Catherine Coulter - Historical Regency Romances - 2 by The Heir (aka Lord Deverill's Heir)

Author:The Heir (aka Lord Deverill's Heir) [Heir, The]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-01-16T23:43:07.427000+00:00

Suzanne turned to Lady Ann and said, “Oh yes, and although Papa is complaining sorely from his own gout, Mama has persuaded him that I, at least, should pay a long-overdue visit to my aunt Seraphina. Her house faces Marine Parade, you know, and one can observe simply everyone going to and from the pavilion.”

“I wonder,” Arabella said, “if Lord Hartland and Viscount Graybourn plan to set up in Brighton?”

“I can only pray that breakfast kidneys will stop the one and the gout brought on by excessive numbers of offspring and brandy will stop the other,” Suzanne said. “Besides, there will be more fish swimming about.

Unhooked fish. At least I hope it will be so.”

“I shall, of course, accompany Suzanne to my sister’s,” Lady Talgarth said pointedly to Lady Ann, ignoring her daughter, whom she would deal with later.

Justin tapped the stem of his wineglass with his fork to gain everyone’s attention. “Let us drink to your visit to Brighton, Miss Talgarth, and to the gentleman who will be so lucky as to pluck such a lovely rose.”

As Arabella drained her glass—it was a delicious Bordeaux—she thought how very adept Suzanne had become in her handling of gentlemen. She was certain that the lovely rose could show her thorns most effectively, if crossed the wrong way. Lady Ann cleared her throat and stared at Arabella.

Arabella rose and nodded to the earl and the comte. “If you gentlemen will excuse us, the ladies will now repair to the Velvet Room.”

Justin rose also and said pleasantly, “I don’t think we need to linger over our port this evening, my dear. If you ladies do not mind, we would join you now.”

Lady Talgarth said to Lady Ann in a whisper calculated to penetrate even Crupper’s ears, who stood at the far end of the dining room, “It still seems very strange for Arabella to be in your place, my dear Ann.”

Arabella pretended not to hear and looked back only when Suzanne tugged on her sleeve. “Goodness, you walk so very quickly. Come, Bella, don’t mind Mama. You must know that she is jealous because you have contracted such an eligible alliance before I have managed even an ineligible one.”

“As if you would ever care.” Arabella gave one blond curl an affectionate pull. “You make it sound like I’ve caught some vile disease, like measles.”

Other blond curls fluttered and bobbed over small shapely ears.

“Certainly not. I think your groom very handsome, not at all like measles. And if you caught an earl, no doubt I shall become a duchess.

Mayhap this wondrous duke will have seven houses scattered all over England. He will throw at least three ropes of diamonds around my white neck.”

Arabella looked at the dimpled laughing face and found herself smiling.

“You will make a perfect duchess, Suz. I just hope you can find a young one.”

“Well, old dukes have to have sons, don’t they? Surely they can’t all be snapped up. You know, it would serve Mama right were I to marry our chinless paunchy viscount.

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