A Guardians Angel by Jo Ann Ferguson

Author:Jo Ann Ferguson [Ferguson, Jo Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Five Star (ME)
Published: 2001-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Ten

“Isn’t it wonderful?” gushed Leonia as she rushed into the small parlor where Angela was waiting for their next lesson.

Angela struggled to keep a stern expression in place. “Leonia, I have told you several times that you do not come into a room as if you have been shot from a cannon.”

“But this is so important!” She grasped Angela’s hands and tugged her to the pale green settee between two tall windows that reached to the ceiling. The shadow from the rafters that dropped from the peaked ceiling created a striped pattern on the flowered wallcovering and across the green paisley rug.

“Leonia, the import of a message does not grant you leave to forget your manners.” Sitting, she smiled up at the agitated young woman. “However, it seems that you will burst with the tidings if you do not speak them soon.”

Dropping inelegantly to the cushion beside Angela, Leonia winced when Angela scowled again. “Sorry, but I am so excited that I cannot calm myself.”

“Take a deep breath.”

Leonia tried, but it puffed out in a wild explosion as she said, “I just spoke with Rodney, and he has received an invitation from a friend who served with him in India. Lord Milborough. He lives not far from Edinburgh. He is getting married. We are invited. Angela! What will I wear? The wedding is only ten days from now. Can I get a gown ready for it? Can I wear my hair up? I know I am not out yet, but can I have a gown made like the one I saw in the pattern-book during our last call at Mrs. Raleigh’s? The one that had ribbons woven through the lace on the sleeves? Can I—?”

“Whoa!” Angela held up her hands. “Leonia, please allow me to answer one question before you pelt me with a dozen more.”

“It is so exciting!”

“That it is, but the first question must be: Is the duke planning to accept the invitation to the wedding?”

“He must!” Leonia’s face bleached with horror.

“That is his choice.” Angela hated to have to pop Leonia’s bubble of joy, but the duke seemed to enjoy the quiet of his book-room and seldom wandered beyond Oslington Court’s gardens. “If he chooses to go, he may choose to go alone.”

Leonia jumped to her feet. “He would not!”

“That also is his choice.”

“Then we must make sure he makes the right choice.”

“Leonia—”

Angela sighed as the young woman raced out of the parlor at a pace even more indecorous than when she had entered. Standing to follow, she had not reached the doorway before Leonia returned … with the duke in tow.

“Tell him,” Leonia pleaded. “Tell him how important this is.”

Angela glanced from Leonia’s hopeful face to the duke’s vexation. That he carried a book under one arm was no surprise. She doubted if she had seen him more than a handful of times without something to read. His interests were eclectic, but usually focused on history and science. As she had before, she bit back her questions about why he and Justin were at such odds when they seemed to have so much in common.

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