The Irredeemable Miss Renfield (Uncommon Courtships Book 3) by Regina Scott

Author:Regina Scott [Scott, Regina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Edwards and Williams
Published: 2016-10-19T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

C

leo blinked, then turned to follow Leslie’s gaze to where Lady Agnes was bearing down on them with no less than the undisputed queen of London Society, Lady Jersey, beside her. Lady Jersey’s finely molded head was up, like a horse ready to gallop, and her elegant pistachio green silk gown swirled around her long legs. Cleo gulped in a gasp, pasting what she was sure was a sickly smile on her face. Leslie surreptitiously squeezed her elbow in encouragement.

Lady Agnes had fire in her grey eyes, but it was the redoubtable Lady Jersey who spoke first. “Miss Renfield,” she intoned, bearing dignified while all the while managing to impart her displeasure. “Your godmother assures me there has been some mistake. Did one of my sister patronesses give you permission to waltz, for I am certain I did not.”

Cleo felt as if the air had suddenly chilled. Around them, gentlemen were staring, and women whispered behind their fans. What had she done? Could she have mistaken Leslie? She glanced quickly at him, but for once his usually open face was hooded. Loyalty insisted that she refuse to make him the villain.

“I understood I had permission, Lady Jersey,” she replied humbly. “I assure you, I am as shocked as you are to find I was mistaken. I am terribly sorry. Can you ever forgive me?”

The utterly spineless grovel would have been enough to assuage Ellie or Annie, but Lady Jersey was obviously made of stronger stuff. Cleo had heard that all the patronesses took their roles as social arbiters quite seriously. Indeed, Lady Jersey herself had once refused admittance to the hero of Waterloo, Lord Wellington, when he arrived seven minutes late and wearing trousers rather than the knee breeches the ladies had dictated as proper attire in their hallowed hall. Now Lady Jersey merely narrowed her eyes.

“I do not condone lying, Miss Renfield, any more than I condone impertinence,” she said in tones that only served to chill Cleo further. “Surely you are aware that you must personally request permission. Lady Agnes cannot intercede for you.”

“Nor did I,” Lady Agnes put in even as Cleo felt herself blanching. “But you are far off the mark if you think my Cleo a liar, Sally. Someone is clearly trying to make trouble for her.”

“Perhaps,” Lady Jersey intoned. “And perhaps you are misled by your devotion to the girl. Haven’t I heard any number of exploits recently? Racing in Hyde Park? Stealing other young ladies’ beaus? You have only to look at her hair to know she has wild tendencies.”

Cleo’s hand rose involuntarily to her curls. More people were gathering. Indeed, she’d never felt so many eyes on her. Some people smirked, exchanging knowing looks as Ellie and Annie were wont to do. Others shook their heads in dismay at her obvious downfall. She had never felt so humiliated in her life.

“The wild tendencies,” Leslie said, loud enough to carry to all those listening, “are mine. I wished to waltz with Miss Renfield.

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