A Pretty Puzzle by Marilyn Clay

Author:Marilyn Clay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: regency romance, london season, english country house, city of chestser, oo, regency england 1800s
Publisher: Marilyn Clay

Chapter Ten

Upon entering the dining room the next morning, Chelsea was thrilled beyond measure to find Lord Rathbone himself seated at the head of the table. The smile that lifted the corners of her mouth was both spontaneous and brilliant.

"Rutherford!" she cried, "you have returned!" Then upon hearing the sound of Lady Rathbone's indulgent laughter, she felt more than a trifle embarrassed by her uncharacteristic show of exuberance.

"Did I not tell you he would?" the older woman said, amusement still evident in her voice. "Alayna and I have both missed you, Ford."

"And I you, Mother," Lord Rathbone said, his tone oddly terse. He flicked a gaze at Chelsea as she slid into her place at the table.

But the gentleman's cool demeanor was lost on her, so overjoyed was she to see him again. Drinking in the glorious sight of his handsome face, it was as if in the past three days she had lost all recollection of it. The vivid impressions she had so carefully tucked into her heart had somehow vanished and now she was breathless to fill up the void again with new and precious images of him.

Her eyes traveled over his face as if she were beholding it for the first time. The breadth of his tanned brow, his straight nose, and the gentle flare of his nostrils seemed to fascinate her. The resolute set of his jaw and the slight, but delicious curve of his full lower lip intrigued her.

He looked especially attractive this morning in a forest green brocade waistcoat and buff-coloured jacket. His snowy white cravat contrasted sharply with the deeply tanned skin of his neck and face.

As Chelsea's eyes traveled upward once more, she noted that while in London, he had had his hair trimmed, for the dark, thick locks were now styled in a manner that she recognized as being very much in vogue with the Corinthian set.

Suddenly the gentleman turned a quizzical gaze on Chelsea and her stomach did a funny flip-flop.

"As soon as you have eaten your breakfast, Alayna, there is a matter I should like to take up with you . . . in private," he said quietly.

The smile on Chelsea's lips widened. "Of course, Rutherford."

Her gaze cut to Lady Rathbone, whose lips were still twitching as she watched Chelsea. "You'd best eat, my dear," she said.

Chelsea smiled nervously. "As it happens, I feel quite famished, Aunt Millicent." She turned to the servant hovering at her elbow. "If you'd fill a plate from the sideboard for me, please."

The servant hastened to do her bidding. "The eggs, too, miss?"

Chelsea nodded eagerly. "And some of the custard and a wedge of the meat pie. Why, I declare," she said to no one in particular, "I am absolutely ravenous!"

Only Lady Rathbone seemed to find the comment amusing.

Minutes later Lord Rathbone laid aside his napkin and gazed directly at his cousin, who, at the moment, was giving full attention to the food on her plate. It had rather surprised him to realize that he had truly missed her.

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