A Forgiving Heart by Kasey Stockton

Author:Kasey Stockton
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2020-05-25T04:00:00+00:00

Martin

The party was moving along splendidly. Martin saw the way Kate had lit up when she entered the drawing room on his arm and he didn’t think he was being excessively conceited to think she was pleased to go into dinner with him, either. It had irked him to find her comfortably discussing something with Peter and Mr. Balham, but he had righted that situation quickly. Ladies of distinction had no business in discussing anything with a steward. She was far too high above him in station.

The game of charades was rapidly dying down and Martin had thought a lively game of hunt the slipper would give him ample time to walk the corridors with Miss Kingston alone, but the group was looking a little wan, and he was afraid that suggesting such a game would throw them deeper into the doldrums. This was the problem with country society. His options for dinner guests were limited to country bumpkins, single, older women with companions, or hopeful, young gentility trying to pawn their daughters off to anyone of title or rank.

Not that he qualified. No, he was not the head of this household.

“Miss Smithson, would you care to play for us now?” Martin asked, glad when her eyes lit up that she would not hold his earlier deferral against him now. She looked as though she was trying to catch Peter’s eye tonight, and it was hideously obvious she was doing so in order to try and make Martin jealous—and failing, miserably. If the news she had brought to him earlier that month had not succeeded in dragging Martin to the altar, she should realize that none of her antics would force him to propose. She could flirt with his brother all she liked. Of course, Peter refused to be baited, and that was all fine by Martin. It gave him more time.

Miss Annie moved to the piano to accompany her sister, and it was apparent that the two had been practicing. Their delivery was superb, every note perfect. And while Martin was not a connoisseur of music, he could appreciate a well sung sonata.

He suffered through a few more pieces of music delivered by the Smithson sisters before asking Miss Kingston if she cared to play for them. She refused politely, stating that none of her talent lay in music. Mrs. Nielsen was apparently gifted with a lovely alto, but she was looking rather pulled and no one argued with her when she declined. This was turning out to be a sorry party indeed.

Martin threw out his plans of rolling up the carpets and getting Miss Kingston into a waltz, and instead suggested whist. It was universally accepted, and the group split up perfectly into four tables. He had played two exceptional games with Miss Kingston as his partner before she was pulled from the table mentally, if not literally.

“Is something troubling you, Miss Kingston?” he asked, trying not to be irritated. Her eyebrows pulled together to form a perfectly

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