The Bluestocking's Dilemma by Evelyn Richardson

Author:Evelyn Richardson [Richardson, Evelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1992-11-23T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

As usual, Lady Jersey’s strategy had been highly successful. Without exception, each occupant of the box was left with certain reflections, some more unsettling than others. Lavinia was positively fuming. That the princess should so obviously snub her in favor of her scrubby little cousin was outside of enough, but to have that odious Sally Jersey gloating over it and flirting with Nicholas was beyond all bearing! She turned a dazzling smile on the marquess and picked up the thread of her flirtatious chatter, which had been so rudely interrupted.

For her part, Caro was almost as upset as Lavinia. That Lavvy, for whom she had sacrificed her freedom and the delight she took daily from the freshness of the countryside around Waverly Court, should consider her such a liability to her standing in the ton when Caro accompanied her from one stultifying gathering to another was so infuriating that it was not to be thought of. For one brief moment, Caro had the most insane desire to grab her cousin’s slim white throat, shake her until her teeth rattled, and tell her precisely what she thought of her spoiled and selfish ways.

Fortunately, before she could commit such an act of violence, Sir Evelyn Willoughby intervened. Well-accustomed to the ways of Sally Jersey, he saw what she was about and stepped in smoothly to pick up where she had left off. Smiling benignly, he continued as though there had not been an ominous silence after the ladies’ departure. “I can see you are a great favorite with the princess. Small wonder, for she rarely finds someone with enough wit to keep her amused for long. It is her esprit and intelligence which distinguish her from the rest of the members of the ton and attract so many admirers. Compared to all the exquisite but vapid women of fashion, she is a refreshing change and her charm is all the more potent because it is unique. You are very like her, you know.’’

“I?” Caro gasped, thinking that there could be nothing further from the truth. That anyone who had just been stipulated an antidote could be compared in the same breath with one of Almack’s most brilliant patronesses seemed ludicrous in the extreme.

“Why, you are every bit as clever as the princess and, as far as your person goes, you are far more lovely.” Casting a swift grateful smile at Sir Evelyn, Helena came stoutly to the defense of her protégée.

“Indubitably. I am glad that you agree with me, Miss Gray. I can see I was not mistaken in thinking you a woman of great good sense.” Sir Evelyn bowed gracefully in her direction. “But, Lady Caroline, you do your sex a disservice by depriving the ton of your stimulating conversation. Why should those who devote their existences to their outward appearance succeed at the expense of those who put their energies into higher things? You will do society no good at all, you know, by burying yourself in the country and allowing such women to rule the ton.

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