A Spinster's Luck by Rhonda Woodward

Author:Rhonda Woodward
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2016-05-03T13:48:12+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The lovely spring days that remained before the Severly ball passed swiftly while Imogene and Celia threw themselves into London town life. They shopped, went to museums and the theater, and paid numerous visits and received countless visitors. Imy was enjoying herself prodigiously over Celia’s come-out, and felt sure the coveted vouchers to Almack’s would soon be arriving.

The floral tributes continued to flow, and, to Imy’s delight, Celia received dozens of invitations from the grandest hostesses in London. Celia had even gone for a carriage ride with the Earl of Chandley, whose company she found she enjoyed very much—though, at first, Imogene had been very concerned about this outing.

“Celia, you must not say anything about taking care of the boys.” Imogene stared intently at Celia as she was buttoning her pelisse. “One slip about your past would be a complete disaster.”

“I understand, Imy; I shall be very careful.” Celia gave Imogene the most reassuring smile she could muster before leaving Severly House.

At first, sitting next to the earl in his high-perch phaeton had made Celia nervous to the point of muteness. Soon the task of making conversation was eased when Corinna Sheffield and her mother pulled their carriage alongside the earl’s and hailed a greeting.

“I say, Miss Langston, are we to see you at Lady Sefton’s musicale this eve?” Miss Sheffield asked.

Celia said that she would.

“I do hope the prince regent decides to attend. But one never knows with his royal highness,” Corinna stated with some asperity.

“No, indeed,” put in the earl. “He promised ‘pon his honor only a week ago to attend my rout. But we did not see hide nor hair of him.”

The honorable Mrs. Sheffield nodded her understanding. “How vexing of him. He promised to attend our ball, but sent his regrets at the last moment.”

“I was terribly disappointed,” Corinna piped in. “I so wish to be presented to the regent. Don’t you, Miss Langston?”

“Oh, but I have met his royal highness,” Celia responded before thinking.

After a moment of surprised silence the earl laughed and said to the other two ladies, “Will the mystery of Miss Langston never cease?”

“Do tell how you’ve stolen a march on me and met the regent, Miss Langston,” Corinna said in mock demand.

Celia paused a moment, very aware of the expectant faces before her. She knew she needed to be careful, lest she give too much away about her past in the telling.

With a self-deprecating gesture she said, “My encounter with the regent is not so very exciting. We were both guests at the Duke and Duchess of Harbrooke’s wedding. I told him he was handsome; I recall thinking his green waistcoat was divine. He kissed my cheek and told me I was a very good girl. I was a mere child.”

“What a lovely story,” Mrs. Sheffield said.

“Be careful, Miss Langston; it may get around town that the regent is smitten by your charms. You know how gossip can be distorted,” the earl teased.

This caused laughter all around, and after a few more pleasantries the Sheffield ladies bade Celia and the earl adieu.

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