A Prior Attachment (Dorothy Mack Regency Romances) by Dorothy Mack

Author:Dorothy Mack [Mack, Dorothy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2019-12-01T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

The sun shone down brightly the next morning, and the gentlemen who had ridden out early reported that it bade fair to be a warm day. Miss Fairmont was regaling Miss Delevan with a description of the perfect gem of a parasol she intended to carry to Bath when word reached the breakfast table that Lady Sophronia had fallen victim to the only influence in her well-regulated life that she was unable to control by positive thinking: an attack of the migraine.

“Oh, that is too bad! Poor Aunt,” said Gemma when Coralee seemed to be bereft of words. “Pray convey our warmest sympathy to her ladyship, Stansmere, and tell her we shall put off our shopping trip until she feels more the thing.”

“Not go to Bath,” exclaimed Coralee, finding her voice in a hurry. “Why should we postpone the trip when my aunt may go with us in Mama’s stead?”

“I regret that won’t be possible today, Coralee,” replied her cousin. “Mama has an engagement with Lady Godwin this afternoon. If my aunt is still unwell tomorrow, I feel sure Mama will agree to take us.”

“But my ball is scarcely a fortnight away. If we delay our shopping forever, there will be no time to have a gown made.”

“I am persuaded Miss Weems could make you up a ball dress in a sennight if she knew the time were short. Do not disturb yourself on that account.”

“I don’t wish to have Miss Weems make me one of her démodé dresses, even if she makes it overnight,” declared Coralee, flushing angrily. “I plan to have my dress made by that new Frenchwoman in New Bond Street, Mademoiselle Analise. Will you excuse me please, Uncle? I am going to talk to Mama.” With that she pushed back her chair before Stansmere could assist her, and ran out of the room.

Gemma turned limpid eyes on her father. “I fear poor Coralee is greatly disappointed.”

Peter let out a rude crack of laughter but closed his mouth at a look from his parent.

There was nothing in his daughter’s words or tones to object to, but the duke’s eyes narrowed and he said shortly, “So I see,” before returning his attention to his breakfast.

Gemma did the same, and it was for Lucy to initiate a light conversation about the newest blooms in the gardens. They were running out of things to say about the flowers when Coralee came back into the room, a sunny smile on her lips in place of the sulky frown with which she had departed a few moments before. She turned the smile on Lucy first.

“Mama says she has a great respect for Miss Delevan’s taste and would trust her to oversee the shopping trip if my uncle will permit us to go into town under Mr. Delevan’s escort. You could have no possible objection to such an arrangement, Uncle, could you?” She focused confident blue eyes on the duke’s features and smiled brilliantly.

“If Mr. Delevan is willing to take on the

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