A Viscount's Proposal by Melanie Dickerson

Author:Melanie Dickerson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Waterfall Press
Published: 2017-02-07T06:00:00+00:00

The following day, the rest of their guests arrived. One of Elizabeth Mayson’s friends had come, stealing her away, and so Leorah and Felicity stood companionably at the sitting room window, watching the newcomers alight from their carriages at the front entrance. A young man accompanied by a young lady were amongst them.

“He is very handsome,” Felicity said breathlessly. “Who is he?”

“I’m not sure, but I think I danced with him at a party in London last Season.” Leorah did her best to make out his face, but he didn’t look up.

Hearing someone else enter the room behind them, Leorah glanced over her shoulder. “Nicholas! Come here and tell us who that man is—there—just arriving.”

Nicholas peered over her shoulder. “That is Geoffrey Hastings.”

“What do you know of him?” Leorah asked more for Felicity’s sake than her own, although Leorah thought him handsome as well.

“I believe he intends to make the church his profession. I don’t know him very well, but Mr. Pinegar asked me to invite him. He is a distant relative of his, and he says he is very charming.”

The young man in question, Geoffrey Hastings, disappeared from view.

“Let us see if Miss Norbury will smile at him as I saw her do at a ball last Season.”

“That sounds accusatory. Have you never smiled at a man?”

“I know, I am being judgmental. Forgive me.” She frowned back at him. “I hope you don’t ever give that scolding look to Julia.”

“No, I keep that look in reserve for my rebellious younger sister,” he said. “And you should take care to be meek and likeable to everyone here, remembering that this party is an attempt to try to restore your damaged reputation.”

“Humph. I didn’t know it was salvageable. Why else would Lord Withinghall have taken the drastic step of asking me to marry him if it could be saved simply by being friendly at a house party?”

Her brother sighed loudly and looked up at the ceiling.

“But for the sake of Julia, the Children’s Aid Mission, and my future nieces and nephews, I shall endeavor to save what I can of my reputation.”

“If you truly mean that, you should not make any more speeches like you did last night, emphasizing the fact that you and Withinghall were alone . . . in the dark . . . for hours.”

“I could not resist it, Nicholas. Did you see the looks Augusta and her aunt were giving me? It was too tempting.”

“It was rather amusing,” Mother said, walking toward them. “But you should not do it anymore. You don’t know how cutting and cruel people can be to someone who has been shunned by society. Darling”—Mother patted her cheek—“I don’t want that to happen to you.”

“Of course, Mother. I shall try to be good.” Mother was so good herself, it was hard to live up to her goodness, but she made Leorah want to try.

And somehow, it was a bit easier to be good when Father wasn’t around. Other fathers might have come home

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