The Byram Succession: A Regency Romance by Mira Stables

Author:Mira Stables [Stables, Mira]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Endeavour Media
Published: 2018-07-05T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

As Judd drew the bays to a halt in front of the Berkeley Square house, Tina came strolling across the gardens on her way home. Alethea started guiltily. It so chanced that there had been no opportunity of mentioning the projected visit to her cousin, but she knew perfectly well that if opportunity had offered she would have done her utmost to look the other way.

Well — she had had her lovely day. For the sake of her two companions she hoped it would not end in an unpleasant scene. For her own part, it was worth it even if it did.

But Tina behaved beautifully. Forewarned by a careless remark dropped by Mama, she had been granted time to cool her temper and plan her campaign. She greeted them in the friendliest fashion, asking how they had enjoyed their day and then saying, with a pretty pretence of indignation, “Though I don’t know why I’m so forgiving as to speak to you, wretches that you are! You might have given me the chance of going with you. I can’t remember how many times I’ve expressed my desire to meet Lady Emily, so interesting as she must be with her memories of the past.”

Neither could Marianne remember. Not one single occasion. But she was no practised dissembler. She faltered out some lame excuse about thinking that Tina would find it dull.

“Nothing of the kind,” Tina assured her. “But I suppose I’ll have to forgive you, because I simply must show you my new bonnet. Even Mama forgot to preach economy when she saw it. You’ll spare her to me for a few minutes, won’t you, milord?” turning her sweetest smile on Damon. “Or better still, will you not come in, too? I promise not to keep you long, and Mama will want to thank you for giving our little Thea such a delightful treat.”

Alethea’s eyes widened. She wondered how long she had been her cousin’s ‘little Thea’.

His lordship submitted to superior strategy but retained sufficient sense of self-preservation to bid Judd come back for him in half an hour.

Half an hour was quite enough for Tina. It took but five minutes to display the glories of the new bonnet. Then she and Marianne joined the others in the drawing room. In five more minutes, Damon found himself agreeing to make one of a party to ride in the Park next day. Marianne excused herself on the score of a prior engagement. She was not, in any case, very fond of riding, but was sure that Kit would be happy to take her place. Tina, hands clasped at her breast, face rapturous, vowed that she positively doted on the exercise and believed that ‘Thea’ would like it of all things.

Alethea admitted to having ridden a good deal in the country. But she had never ridden in Town and doubted if her riding dress would be modish enough by London standards. Mrs. Newton, exclaiming in dismay at such a careless oversight, said

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