Deception by Joan Wolf

Author:Joan Wolf [Wolf, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Romance, Love Stories, England, Historical, Regency, England - Social Life and Customs - 19th Century
ISBN: 9780446602754
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 1996-11-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

The day after Paddy’s arrival the Countess of Bridgewater had her annual ball. Since the Earl of Bridgewater was an important figure in the government, Adrian had to go, and of course I went with him. It was almost the only time we had gone out socially by ourselves, and I was nervous.

He came into my dressing room just as Jeanette was fastening a lovely strand of pearls around my throat. Adrian had given them to me on the night I first went to Almack’s, and I loved them. I looked at his reflection in the mirror and smiled a little tensely. “I am almost ready, my lord,” I said.

“There is no hurry,” he replied, “I have not yet sent for the carriage.” He sat down in a chair that was too small for him and looked as if he was prepared to wait for another hour.

A little flush had crept into Jeanette’s cheeks when Adrian walked in. She was usually a very self-possessed girl, but Adrian’s presence always seemed to affect her that way. I had caught her several times gazing at him as if he were some sort of a god. It was a little annoying.

“Is my hair finished, Jeanette?” I asked. Even to myself, my voice sounded cool.

Her cheeks grew a fraction pinker. “Not quite, my lady. I must just poot ze combs in.” She picked up two pearl combs and deftly tucked them into the artful tumble of curls she had arranged on the top of my head. She really was very talented. I had to admit that my hair had looked much nicer since she came.

I stood up carefully, so as not to disturb her handiwork. Adrian stood up as well, and as I turned to face him I said, “You may send for the carriage now, my lord. I am ready.”

He didn’t move, just stood there regarding me out of unreadable gray eyes. Adrian always looked splendid, but in a black evening coat he was enough to break your heart. I shot a quick look at Jeanette out of the corner of my eye and caught her doing it again.

“You look lovely, Kate,” he said at last. “Very regal.”

“Regal?” I said doubtfully, looking down at myself. My dress was a relatively simple affair of white net worn over a Clarence blue satin slip. It had been very expensive because the net was sprinkled with pearls, but it did not have any of the lace or bows or elaborate embroidery that I knew I would see adorning most of the women’s dresses this evening. Louisa had said I was too small for such excessive trimming, and I agreed with her.

“Yes,” he said, “regal.”

I shook my head in disagreement. “I’m too short. You have to be tall, like Lady Mary Weston, to be regal.”

He didn’t disagree with me, he simply said he would go and order the carriage.

“Damn,” I muttered under my breath as I watched him leave the room. I had wanted him to tell me that I was far more regal than Lady Mary.

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