Lord Darlington's Darling by Gayle Buck

Author:Gayle Buck [Buck, Gayle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780451205025
Amazon: B017VLN5DO
Goodreads: 1935589
Publisher: Signet
Published: 2001-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The Darlingtons’ soiree ended on a good, if not spectacular, note. After several minutes’ absence from the ballroom, Lord Darlington and his sister returned to the gathering. There was a great deal of speculation, both whispered and open, over what had really happened. It was already known that young August Fairchilde was in a forgiving mood, having gone so far as to infer he had teased the young lady when he had seen she did not feel quite the thing. The cachet was put on the evening when Lady Bethany went up to the youthful gentleman and, putting out her hand, said with her sweetest smile, “I am sorry! Can you forgive me for being so beastly? It was just the headache and all of the excitement.”

August gallantly agreed he could forgive the young beauty, and capped it all by asking her for the honor of leading her out in the next set. Lady Bethany had appeared to hesitate for a breath only, but upon briefly meeting her brother’s expressionless eyes, she smiled and acquiesced.

When Miss Fairchilde and her party gathered their wraps and took leave of their host and hostess, it was seen that Lady Bethany was once again in her usual lively spirits.

Abby was naturally curious about what had caused Lady Bethany to so far forget herself that she had made a public spectacle at the Darlingtons’ own soiree. She could get little out of her brother, who negligently waved aside her questions, as well as those by the rest of his family, before going yawning up to bed.

The next day, as soon as Abby could persuade her sister to accompany her, she paid a social call on Lady Darlington and Lady Bethany, ostensibly to thank them for a pleasant evening.

However, Abby and Lady Bethany soon removed themselves to the far end of the room to the window seat, where they could hold private conversation. “Lady Bethany, whatever got into you yesterday evening? I could not believe it when I heard what happened. And August will tell us nothing,” said Abby quietly.

“Oh, did you not see? Everyone else seemed to do so!” said Lady Bethany bitterly. “It was so stupid! August gave me a note that so unnerved me that I didn’t stop to think.” She pressed her hands to her cheeks in remembrance. She shuddered. “It doesn’t bear thinking about! I was so afraid I had ruined everything for Mama and myself and Sylvan, too! When I realized how badly I acted, I dared not return. But Sylvan made me splash my face and go back downstairs and it all ended just as he promised. Everyone was very kind and forgiving.”

“You are fortunate to have such a kind brother,” said Abby forthrightly.

Lady Bethany grimaced, dropping her hands. “I don’t know about that! He means to scold me today, I just know it!”

“Haven’t you seen Lord Darlington since last night?” asked Abby, diverted from her concern over her friend’s welfare.

Lady Bethany shook her head. “No, Sylvan goes out riding early in the morning before Mama and I rise.

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