Lord Langdon's Kiss by Elena Greene

Author:Elena Greene [Greene, Elena]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: historical romance, feel good, traditional Regency, Regency England, reconciliation, nobility, Regency romance, homecoming, Elena Greene, Lord Langdon’s Kiss, sweet Regency, misunderstandings
Publisher: Elena Greene
Published: 2014-04-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Dear Nell, you and your father positively must come to dine with us, Lady Langdon had written. Colonel Huntley arrives tomorrow, and I know the gentlemen will all be wanting to talk forever about the war, and hunting, and other horrid things, and I shall be bored to tears if I do not arrange for some female companionship! I have invited Clarissa, for James will undoubtedly wish to introduce her to his friend. Of course, I am obliged to invite Lady Nettlehurst as well. I am sorry for it, but I trust you will be able to overlook her top-loftiness and lend me your support!

After such a note, it seemed strange to Nell that when she and her father arrived, Lady Langdon had not yet come down from her room. The only person in the drawing room was Darcy, looking elegant but restless. As he greeted them, Lady Langdon hurried in, full of apologies.

“What a first-rate rig, ma’am! You look magnificent. You will make the Nettle green with envy when she sees those emeralds!” exclaimed Darcy as he saw her.

Lady Langdon had outdone herself on this occasion, wearing an elegant gown of dull gold silk and the emerald necklace and earrings Darcy had mentioned.

“You should not call her that!” she protested while trying not to laugh. “You make it sound as if I were overdressed for the occasion. I merely wish to make a proper welcome to James’s friend.”

Soon after, the sound of masculine voices and laughter was heard in the hall. A minute or two later, Lord Langdon and Colonel Huntley walked in. An awkward silence fell over all of them; Nell sensed unexplained undercurrents in the room and wondered if she had anything to do with them.

Lord Langdon introduced his friend, a hearty-looking gentleman of perhaps forty years of age and average height with brown hair touched with gray about the temples. His movements were quick and decisive but he was careful when using his right arm, as if he’d been wounded. His lively brown eyes made him seem good-humored, but Nell sensed a trace of tension in him as he responded to everyone’s greetings. Perhaps he was unused to society after all his time in the army.

Nell was surprised to see Lady Langdon, who usually tried to set guests at their ease, giving him a regal nod and welcoming him to Charlwood with words as formal as her attire.

When Nell herself made Colonel Huntley’s acquaintance, she smiled in a friendly manner, hoping to counteract Lady Langdon’s unexpected formality. He smiled back and she decided her first impression was not wrong. He did have kind eyes.

At dinner, Nell was seated between Darcy and Colonel Huntley. The latter proved a gentlemanly dinner companion and entertained her very well with stories of army life and descriptions of places he had seen that she had only read about. Her enjoyment of the evening decreased after she and the other ladies left the gentlemen to their port. As usual, Lady Nettlehurst dominated the conversation.

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