Choice Deceptions by Jensen Emma

Author:Jensen, Emma [Jensen, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-04-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Aurelie fumbled with her fan, silently cursing the blasted thing's apparent unwillingness to be useful. It was unbearably hot in the Kingsley ballroom and a bit of air, even manufactured, would have been very welcome. Attempting to conceal her inept struggle behind her skirts, she tried to figure out how an intelligent woman could be foiled by some sticks and a bit of silk.

"Perhaps I could be of some assistance, Miss Carollan."

Aurelie blushed and tried to smile serenely as her companion removed the offending object from her fingers. Several gentlemen had begged an introduction from Lady Heathfield and, despite the announcement of her attachment to Jason, had requested a dance. Even now, some quarter hour after his set, Theo, Lord Something-or-Other, seemed in no hurry to be displaced.

At the moment, he was earnestly trying to pry her fan open and was meeting with no more success than she had. Under his thatch of blond hair, his pleasant features were drawn in concentration. Aurelie decided she could be in worse company. He was perhaps a year or two older than she, quite a pink of the ton and, she mused, a possibility for Grace.

"Where did you say your home was, my lord?"

He looked up from his task to reply, "My estates are near Ashbourne, in Derbyshire."

Another point in his favor. Derby was very near Stafford and the Heathfield lands. "Lovely country. Do you pass much time there?"

"As much as possible. I much prefer the country to Lon­don…" He broke off and flushed. "I mean—Town is quite the place to be, but it can be so … I do not mean to imply that I prefer to rusticate …"

"I quite understand, my lord. I am myself a country girl and find London a bit much on the senses."

He flushed again, this time in gratitude, and turned his attention back to her fan, which was still resisting his best efforts. Aurelie suppressed a smile. She might not have been to London in many years, and was undoubtedly far less accustomed to the bustle of Society than the young lord; still, she was quite comfortable thus far. True, her senses were rather overwhelmed, especially in this crush of vivid colors and flashing jewels, but she was enjoying the experience.

She resisted the urge to fan herself with her hand and decided the experience would be even more enjoyable if Jason were at her side. He had been there earlier, politely accepting congratulations. As soon as was seemly, however, he had excused himself to visit the card rooms. She had gazed after his departing back, broad and impressive in its austere black coat, and tried to keep her wistfulness from showing.

She had dressed carefully for her first London ball, donning the silver tissue gown with reverent pleasure. The quick, almost imperceptible flash of approval in Jason's eyes when he had greeted her at the foot of the stairs had swelled her heart, registering somewhere deep within her. She knew that years later, when the rest

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.