The Bimbo Surprise Bundle by Cindy Lapel

Author:Cindy Lapel [Lapel, Cindy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5: Lady Em

It ought to be a truth universally acknowledged that a single lady in possession of a competence financially, is not necessarily in search of a husband; if only it were.

My sister, Ella, Lady March, seemed to feel almost affronted that her younger sister was still a spinster at the advanced age of twenty-two. So when I was summoned for a weekend at Justice Hall (the March family country house), I felt, as I told Kasia, three conflicting feelings: annoyance that I should miss a weekend of fun at the Club; pleasure at seeing Ella; and irritation at what I was sure she had in mind for me. It was no accident that they were having a grand ball on Saturday night and people to stay.

"If there are not several eligible young men there, Kasia, I shall eat my hat!"

"I should not be surprised, Lady Em, you are a pretty little thing. You know men are not all bad, I enjoy them!"

I looked at her.

"My darling Kasia, you are omnivorous!"

"The world is full of variety, why not try what is on offer?"

"I rather fancy being in control of my own direction in life, Kasia. I can't imagine a husband would approve of my nocturnal activities in the Club."

"My lady has a good point. We shall see what the week-end brings."

Justice Hall was a former Abbey which the family had acquired at the time of the Reformation. Edmund, Ella's husband, had renovated it with money made in the American colonies, where the family had been able to hold on to its property through a cadet branch who had sided with the revolutionaries, and the ball was a celebration of those ties. Ella said it would be interesting to meet some "colonists", as she called them. So it proved.

Kasia and I arrived late Friday afternoon after a long journey by coach. That gave me time to rest before meetings our American visitors at supper.

Ella, who clearly had matchmaking on her mind, came over the moment I entered the drawing room.

"Em, come and meet Aunt Serrada, she's the widow of Edmund's uncle who managed to help keep the American properties in the family."

I thought that was an interesting name. Its owner was even more intriguing.

Aunt Serrada was a little taller than me, her bosom was the size of Kasia's and clearly pushed out and up by some specially designed underwiring designed to emphasise her shape. Her American accent was pronounced, and she jumped straight into conversation as though we had known each other forever. This was, I discovered, an American trait.

"Well, ain't you the cutest little thing. I like your sister Ella, she's like me, one of those gals who knows her own mind; she's good for Edmund. Now, let me introduce you to a friend of mine who helps manage the Maryland estates, Eric, you come over here now, this is Emily."

Imagine my surprise when, as Eric approached I recognised "him" to be none other than "Erica" from the Club. I do not know which of us was the more surprised, but we hid it well.

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