The Lady In Question by Victoria Alexander

Author:Victoria Alexander [Alexander, Victoria]
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Historical
Publisher: Avon
Published: 2010-07-05T22:00:00+00:00

As much as I should like to say I am not at all surprised, I must confess to being more than a little shocked today. It is the behavior of our parents that has put me in such a state, an irony I am still unable to completely grasp.

I am not entirely sure exactly what transpired between them, but as I understand it Father has told Mother you are past the age of consent and have earned the right to make your own mistakes. Furthermore, even while I am as yet unwed and residing under their roof, Father has declared I too am old enough to make my own mistakes although I assure you I have no intention of doing so.

Mother took it with a serene demeanor I have rarely seen her exhibit. I can only suspect the stars have changed their alignment in the heavens or Hades is remarkably chilly or swine shall soon take flight…

“Crimson or eggshell,” Delia said under her breath, pacing the parlor and twisting her hands together. This was absurd. For one foolish moment she had thought focusing her attention on the consideration of a dominant color for the refurbishing of this room, or any room, would take her mind off the fact that St. Stephens would be here at any minute. She should have known better. Nothing short of a herd of rampaging horses in the front hall or the flying pigs her sister had referenced could ever take her mind off of St. Stephens’s imminent arrival.

Delia was certainly as prepared as possible. She wore the black lace gown she’d worn to her grandmother’s ball and knew she looked as good as she ever could in black. Indeed, her anticipation, or apprehension, of the forthcoming evening had brought a blush of color to her cheeks. In addition, she’d spent much of the day going over and over a dozen different versions of what she would say to him and how she would say it. Pity, at the moment she couldn’t think of one.

“Crimson or eggshell.”

What if he had decided not to come at all? Surely he would send a note if he was unable or unwilling to come. He was not the kind of man to accept an invitation and then fail to appear. St. Stephens considered himself far too stuffy for that. She smiled at the very thought. The man wasn’t the least bit stuffy, and whoever had called him such was no doubt mad.

“Crimson or eggshell. Crimson or eggshell…”

Of course, if he had found out she was not Miss Effington, he might be too angry to come. Or humiliated. She could well understand how her deception might make him feel like a fool, particularly given his encounter with her parents. Why, he might even believe she was simply playing some sort of flirtatious game with him. Good heavens, the man had spoken of marriage and the possibility of love, no doubt difficult topics for a man to discuss aloud under any circumstances. Her throat tightened at the thought that she might well never see him again.

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