0800720903 (R) by Ruth Axtell

Author:Ruth Axtell [Desconocido]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 1760–1820—Fiction, FIC027050, Aristocracy (Social class)—Fiction, London (England)—Social life and customs—19th century—Fiction, FIC042030, Great Britain—History—George III, FIC042040
ISBN: 9781441212917
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2014-01-28T05:00:00+00:00

13

How are you enjoying your season?” Miss Marfleet asked Jessamine.

“Very well, thank you.”

“Have you been to the theater?”

“Twice.”

“My brother says your father enjoys botany.”

“Yes,” she answered cautiously, thrown off by Miss Marfleet’s questions, which sounded more like an interrogation than polite conversation.

“Lancelot is giving a lecture on the plants he brought back from Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, and Bengal. Perhaps you’d be interested in attending.”

Jessamine glanced to Mr. Marfleet. “You are? When is this lecture to take place?”

“At the Royal Institute on Saturday afternoon.”

When Mr. Marfleet said nothing more, she wondered if he wanted her to attend—or was his sister interfering where she wasn’t welcome? Jessamine couldn’t tell anything from Mr. Marfleet’s expression since he kept his eyes fixed on the dancers.

“I—perhaps I can ask my friend Miss Phillips to accompany me.”

“It is open to the public, so you may ask anyone you wish,” Miss Marfleet said in clipped tones. “Well, I shall leave the two of you. I see an acquaintance across the room.” With a nod, she stepped away from them.

Jessamine wondered if Miss Marfleet had really seen an acquaintance or if she was merely maneuvering to leave them alone. If so, it was awkwardly done.

“You needn’t feel obliged to attend the lecture if you’d rather not,” Mr. Marfleet said stiffly, bringing his gaze to her at last.

She fiddled with her fan, wishing she could apologize for slapping him, but preferring not to allude to that evening if he didn’t. “If I do attend, it will not be because I feel ‘obliged to,’” she replied equally stiffly.

“My sister’s watercolors are quite accurate if you would care to see them.”

“I should like to.”

Silence descended once more. Jessamine continued to fret about apologizing, but her mouth remained closed.

“Would you care to dance?”

Relieved that he did not expect an apology, she acquiesced with a tilt of her chin.

As he led her out to the dance that was already in progress, her confusion only increased. That he still wanted to be seen in her company filled her with relief. That he obviously had not forgotten that evening was clear from his disinclination to talk to her.

Would he take this opportunity on the dance floor to bring up her conduct on that awful evening? Her lips firmed in anticipation of his assault.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Mr. Marfleet asked her as they came together in the dance.

His question caught her by surprise. Her eyelids fluttered upward. “Yes, of course. Why do you ask?”

His lips twitched. “Because you looked so ferocious, I was afraid for a moment my cheek would be the recipient of your palm once again.”

At his reference to her slap, she stumbled. He quickly caught hold of her arm.

“Thank you,” she managed, heat suffusing her neck. When she found her place once more in time to the music, she said, “I . . . I am sorry for that. I lost my temper. You provoked me and I . . . I . . .” Her voice dribbled away as she stared into his eyes.

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