A Comfortable Wife by STEPHANIE LAURENS

Author:STEPHANIE LAURENS
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1997-03-10T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

At noon the next day, Philip returned to his home after breakfasting with friends at a coffee house in Jermyn Street. His expression unruffled, his disposition one of calm expectation, he entered the cool dimness of his hall.

Carring rolled forward to relieve him of his greatcoat and cane.

Philip resettled his sleeves. “Is Miss Mannering about?”

“Indeed, m’lord.” Carring fixed his gaze on the wall beyond Philip’s right shoulder. “Miss Mannering is presently in the ballroom receiving instruction from the dancing master. Maestro Vincente.”

Philip studied his major-domo’s eloquently blank expression. “The ballroom?”

Carring inclined his head.

The ballroom lay beyond the drawing-room. The familiar chords of a waltz reached Philip’s ears as he neared the door. Like all his doors, it opened noiselessly; crossing the threshold, he swiftly scanned the room.

The curtains had been drawn back along one side; sunlight spilled in wide beams across the floor. Geoffrey sat at the piano at the far end, industriously providing the music, frowning as he squinted at the music sheets. In the centre of the polished parquetry, Antonia, distinctly stiff, revolved awkwardly in the arms of a middle-aged man Philip unhesitatingly classed as an ageing roué.

Maestro Vincente showed little evidence of Italian blood. Short and rotund, he sported a florid, suspiciously English complexion. He was wearing a brown tie-wig and a bottle-green coat of similarly ancient vintage; his spindle shanks were clad in knitted hose. Most damning of all, Maestro Vincente possessed a distinctly lecherous eye.

Philip strode forward, letting his boot-heels ring on the boards. The music abruptly halted. Antonia looked up; Philip saw the relief in her eyes. His jaw hardened. “I fear there has been a misunderstanding.”

Maestro Vincente’s eyes started. He hurriedly released Antonia. “A misunderstanding?” His high-pitched voice rendered the exclamation a squeak. “No, no. I was hired, dear sir, I assure you.”

Halting by Antonia’s side, Philip looked down on the hapless maestro. “In that case, I regret to inform you that your services are no longer required.” Without looking at the door, he raised his voice. “Carring?”

“M’lord?”

“Maestro Vincente is leaving.”

“Indeed, m’lord.”

“But…really! I must insist…!” Hands outspread, Maestro Vincente appealed to Philip.

Philip ignored him; gripping Antonia’s elbow, he guided her down the room.

“If you’ll just come this way, sir?” Carring’s heavy tones left no room for argument. As always, he had the final word, efficiently ushering the deflated maestro out of the room.

The door shut; Antonia stared at Philip. “Why did you do that?”

Halting by the piano, Philip raised a supercilious brow. “He was hardly a proper person to instruct you in anything.”

“Precisely what I said,” Geoffrey interjected.

Antonia ignored her brother. She fixed Philip with an exasperated look. “Be that as it may, how, pray tell, am I now supposed to learn to waltz? In case it’s escaped your notice, these days, every young lady must be able to waltz. The ton will expect it of—” Abruptly, she broke off. She glanced at Geoffrey, then continued, “Of me.”

Philip nodded. “Indeed. So, having dismissed your appointed instructor, it would seem only fair that I take his place.

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