The Indomitable Miss Harris by Amanda Scott

Author:Amanda Scott [Scott, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2013-07-21T16:00:00+00:00

IX

WORD THAT THE BRIDEGROOM’S name had been deleted from the royal wedding list spread quickly, giving rise to all manner of rumors. It was a well-known fact that the princess had received a Sunday-afternoon call from the Tsar and the grand duchess, so it was not exactly wonderful that many persons thought such rude behavior must be at their instigation.

The princess made no secret of her actions; therefore, many of the guests at the magnificent masquerade given by White’s Club at Burlington House that night indulged themselves in idle speculation, but they were doomed to disappointment. The Prince Regent was in high spirits and made no reference whatsoever to the incident.

Gillian worried until the very last moment that Landover might forbid her attendance, but she need not have bothered her head about it. A party had been organized by Lady Harmoncourt and Lady FitzWilliam, Clara’s mother, and everyone was to meet at the FitzWilliams’ elegant home for dinner before going on to the masquerade.

Gillian was delighted to discover that Lord Darrow had been included in the party, and she greeted him warmly. “Good evening, sir. But you are not in fancy dress either! I had hoped to see you as a pirate again.”

He grimaced and looked quickly around to see if anyone had overheard her. “I’d as lief you’d not bring that up, Miss Harris. And as a matter of fact,” he added, eyeing her rose-pink satin domino and dainty, lace-edged loo masque with a teasing glint of mockery, “I daresay you’d as soon I not ask why you are dressed so demurely upon this occasion.”

Gillian blushed rosily. The one matter that had not been discussed after her first experience at a masqued ball had been her dress. And what Landover might have had to say on the subject had he been privileged to see the daffodil taffeta confection she had worn that night did not bear thinking of.

Darrow grinned at her expression. “Would you believe me if I tell you I liked the yellow bit of fluff a dashed sight better than the admittedly elegant gown you’re wearing tonight? This color becomes you well enough, but there was a certain something about the other.”

“Oh, I’d believe you, my lord,” she laughed. “The ‘certain something’ is called impropriety. That gown was wickedly improper, as you well know, and I quite agree that the less said about the other ball, the better. Where is your cousin?”

“Waiting to make her entrance, I daresay. No doubt she wants to impress Landover.”

Gillian sighed. For the past week, while the Countess de Lieven had been plagued by the Grand Duchess Oldenburg, she had been plagued by Miss Clara FitzWilliam. The girl seemed utterly ubiquitous. Whenever Lady Sybilla came to call, she was accompanied by the flaxen-haired beauty, and like as not Landover would make an appearance. He always seemed perfectly at ease, and Gillian could not see that his interest in Miss FitzWilliam had abated in the slightest. If he did not go out of

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