Lady Vixen by Busbee Shirlee

Author:Busbee, Shirlee [Busbee, Shirlee]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, General, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9780380753826
Publisher: Avon Books
Published: 1980-03-15T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

While the Markhams waited in the hall with growing choler, Simon settled back to savor the coming meeting. Twickham busied himself about the study, thinking with fondness and satisfaction how fortunate it was that the young master had come home.

Upstairs in her dressing room, ignorant of the pending encounter, Regina was thinking much the same. Christopher's return had done a world of good for her brother and for that she was thankful. She was especially thankful that Christopher had so opportunely met with Letitia Eggleston.

Regina preferred the single state herself, but could not bear to lay eyes on an unmarried man without instantly devising schemes to change his way of life. A bachelor was somehow a personal affront to her honor, and she felt it was her duty quickly and efficiently to rectify such a deplorable state.

She had for years nagged Simon to remarry and had gone to great lengths to introduce him to suitable widows and spinsters. To her mortification Simon would have none of them. When Colonel Eggleston had died she had, after a tiny pious thought for his departed soul, been almost indecently overjoyed. She had been sure that, after a proper period of mourning, Letitia would marry Simon as they should have done years before. When she learned of Mrs. Eggleston's abrupt and unexpected departure, she could have bitten off her tongue in vexation. But now all would be well. She would see to it!

Christopher's unmarried state did not interest her at the moment to the same degree that Simon's did. But she did give it a passing scrutiny and decided judiciously that once her brother was safely settled she would see to Christopher's affairs. As she had grown very fond of Nicole, it was only logical to conclude that a match between Christopher and Nicole was something to be greatly desired.

Nicole, sitting in her room, was staring blankly off into space, her spirits unaccountably low. Earlier she had listlessly allowed Mauer to dress her, and when Mrs. Eggleston had popped into her room to inquire if she wished to go to Colburn's Lending Library, she had apathetically declined. Even the news that Christopher would be escorting the two of them, if she cared to come, aroused no response.

A little worriedly, Mrs. Eggleston had acquainted Christopher with Nicole's refusal, but Christopher had only shrugged his shoulders, and a moment later he and Mrs. Eggleston had left the house on their way to the library.

Knowing Mrs. Eggleston and Christopher were gone from the house, Nicole wandered around her room in a sudden fit of restlessness, wishing that she had accompanied them. Anything would have been better than her own company. Unable to bear her own lonely society a second longer, she started down the stairs in search of Regina, not realizing that Regina was still hovering over her morning toilet in her dressing room.

Nicole, concentrating hard on why she was so spiritless and malleable lately, was halfway down the stairs leading to the main entrance hall when she became aware of the man and woman standing there.

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