Althea by Robins Madeleine

Author:Robins, Madeleine [Robins, Madeleine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: regency, mobi, Madeleine Robins, eReader, Almack's, ebook, nook, romance, Althea, London, historical, Book View Cafe, kindle, pdf, epub
ISBN: 9781611380507
Publisher: Book View Cafe
Published: 2011-04-19T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Althea suppressed a strong urge to run away. Georgiana, with a little more warning, had her feelings well in hand, and of the two of them presented the braver front. Lady Boskingram sat and watched the two girls with a smile of delicious amusement. Tracy stood by without comment, conscious of a tightness in his usually comfortable neckcloth. It was the Countess who finally broke the silence she had produced.

“Well, Althea, where are your manners? Make your curtsy to Miss Laverham!” Althea obeyed blindly, and in another minute was sufficiently collected to be able to say how do you do as well. Georgiana replied in kind and then there was nothing else to say.

“Tracy, go give my compliments to your Aunt Tyl — no, pray do not bring her to me here. Just the sight of her in that dreadful violet gown is almost more than I can stomach. Go, boy. Out of my sight.” Tracy obeyed with alacrity, noting that his collar grew looser as his distance from the uncomfortable scene he had just witnessed grew greater.

“All right, then, you ninnyhammers,” the dowager said with some asperity. “I have told Miss Laverham that you have no designs upon her fiancé, Althea, so I really think that you might prove it and act a little more kindly toward her. After all, it is she who will undertake to wed the indecisive Mr. Pendarly, so you can certainly afford to feel a little pity for her.” Georgiana started indignantly at this. “Quiet, child,” Lady Boskingram said indulgently. “You cannot expect me to appreciate your betrothed as I do my own nevvy, can you? I am sure that you and he shall do together à merveilleux.”

Althea, who had been stiff and wary throughout the interview, began to be overwhelmed by the ridiculousness of her situation. She began to giggle, and then to laugh. Georgiana, not so accustomed to finding humor in her own discomfort, stared at Miss Ervine for a minute before subsiding into a weak chuckle.

“I declare, ma’am,” Althea said chidingly to the dowager, “you must be the most outrageous person I have ever met.” She turned to Georgiana. “Now confess, are you not shocked at her treatment of us? She sits there trying to make a battle royal from us, and the only thing for us to do is deny her the satisfaction — at least within her view. Do you know, I think I have been dancing this hour and more. Will you sit a while with me?”

Georgiana nodded mutely and Althea turned toward a row of empty chairs well to the rear of the room.

“By your leave, of course, ma’am!” Althea called back to Lady Boskingram, who waved them away helplessly and groped for a handkerchief to wipe her streaming eyes.

“What a dreadful old woman. I enjoy her no end.”

“I have never met anyone like her,” Georgiana admitted as she settled her skirts primly about her. “I rather wonder what she would be like if she met my mama.

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