Phoebe and the Pea: A Regency Holiday Tale by Catherine Bilson

Author:Catherine Bilson [Bilson, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shenanigans Press
Published: 2020-08-14T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Could this be the same woman who’d laughed as she skated around the pond with him earlier, her cheeks and nose pink with cold? The same woman who’d beat him at cards, her quick mind always one step ahead? She looked every inch the elegant Society lady.

John wasted precious time staring agape at the vision before him and learned anew a lesson he should have recalled: he who hesitates is lost. Cobley almost leapt past him and seized Phoebe’s hand to kiss.

“Queen Phoebe, you are radiant this evening,” Cobley gushed. Phoebe’s brow furrowed as she stared at the man in apparent confusion.

No wonder, John thought. Cobley hadn’t shown any indication all day that he’d even noticed her existence, and here he was now fawning over her like a lovestruck dandy. Two more men approached, their eyes fixed on the creamy swells of flesh over the fashionably low-cut bodice of her silk gown. John saw red, his fists clenched at his sides as he watched the three young bucks with Phoebe, standing close to look down her bodice. Worse, Cobley pressed a glass of sherry into her hand, his eyes fixed to her bosom.

“You should go and rescue her,” a light voice remarked beside him.

He glanced down to see Lady Eugenia, sipping on her own glass of sherry, her amused green gaze fixed on his. “Miss Faraday is hardly a city under siege,” John said dryly. “I’m sure she is safe from harm in your drawing room, Lady Eugenia.”

“From harm, certainly, but my cousin is an educated and intelligent woman; the conversation of those three will bore her to tears before we even go into dinner. If you are at all a gentleman, you will rescue her from such a fate.”

John was pretty sure Eugenia was laughing at him, but he was also quite sure Phoebe’s eyes were already glazing over.

“I am at your service, my lady,” he said gallantly to Eugenia and was sure he heard her laugh softly behind him as he determinedly set off across the room.

Phoebe definitely brightened as she saw him coming, a smile curving her soft lips. He used a broad shoulder to nudge his way into the circle of admirers and offered a respectful bow. “Good even, Miss Faraday.”

“Queen Phoebe, sir!” Cobley laughed, and John eyed him askance. Is the man already in his cups?

“I beg Her Majesty’s pardon,” he said anyway and was rewarded with a full smile from Phoebe.

“You are quite forgiven, King John.”

He cast about for a topic to discuss with her, though her smile threatened to drive the wits right out of his head. “Is Miss Eleanor ready for her performance after dinner?” he asked at last.

“I regret that I did not see her, but Lady Eugenia’s maid Anais has spent the afternoon with Ellie and assures me she is very excited to be allowed to entertain the company.”

“The child is how old?” Cobley inquired.

“Seven, sir.”

“Seven, eh, and confident enough to perform before strangers?” Cobley chuckled. “Best rein in

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