Lord Sawbridge Seeks a Wife by Fenella J Miller

Author:Fenella J Miller [Miller, Fenella J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-04T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

To Bella's surprise instead of being led through the suspicious crowd alone all the officers paraded around them with suitable partners. Even dear Aunt Jemima was going to waltz in order to support her.

The ballroom floor was empty. A strange hush had fallen and she believed that every eye was upon her. She was walking much closer to Simon than was considered proper but in the circumstances, she was grateful for his proximity as she doubted her legs would have carried her forward without it.

'Smile, my love, brazen it out. Have you noticed that the Danbury girls are waltzing with two of Aunt Jemima's officers? If they can defy the rules for you then you must be brave.'

His words were enough to stiffen her spine and force her mouth to curve. The musicians played with gusto and before she had time to protest she was dancing. This was not a dance she'd practised overmuch and she had feared she would forget the complicated steps as they involved not only parading side by side but also spinning around the floor with his arm around her waist.

However, the moment she began to dance with him her reservations vanished and her smile became genuine. They swirled around the floor and were immediately joined by the other dozen couples in their party. This meant there was no room for anyone else and by the time the last chords were played a dozen eager young ladies and their partners were waiting on the fringes of the floor for their turn.

'That was quite wonderful, Simon, if it wasn't for the fact that to do so would deprive others of the treat I would insist we danced again.'

'I've spoken to Danbury and there will be half a dozen waltzes played tonight. This is a family gathering, albeit a rather large one, and the rules of etiquette don't apply so strictly. We shall dance again, but perhaps wait until after supper.'

He led her, again accompanied by their protective barrier of scarlet, blue and gold, around the edge of the ballroom. Although he was smiling and chatting his eyes were hard and she swallowed a lump in her throat. Someone had unwisely told him the perpetrator of this gossip and he intended to speak to her.

They halted in front of a portly matron wearing an extraordinary turban with half a dozen wildly waving ostrich feathers attached to it. Her gown, also burgundy, did nothing to disguise her spreading figure.

'Please, Simon, don't confront her.'

He glanced down and smiled. 'Never fear, my love, I'll do nothing to embarrass you further.'

'Lady Humphrey, I am Sawsbury. I believe you have something to say about my future countess. Would you care to repeat it to us?'

The unfortunate lady first turned the same colour as her ensemble and then her cheeks paled. Bella glanced at her future husband and he looked quite different. His arctic stare pinned Lady Humphrey to her chair.

'My lord, I believe I was misinformed. I give you my word I shall ensure that everyone knows the rumour to be untrue.

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