Kate Noble by Compromised

Author:Compromised [Compromised]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

TENSION can build in a household on incidents such as these, or it can dissipate. In Number Seven, it was simply put on hold. There was too much to do, Romilla surmised, than to worry over hurt feelings. The dinner for the Barivian ambassador was to be the next day, and the entire house was busy in intense preparation. It was a whirlwind of activity when Gail returned from her ride, muddy and flushed. She and Evangeline were immediately taken to the modiste’s for a final fitting of their latest slate of gowns, as well as to acquire gloves, hats, underthings, and all the necessities to match. When Lord Fontaine and Mr. Holt called, for the first time in their acquaintance with the Altons, they were not admitted, for the ladies were not at home. In fact, they were told most seriously that the Alton ladies were scheduled for every minute of this day and, right up until the dinner party.

Max left his card and the flowers he had brought with Morrison and headed down the steps, almost at a loss as to how to spend this newfound time—so used was he to spending his mornings with the ladies.

Holt, with a surprise morning free, tried his best to shrug off disappointment, decided to head to the docks to check on some newly acquired ships.

“I still haven’t any idea why Father would purchase such a light flier, no less three of them,” Will said, frowning, “and now I’m to find some use for ’em. They’ve got good-sized strongholds, maybe they’d do well on moderate journeys to the Spanish coast.”

He invited Max along to investigate the new purchases, knowing how his friend was enamored of the ships, but Max decided against it. He was behind in his own work. There were several documents he had been contracted to translate from German and Italian into English, and a novel waiting to be turned from English into French. Max spent the morning, night, and following day lost in his work, for he considered nothing more graceful than the study of words.

When he at last emerged from his hollow, he posted his finished work to the appropriate officials and publishers, was shaved and cravated, and turned from a scruffy intellect into a gentleman of breeding, arriving at the Alton’s doorstep right on time.

Romilla was in place to greet him immediately.

“Lord Fontaine, welcome.” She was striking in a deep plum gown with black jet beadwork. The feathers pluming out of her coiffure matched the gown exactly, the diamonds at her throat glittered discreetly. She was the epitome of a politician’s wife, the first line of defense. Poised and confident, no one would guess if her heart was beating twice as fast as normal.

She welcomed him into the drawing room, where he had spent many a morning recently, but now it was cast in candlelight and peopled by a dozen formally dressed ladies and gentlemen. He was introduced to Mr. Fortings, who sat in the House of Commons, a “friend of the family,” Lady Alton had said.

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