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Authors: Evelyn Richardson
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resolved to discover what she could. Confident of her own beauty and power to attract, Suzette did not fear any female competition, but she was curious as to what sort of person could inspire the determined look now darkening her lover's eyes.
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65
The Willful Widow
by Evelyn Richardson
Chapter 7
Suzette was to have her curiosity satisfied sooner than she had expected as the next evening all of the parties concerned appeared at the opera.
Ascending the stairs, Diana admitted she had good reason to bless Aunt Seraphina's managing ways. It had been ages since she had been to anything more elaborate than a musicale, and she surveyed the brilliant crowd around her with lively interest. Lady Jersey, in her box, was chatting busily to an attentive gentleman whose identity was concealed by the enormous turban of the dowager unabashedly eavesdropping in front of him. Sally glanced up just as Reginald's little party entered their own box and smiled at Diana who nodded back in a friendly fashion. Good, Sally thought to herself, the young widow was finally enjoying herself again and in the process seemed to have bewitched the young Viscount Chalford.
It was vastly amusing to Sally, who, never able to resist a challenge, had once tried her best to flirt with his father, the Earl of Winterbourne, and had found him to be as stiff and humorless as one of Madame Tussaud's wax figures. He must be furious at his son's attention to an older woman, and a penniless one at that. Sally had a fondness for the gal. As Ferdie's viscountess, Diana had handled her charming wastrel of a husband with grace and dignity. Now she deserved a little gaiety for the anxiety she must have suffered; but Sally 66
The Willful Widow
by Evelyn Richardson
vowed she would find Diana someone more lively than Reginald.
Another member of the audience was also surveying that particular corner of the opera house. Glancing idly up at the boxes, Justin St. Clair ground his teeth as he intercepted the interchange between the two women. There was no doubt the chit had nerve. Here she was, barely a twenty-four hours after his visit, flaunting her connection with his family for all the world to see. Not that she didn't look quite lovely in a short-waisted robe of striped French gauze over a white satin slip. The décolletage and the short full sleeves showed off the graceful neck and arms to perfection. Her dark hair was pulled off the forehead with the dusky curls falling to one side emphasizing the beautifully sculpted shoulders, white skin, and unusual sapphire eyes. Impoverished though she might be, the widow somehow managed to appear elegant, as did the handsome woman next to her. Aunt Seraphina, Justin decided as he peered through his quizzing glass at the highbridged Roman nose and determined jaw, did not look to be the type to be taken by the likes of either the Viscount Chalford or Lady Diana Hatherill.
Justin continued to stare at the box. They had barely settled themselves in their gilt chairs, before a group of exquisites eagerly entered the box. Though most of their backs were to him, Justin thought he recognized the carrotcolored hair of Tony Washburne, Ferdie's crony and challenger in the fatal race. Here was competition, Justin thought to himself hopefully. Ferdie's crowd, though as devoid of anything in their cocklofts as their departed companion, 67
The Willful Widow
by Evelyn Richardson
were of a sophistication and an age more likely to interest Diana than his nephew. Justin scrutinized Reginald, trying to read the lad's reaction, which, to his disgust, appeared to be blatant pleasure in his adored's surrounding court of admirers.
There was a shout of laughter, and he returned his gaze to the beaux around Diana, who, eyes sparkling, had apparently just delivered some witticism or other that even Aunt Seraphina appeared to find highly diverting. Thoroughly revolted, Justin turned his attention to the stage as the
[Back to Table of Contents]
65
The Willful Widow
by Evelyn Richardson
Chapter 7
Suzette was to have her curiosity satisfied sooner than she had expected as the next evening all of the parties concerned appeared at the opera.
Ascending the stairs, Diana admitted she had good reason to bless Aunt Seraphina's managing ways. It had been ages since she had been to anything more elaborate than a musicale, and she surveyed the brilliant crowd around her with lively interest. Lady Jersey, in her box, was chatting busily to an attentive gentleman whose identity was concealed by the enormous turban of the dowager unabashedly eavesdropping in front of him. Sally glanced up just as Reginald's little party entered their own box and smiled at Diana who nodded back in a friendly fashion. Good, Sally thought to herself, the young widow was finally enjoying herself again and in the process seemed to have bewitched the young Viscount Chalford.
It was vastly amusing to Sally, who, never able to resist a challenge, had once tried her best to flirt with his father, the Earl of Winterbourne, and had found him to be as stiff and humorless as one of Madame Tussaud's wax figures. He must be furious at his son's attention to an older woman, and a penniless one at that. Sally had a fondness for the gal. As Ferdie's viscountess, Diana had handled her charming wastrel of a husband with grace and dignity. Now she deserved a little gaiety for the anxiety she must have suffered; but Sally 66
The Willful Widow
by Evelyn Richardson
vowed she would find Diana someone more lively than Reginald.
Another member of the audience was also surveying that particular corner of the opera house. Glancing idly up at the boxes, Justin St. Clair ground his teeth as he intercepted the interchange between the two women. There was no doubt the chit had nerve. Here she was, barely a twenty-four hours after his visit, flaunting her connection with his family for all the world to see. Not that she didn't look quite lovely in a short-waisted robe of striped French gauze over a white satin slip. The décolletage and the short full sleeves showed off the graceful neck and arms to perfection. Her dark hair was pulled off the forehead with the dusky curls falling to one side emphasizing the beautifully sculpted shoulders, white skin, and unusual sapphire eyes. Impoverished though she might be, the widow somehow managed to appear elegant, as did the handsome woman next to her. Aunt Seraphina, Justin decided as he peered through his quizzing glass at the highbridged Roman nose and determined jaw, did not look to be the type to be taken by the likes of either the Viscount Chalford or Lady Diana Hatherill.
Justin continued to stare at the box. They had barely settled themselves in their gilt chairs, before a group of exquisites eagerly entered the box. Though most of their backs were to him, Justin thought he recognized the carrotcolored hair of Tony Washburne, Ferdie's crony and challenger in the fatal race. Here was competition, Justin thought to himself hopefully. Ferdie's crowd, though as devoid of anything in their cocklofts as their departed companion, 67
The Willful Widow
by Evelyn Richardson
were of a sophistication and an age more likely to interest Diana than his nephew. Justin scrutinized Reginald, trying to read the lad's reaction, which, to his disgust, appeared to be blatant pleasure in his adored's surrounding court of admirers.
There was a shout of laughter, and he returned his gaze to the beaux around Diana, who, eyes sparkling, had apparently just delivered some witticism or other that even Aunt Seraphina appeared to find highly diverting. Thoroughly revolted, Justin turned his attention to the stage as the
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