An Infamous Proposal by Joan Smith

Author:Joan Smith [Smith, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1997-10-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

It was arranged that Lord Sanichton would take Lady Capehart for a visitor’s tour of London the next afternoon. Hansard would accompany them, along with Lady Margaret. Emma chose her most stylish day gown of jonquil jaconet with a pointed lace collar. She tilted her yellow chipped-straw hat over her eye and carried a silk umbrella against the sun, which might possibly show its shy face before they returned.

As Lord James had not returned home the preceding evening, it was unknown what plans he might be hatching. When he showed up for luncheon that day, tired and drawn from his amorous exertions, he was in the boughs to learn of what he called Hansard’s “betrayal.”

“After summoning me to Waterdown to nab Emma, you pull this stunt on me, dropping Sanichton in over my head the moment my back is turned. That sheep in sheep’s clothing! As if Emma would care for him. It is infamous, Cousin! You shan’t get away with it. I shall join you in the outing. And by the by, it is a perfectly wretched afternoon you have planned. Just what one would expect of you and Sanichton. No one but gluttons for punishment would want to see the Tower of London and the Exeter Exchange and St. Paul’s again.”

“Emma has never seen them,” Hansard pointed out.

“I look forward to it with pleasure,” Emma said.

James looked at her askance. “A dead bore, I promise you. A dose of laudanum is nothing to them. Ah well, I daresay it is one’s duty to see dull monuments once, but I doubt they warrant a special visit. Tomorrow I shall show you my London.”

Hansard trembled to think what this young rake’s London might consist of, but James spoke on to reassure him. “Emma and I prefer nature, you must know. Gardens, parks, perhaps a ride in Rotten Row.”

“That sounds delightful,” Emma said. Hansard could not in good conscience object, and peace was restored.

Rather than break up the party, it was decided to crowd five into Lord Sanichton’s carriage for the tour. James, being the slightest man, sat between the ladies and tried in vain to seize Emma’s fingers. When this failed he tried for Lady Margaret’s and was again thwarted, though the dame was delighted with his efforts, especially when Hansard smiled conspiratorially at her predicament.

After they alighted at the Exeter Exchange, James took Emma’s left elbow, Sanichton her right, and they set off, with Lady Margaret and Hansard following behind.

“There is nothing worth seeing here but the wild animals,” James said, and insisted on curtailing the visit to this trivial show. “It is the fashion to say the hippopotamus resembles Lord Liverpool,” he said derisively. “Anyone with an eye in his head can see the hippo is first cousin to Prinney. From the rear, I mean. The creature’s face is not quite so grotesque as our Prince Regent’s. More like Princess Mary’s.”

The hippo obligingly turned and trotted off, its fat rump waddling. “There! Put a pair of inexpressibles

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.