A Magnificent Match by Gayle Buck

Author:Gayle Buck [Buck, Gayle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House/Regency Reads
Published: 1997-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 12

Megan gained a singular victory with her mother. When it was explained to Lady O’Connell that it would scarcely rebound to her credit for it to become known that her daughter had removed herself to the protection of Mrs. O’Connell’s house because she did not want to give up her dresser, Lady O’Connell managed to control her spleen. She could well imagine that Mrs. O’Connell would delight in making such a ridiculous story known all over London.

Lady O’Connell abandoned her demand that the dresser be immediately turned off. Her ladyship even went so far as to try to cajole Simpkins back into her own service. The dresser politely declined. This so piqued Lady O’Connell’s temper that she thereafter uttered catty remarks about the dresser’s waning talents. Her ladyship laid the blame at her daughter’s door, for if it had not been for Megan’s effrontery in making use of Simpkins’s services in the first place, there would have been none of this unpleasantness.

Lady O’Connell retaliated by adopting a distant and chilly civility toward Megan in the mistaken belief that she was punishing her daughter. Her ladyship went about her own affairs, avoiding her daughter as much as possible. While she was out making her courtesy calls or taking tea with various of her friends or shopping, she assumed that Megan was languishing at the town house with only Mrs. Tyler for company.

Of course, Lady O’Connell had no choice but to lend her countenance to Megan’s appearance at Lady Bishop’s soiree and Mrs. Hadcombe’s ball and supper. It was quite an inconvenience, but at least Mrs. Tyler was present, as well, and could be trusted to chaperone Megan properly so that she herself was freed to enjoy the entertainments.

Lady O’Connell begged off from Lady Stallcroft’s alfresco party and sent Mrs. Tyler in her stead. “For I know that you will not mind going, Gwyneth. It is more your style of thing,” she had said.

“I do not mind in the least, my lady,” said Mrs. Tyler quietly.

“I knew that you would oblige me,” said Lady O’Connell with a nod. “It is a pity that I am so engaged or otherwise I might see more of Megan. I trust that you are keeping her tolerably well entertained.”

“We enjoy one another’s company, my lady,” said Mrs. Tyler.

Lady O’Connell had smiled and dismissed her cousin, thinking that, really, she must do something to reward Mrs. Tyler for her loyalty. The next instant she had forgotten the vague thought and was absorbed in choosing her toilette for that evening.

Mrs. Tyler had gone away with the comfortable conviction that they might never have to confess to Lady O’Connell that they were remaining in London. As long as Lady O’Connell continued to go off and leave them to their own affairs, they would do very well. She and Megan had formed the habit of walking in the park each afternoon and it was amazing how much one was able to intermingle with society by taking one’s exercise.

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