A Major of Marnie (Miss Robin's Academy Book 3) by Eva Nightingale

Author:Eva Nightingale [Nightingale, Eva]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blushing Books Publications
Published: 2018-12-04T18:00:00+00:00

It seemed to Marnie that the carriage driver was choosing to travel down the bumpiest roads in London. She felt every jolt, every bump and lurch the carriage made, and her face showed her displeasure.

Mrs. Jones' icy blue stare was the only thing stopping her from leaning her head out the window and telling the driver off.

"I hope that won't be your expression for the duration of the evening, Marnie."

"I'm not making any expressions," said Marnie churlishly.

"Then try a pleasant one," said Mrs. Jones, and though the tone in her voice was even, the warning was clear.

When they pulled up outside Elspeth's townhouse, voices could be heard spilling onto the street. Marnie hissed in discomfort when the footman, Robert, came forward to hand her down from the carriage. When she was standing on the footpath outside the gate, she realised just how many people her sister must have invited.

A small family party, indeed!

She could hear someone playing a jolly tune, badly, on the pianoforte. She could hear the low murmur of conversation punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter. Her stomach twisted.

Mrs. Jones was soon next to her, neat and imposing in a plain navy gown with simple white lace at the high collar and the cuffs. Marnie was in the white dress all Privettes wore when leaving the academy—not scandalously low and sheer like the ones they wore inside, but still white and plain. Marnie's hair was rolled into a modest chignon, and the light blue sash about her waist demonstrated to others who knew Miss Robin's codes that she was engaged.

Mrs. Jones blinked at her and saw the fear and misery imprinted on Marnie's face.

"Come now," she said, a touch of warmth in her voice. "It won't be that bad."

Elspeth opened the door herself before Marnie had even raised the knocker.

"Here you are!" she cried loudly. She pulled Marnie through the entrance hall, past the gaudy oil portrait of the Talbot family and into the parlour. Like every other room in the house, Elspeth's parlour was stuffed with furniture, lamps, ornaments, flowers, soft furnishings and other clutter, in all manner of rich colours and patterns. Now that the room was full to capacity with guests, it felt unpleasantly close and crowded. Most of the guests in attendance were strangers to Marnie. She saw Mr. Talbot and the Turners—but the others seemed to be people she had never met before.

"Where are Mother and Father?" Marnie asked.

"Hmm?" Elspeth said. "Oh, unavailable, I'm afraid. Visiting friends for the week, out of town."

"Oh," said Marnie, disappointed. She had wanted to ask after Scarlett.

"Your major has just arrived. Isn't he looking handsome?" Elspeth said, seizing Marnie by the arm and dragging her into the party while whispering hotly and loudly into her ear. Marnie could smell the claret on her breath. She looked for Mrs. Jones, but her chaperone had been lost in the crowd.

"Very dashing indeed," continued Elspeth. "And it's not obvious that he couldn't purchase his commission. He seems very comfortable amongst better sorts of people.

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