Miss Grantham's One True Sin (The Regency Matchmaker Series Book 2) by Melynda Beth Andrews

Author:Melynda Beth Andrews [Andrews, Melynda Beth]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Pedestal Books
Published: 2011-10-11T06:00:00+00:00

"I would be pleased to escort you."

She smiled, throwing a triumphant glance at Trowbridge, who had followed her into the clearing. See? Spontaneous and bold, just like I told you, her look said.

"What time tomorrow shall I order my tiger and carriage brought 'round?" Lindenshire inquired.

"Tomorrow?" Marianna hadn't thought to go tomorrow, she'd meant right then, without delay, in order to prove to Trowbridge that Lindenshire was spontaneous and bold. She glanced at Trowbridge, whose expression was both amused and derisive.

"Will you be coming along with us, Trowbridge?" asked the Earl.

The Viscount came forward and shook his head. "Not my area of interest at all." He let his eyes rove over Marianna, leaving little doubt just where his interest lay.

"Well then," Lindenshire said, turning back to Marianna, "we shall leave precisely at eleven o' the clock, and I shall bring my tiger, he said, referring to Will, his young carriage attendant. The proper thing, you know."

"Of course," Marianna murmured.

"Lindenshire, old man," True Sin said, clapping the younger man on the shoulder, "you are all that is dependable and steady." Like a fungus, he mouthed to Marianna as Lindenshire bowed, the Earl’s straight brown hair falling into his eyes.

Marianna glared at him, and the ABC’s chose that moment to scamper into the meadow. Marianna started toward them with relief. Truesdale’s reaction to Lindenshire was most disconcerting. How he could take exception to a gentleman as amiable as Lindenshire was beyond her. Truesdale simply wasn’t a man of science, she supposed, and found Lindenshire boring. His loss.

"I shall walk the girls back home, my lords. And, as we will no doubt take a circuitous route, there is no call for either of you to accompany us."

The three adults took their leave of each other and parted, and Marianna allowed the girls to lead her onto an out-of-the-way path. Fluffy tufts of white clouds had begun to spring to life, and the light carried a lovely, hazy quality that whispered of autumn. Beside her, the ABC’s chattered as they walked, mostly about the guests.

Marianna stopped next to a wide, flat stone by the brook, and they all sat down. The girls immediately took off their slippers and dipped their toes in, but Marianna properly refrained. "So, my fine young ladies,” —she picked up a stone and skipped it across the water— “you've not been naughty with any more salamanders, have you?" she asked. The day the guests arrived, four of them had found a salamander lounging in their clotted cream.

"Nooo . . ." all three girls clearly averred.

Marianna put her hand on her hip and gave them a schoolteacher look that spoke brutal, merciless volumes.

"It was Eleanor's idea!" Beatrice blurted.

"I didn't touch any salamanders!" Eleanor defended herself. "It was a frog this time. An' it was Alyse who put it in there." She pointed her chubby little finger at her eldest sister.

“In where?” Marianna demanded.

"I have the longest reach," Alyse said, wincing.

"Where did you put the frog?"

"In Lady Allen's reticule."

"She smells funny," Eleanor said.

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