Giving a Heart of Lace: Sweet and Clean Regency Romance (His Majesty's Hounds Book 3) by Arietta Richmond

Author:Arietta Richmond [Richmond, Arietta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamstone Publishing
Published: 2017-03-31T23:00:00+00:00

Two days later, whilst Serafine and Raphael were immersed in a whirlwind of arranging the manufactory, hiring girls, choosing materials and starting to teach them how to make the favours, Isabella was nervously awaiting the arrival of Mr Porter Arbuthnot, her maid, Liza, standing patiently by her side.

When she saw, peering through the curtains of the front parlour, the small but elegant open carriage draw up outside, Isabella breathed a sigh of relief – she hated waiting… for anything.

A moment later, there was a knock on the door, and the footman ushered Mr Arbuthnot in.

“Miss Isabella, you are beautiful as always.” He took her hand, and performed an exaggerated bow, his lips barely brushing her glove. Liza stifled a giggle. Isabella glared at her, sidelong.

“Why thank you sir!”

He offered her his arm, and led her out to the carriage, Liza dutifully following. Once they reached the park, and he could take some of his attention from the task of avoiding collisions, he asked her how she had been, declaring that he had missed her terribly since they had last met. Isabella blushed, not entirely convinced, but certainly flattered.

“Why Mr Arbuthnot, I believe you are gulling me. For, surely, your duties in your father’s business must occupy your thoughts the majority of the time?”

“Ah Miss Isabella, nothing can completely distract me from thoughts of you.” She was beginning to find his approach rather overdone, now that she considered it. Still, perhaps he was sincere.

“Well… I have mostly been rather bored, for it has been a little too cold for my liking, to walk, or even to visit my friends. Still, I do have one bit of news that may please you. You remember, I am sure, that delightful Christmas favour you gave me?”

He looked at her, puzzled by this turn in the conversation, and nodded.

“Well, it was so beautiful that I showed it to my family at the time. My mother, and my brother, both thought it most elegant and well made – a very nice sentiment. And now I find that it has inspired my brother to a new enterprise. He plans to arrange the making of such things, to sell through our business! Your romantic gesture has resulted in good fortune for us, and for a Lady who has agreed to assist with this venture. Isn’t that wonderful!”

Whilst Isabella was enamoured of the romantic nature of the whole concept, it seemed to her that Mr Arbuthnot was not. As she spoke, it had seemed to her, for a moment, that an expression of annoyance, almost anger, had crossed his face – but… surely not? For what was there, in what she had said, that might conceivably annoy him?

After that, for the rest of their drive, whilst he spoke most amiably to her, he seemed a little distracted, and flattered and flirted considerably less than usual – a development that Isabella was not sure she appreciated at all. Still it was a pleasant outing, and she returned home happy enough with the day.

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