Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind by Heidi Ashworth

Author:Heidi Ashworth [Ashworth, Heidi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-05-09T16:00:00+00:00

Sit Anthony could not believe what he had done. With growing alarm he watched Ginny run out of the room and out of his life. Surely she would have nothing to do with him after the way he had treated her.

What had caused such madness? The blood that had been boiling in his veins since Avery had read that cursed poem took only a moment to bubble over into uncontrollable passion. What did it mean? He couldn’t possibly be in love with that opinionated, headstrong, loose-tongued girl! It defied contemplation. Ah, but he had caused her pain, and it was as if the knife was buried in his own heart. With a groan he balled his fists together and pressed them to his forehead.

He willed calm to his pounding heart and strolled to the window at the end of the gallery. He must beg her forgiveness at the first opportunity. Even if she did her best to elude him for the rest of the day, she would have to afford him a moment after dinner. After all, she had promised him a dance.

The balance of the day was one of torment for Sir Anthony. He was unable to catch even a glimpse of Ginny, something he found more irritating than surprising. Where she could be hiding was a mystery. He knew she wasn’t with Lucinda, who had closeted herself in her room ever since her engagement to Avery over the eggs and kippers. Mrs. Barrington sailed between him and Lucinda’s locked door every half hour, hoping to soothe ruffled feathers.

“Lord Avery,” she cooed for the twelfth time. “Won’t you go and try to talk some sense into the girl?”

Avery, pale and drawn, turned tragic eyes on his hostess. “It is all too clear she does not wish to be my wife. I have offered for her, under duress I might add, and she has accepted. That she is unhappy about it is a matter beyond my control”

“Don’t be silly, my lord. Sir Anthony, pray tell him! All she needs is a few words of romance”

“Perhaps, Mrs. Barrington,” Sir Anthony replied, “your daughter is in need of some time to reflect. There will be opportunity enough for romance this evening, am I right, Avery?” He inflicted Avery with a hard stare, and Avery gave a nearly imperceptible nod in return.

“There, you see, Mrs. Barrington, all shall be well. I can see it now, a little champagne to announce the joyous event, some music to stir the blood, maybe some dancing…”

“Dancing! Just the thing! I shall go straight up to my poor darling and have her try on her ball gowns. She has been so downcast, having missed her coming-out, you know.” Mrs. Barrington sailed out of the room at full clip.

“My thanks, Crenshaw,” Avery mumbled. “I thought I’d never be rid of the old warship.”

Sir Anthony winced. He certainly didn’t envy Avery his future mother-in-law. The afternoon dragged on in similar fashion until, with much relief, Sir Anthony escaped to his room to dress for dinner, mercifully far from Avery’s morbid natterings.

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