Stephanie Laurens - Regency 01 by Tangled Reins

Author:Tangled Reins [Reins, Tangled]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-12-03T09:47:51+00:00

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

While the rest of the company had the good manners not to interrupt the conversation between Miss Darent and Lord Hazelmere, Lady Darent felt no such restriction. Seeing Dorothea being monopolised by a man she considered one step removed from a rake, she saw her duty clearly. Recently arrived, she had not yet spoken to Dorothea and, being shortsighted, it was not until she was within a few feet that the full effect of Dorothea's gown struck her.

Favouring the Marquis with what she believed was a gracious smile, she spoke to Dorothea immediately. 'My dear! Don't you think a shawl would be more becoming over that gown?'

Hazelmere felt Dorothea stiffen and almost imperceptibly they drew closer together. 'I think not, Cousin,'

replied Dorothea, holding her temper with a superhuman effort. 'I'm hardly cold. And besides,' she continued hurriedly, seeing that her cousin had missed the very large hint and was about to explain herself more fully, 'I would hardly embarrass Grandmama by adopting so provincial a style of dress.'

Lady Darent stiffened.

Only just preventing himself from applauding, Hazelmere intervened. 'Miss Darent, I believe my mother is trying to attract our attention. If Lady Darent will excuse us?' With a nod to that outraged lady, he firmly removed Dorothea from her orbit.

As they moved away he glanced down at the beauty by his side. 'Good girl! If you hadn't said that I'm afraid I had something much worse in mind. Remind me that, despite the other…skills I've yet to teach you, I don't need to teach you how to insult someone.'

A gurgle of laughter, quickly suppressed, greeted this sally, and Dorothea turned her sparkling eyes to his face. The Marquis's mother, towards whom they were headed, viewed this exchange with a peculiar smile. She had never thought to see her son so obviously in love.

The conversation continued to hum and the heat in the drawing-room rose, until Mellow, resplendent in new long-tailed coat, announced dinner. Hazelmere, as the most senior of the peers present, would normally have led in Lady Merion, but Herbert Darent found that he was to perform this office, leaving the Marquis to attend Miss Darent. Cecily was squired by Lord Fanshawe, and the others obligingly took care of themselves.

The dinner was a resounding success and not a single incident occurred to mar Lady Merion's pleasure.

Conversation flowed on all sides, even Marjorie finding in the half-deaf admiral by her side someone with whom she shared some common ground. As all had expected, Hazelmere and Dorothea seemed oblivious to all others, as were Cecily and Fanshawe opposite. Due to Lady Merion's strategic planning, no one was the least put out by this, except Lord and Lady Darent. Luckily those disapproving figures were too far removed to exert any dampening influence on the sparkling scene in the middle of the table.

With the removal of the last course, the ladies rose and departed for the drawing-room, leaving the gentlemen to their port. At a dinner preceding a ball the ritual separation was usually kept to a minimum.

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