An Early Engagement by Barbara Metzger

Author:Barbara Metzger
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Published: 2012-12-20T02:04:32+00:00

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Chapter 10

How could a deuced ball go on so long, and how could a man who organized the movements of whole battalions, their cannons, cookstoves, and camp-followers, have so much difficulty garnering three youngsters in one place?

They were supposed to meet in the marble hallway after saying their good-byes and collecting their wraps. But Nadine wanted just one more dance with an exquisite in a puce waistcoat, and Geoff was promised to Lady Huntington’s niece, a squint-eyed miss who would never find another partner for the quadrille. Then he had to make his particular friends known to Stokely, who was himself drawn into innumerable greetings, belated congratulations on his marriage, and discussions of the Vienna talks and chances of a lasting peace. He found himself committed to calling at Carlton House, Whitehall, and, almost, a certain boudoir of a politically astute widow. Emilyann’s cough put a stop to that.

Everyone laughed when he introduced her as Emilyann Arcott and he had to be reminded that she was Lady Stokely. Her glittering eyes told him he’d damn well better not forget again, especially in the presence of dashing widows in dampened gowns who wanted to hang on his arm. He quickly extricated himself from Lady Bramby’s efforts to renew acquaintance, seeing Emmy’s slippered foot tapping the ground. He was not about to test if her famous temper had undergone the same drastic change as her looks, not in public anyway. He grinned at this new possessiveness of Sparrow’s, until more of her admirers kept claiming her company for dances, just when he thought they were ready to call for the carriage. Sauce for the goose, her look told him. He stopped grinning.

“You do not mind, I am sure?”

In a pig’s eye he didn’t, but he nodded and bowed to the Russian. He did not want to start an international incident.

“My dance, Major.” He saluted smartly. He did not wish to return to the army as a private either.

“I, ah, that is, Lady Em promised, I, uh ...”

A man would have to have a harder heart than Stokely’s to refuse that Remington boy, gazing at Sparrow with such moonstruck adoration. So that’s what all the blushes were about. He agreed resignedly, and was awarded such a sweet smile from his wife that he vowed to get her home right after this dance, even if Mad King George himself appeared in his nightshirt and asked her for a waltz. He grabbed Nadine lest she skip off again, and joined their set.

When the dance was finished he grimly placed one hand on his wife’s elbow and the other on his dress sword. This time no one interfered with their progress toward the door.

* * * *

Aunt Adelaide woke at all the commotion, and the servants darted about, hoping for a glimpse of the master. Soon they were snug in the new Egyptian salon, where cool black and white upholstery complimented the old black marble mantel. Only two chairs had crocodile heads for armrests, he was relieved to note, and the rest were comfortable, normal furniture.

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