trying to think of something outrageous to say to shock him out of his complacency. Just when she thought she could no longer endure making polite conversation a bell rang out, summoning the crowds to the cascade and the wide path quickly filled up.
‘Now you see how wise we were to get here early, Miss Rivington?’ murmured Mr Woollatt, drawing her forward. ‘We are not quite at the front of the crowd, but I think we shall have a capital view from here.’
With a fanfare, the curtain was drawn back to reveal the display; Julia laughed and clapped enthusiastically, but Carlotta was aware of a little disappointment. The metal representation of a stream and miller’s wheel was ingenious, but it clanked noisily, and her artist’s eye found the garish setting and lurid colours a little childish. However, as they strolled back to their box, Julia was so enthusiastic about what they had seen that Carlotta suppressed her criticism. Remembering her resolution to be charitable, she even found a few words of praise for the spectacle when they returned to the supper box and her aunt asked her for her opinion. Satisfied that she had acquitted herself well, Carlotta settled down beside Lady Broxted to enjoy a light supper of paper-thin ham, followed by fruit tarts and syllabub laced with wine, while they watched the crowds parading through the Grove.
‘Goodness, I vow there are an extraordinary number of gentlemen here tonight,’ remarked
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