An Affair of the Heart by Joan Smith

Author:Joan Smith [Smith, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1977-11-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Lord Claymore was to leave early in the morning as he had a trip of some eighty-odd miles before him. He pointed out to Rex that he would be extremely busy and not free for much sport, but Rex decided that Bath would be equally flat with his mama and Missie to squire about, so he elected to accompany his friend to Somerset. He punctiliously forwarded a note to his mama, pointing out that he had been pressed to go with Claymore to his home, and would present himself in Bath as soon as it should be possible. He never for a moment thought his mama so dull as to actually expect him to show up, nor did she. His letter was of some interest to his parent all the same, as it confirmed the silly story Missie was mouthing that Claymore meant to offer for Ellie. Had offered, in fact, and been snatched up as quick as a cat could lick her whisker. The tale lent her a popularity in Bath that she was unaccustomed to enjoying, as she was the only person with any actual hard news on the subject. Its subsequent publication in the Gazette next day confirmed her as a bona fide source of news and she was much sought after for a week, till people from London with fresher news arrived to enlarge upon the story. It was quickly circulated that Miss Ellie Wanderley had got to the Metropolis, and proved to be just such a ravishing beauty as all the other Wanderley beauties.

Claymore had no notion of the wonderful surge his reputation had taken. He was deep into business negotiations at home, trying to raise what part of the settlement he could. It was no easy matter, and to add to his consternation his mama was acting up, as usual. She was first put out at hearing rumors of her son’s betrothal from Bath, provoked by Aubrey Hansom’s tale, before ever Giles said a word to her himself. But she was not of a disposition to require any reason for her pique. She was undecided whether to take the tack that he had been taken in by a penniless little nobody, and probably a loose baggage to boot if she was anything like her sister, Lady Tameson, or to treat him as a villain who had coerced some innocent, witless little country girl into having him, only to cover his shame at being shown the door by the Rose, It would all depend on his own attitude.

What she never for one moment counted on was that he actually loved the girl, as he said he did. His statement was borne out to some extent by the fatuous smile she occasionally spotted on his face, and the number of times he mentioned “Ellie” in a certain voice. This threw her off her stride, and she had to reconsider her tactics and see how best to amuse herself at his expense. Life was a bore in the country, and one must make the best of it with these little entertainments.

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