The Bath Trilogy by Amanda Scott

Author:Amanda Scott [Scott, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
Published: 2013-03-05T20:18:00+00:00

IX

CAROLYN HAD NO FURTHER opportunity to practice her wiles on the royal brothers before dinner, or for the three-quarters of an hour afterward when she and the other ladies were left to their own devices while the gentlemen lingered over their port. But when the men returned to the drawing room, the Regent soon joined the group of which she was a part. This was not wholly due to chance, for having noted earlier his partiality for Lord and Lady Yarmouth, she had taken care to seat herself near her ladyship, a plump woman of forty, and to engage her in conversation.

At first the group’s conversation was general, but since the Regent always had an eye for a pretty face, it required no great effort on Carolyn’s part to engage his attention, and soon the others drew away, leaving them to themselves. She knew that he had honored her as much for her sympathetic ear as for any other reason, but that made no difference, especially when she saw Sydney, his eyes narrowed, watching them from a short distance away where he was engaged in a conversation of his own.

The Regent complained just then that he had rather have been playing whist. “M’ brother York’s games are always amusing,” he said. “Stakes are a bit high for those of us not so plump in the pockets as others, but I enjoy the company and the sport, damme if I don’t. ’Tis a shame I must wait about, kicking m’ heels, as I must. But ’tis always the way, waiting and waiting for things to happen, and for things that never do,” he added morosely.

“That is tiresome, sir, certainly, but why must you?”

“Well, there’s always m’ father, don’t you know. Being Regent ain’t the same as being King, not by a long chalk. But that’s by the way. Tonight I’m waiting for m’ daughter, and the chit’s late as usual, damme if she ain’t. No consideration, this modern generation, none at all.”

“I did know that the Princess Charlotte was expected to arrive this evening,” Carolyn said cautiously, aware that she must say nothing that might be construed as criticism of the Regent, his daughter, or indeed, any of the royal family, even if it should be by way of agreement with him.

There was no need for her to say more, however, for the prince retorted testily, “Of course, she’s arriving tonight. Damned ball tomorrow’s in her honor, ain’t it? Frederica’s arranged the whole thing for Charlotte’s amusement, hasn’t she, all because she thinks we ought to be putting a good face on things, not letting the quizzes put about the sort of stories they delight in—daresay you know the muck I mean.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Damme, but it’s a nuisance, fretting about what people say or even what they might think, doing the fancy, showing everyone we can be as cozy as the next family. Daresay, next they’ll say I must show m’self cozy again with Ernest,” he added, glancing at Cumberland, who was

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