Tempting Harriet by Mary Balogh

Author:Mary Balogh [Balogh, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Historical Romance
ISBN: 9780451179524
Google: 66bPPAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0451179528
Barnesnoble: 0451179528
Goodreads: 690063
Publisher: Signet
Published: 1994-04-30T12:00:00+00:00

"Dinner for twenty-four," the Duchess of Tenby said, presenting her grandson with a written list when they had retired to the drawing room after dinner. The duchess had never allowed her menfolk to linger over their port when they dined en famille. "I have included the people you especially asked for this morning, Tenby. The other suggestions are my own. You will notice that in addition to Lady Phyllis Reeder, I have listed the Kingsleys and their daughter, Lady Leila. She has been presented this spring, I gather, though she is barely seventeen. You may wish to consider her. Girls who are fresh from the schoolroom are often more easily bent to a husband's will than those who are in their third Season. And she is a marquess's daughter."

The girl did slightly resemble a horse. Bruce's words had been unkind but true. It was the narrow face and prominent teeth and rather long nose that did it. Now he was being unkind, even though he did not speak his thoughts aloud. The girl was just an infant and often looked frightened. Her mother should have insisted that she remain in the schoolroom for at least another year. The thought of bending her to his will did not appeal.

He looked at the list broodingly.

"So you see, Tenby," his grandmother said, "that I am not tightening the noose about your neck. There will be twenty-three other persons here apart from Lady Phyllis. I will be interested in looking her over."

His grandmother was amazing, the duke thought, his eyes scanning the names on the list. She had been in London for two days and had not been here for two years before that, yet already she knew who else was there and who was eligible to be invited for her public viewing of his prospective bride.

"There are only twenty-three names on the list," he said, counting.

"Eh?" His aunt had finished pouring the tea and had become interested in the conversation. He repeated what he had said in a yell.

"We need one more lady," his grandmother said. "I did not know if you would prefer Lady Trevor, Lady Howden, or Lady Pryde, Tenby. I waited to consult you."

"Eh?" Lady Sophia demanded.

The duchess repeated her words.

"Is my dear Lady Wingham on that list, Archibald?" the old lady roared. "I told Sadie to put her there, but I do not know if she heard me. Sometimes I think Sadie must be going deaf." She rumbled.

The duke forced his fingers not to tighten on the paper.

"Her name is not here, Aunt," he said.

"Put it down, then, dear Archibald," she said. "And seat her next to me at dinner. She is the only person willing to speak loudly enough for me to hear. I would swear every-one else talks nothing but secrets all day long that they must whisper so."

"I believe, Sophie," the duchess yelled, "that Lady Wingham might feel out of place in such company. Perhaps you could invite her to tea again one day next week."

"You know I do not like to be difficult, Sadie," Lady Sophia said.

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