The Regency Romances of Mira Stables: Part One by Mira Stables

Author:Mira Stables [Stables, Mira]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Endeavour Media
Published: 2019-02-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Only the waltz cotillon now, reckoned Elizabeth thankfully, going down the set with a cheerful youth who had just bidden a final farewell to Oxford and was quite wild with delight at returning to the freedom of his ancestral acres. She could not remember who he was, but found him pleasantly conversable and was quite sorry when her next partner came up to claim the last dance. As luck would have it they made up a set with Mr Elsford and Miss Bentley, dancing together for the third time. Mr Elsford at least ought to know better, thought Elizabeth soberly. He could have little thought for the child, exposing her to the criticism of all the neighbourhood. She directed upon him a glance of serious reproof which he entirely misunderstood, setting it down to the fact that he had not asked her for a second dance. He smiled at her beguilingly, his resentment all forgotten. She was well enough, Miss Kirkley, a good sort of girl, as he had stoutly maintained to his Mama, even if a trifle revolutionary in some of her notions, but beside the adorable Miss Bentley with her faintly flushed cheeks and her huge worshipping eyes, she paled into insignificance, he decided, as he swept his bows to both ladies and swung into the first figure.

So that was it, thought the Earl, coming quietly into the ballroom through one of the tall windows that stood open to the terrace. Master Timothy playing off his tricks. Yet another pretty face. He shrugged and wondered idly who the chit might be, and whether his nephew would always flit lightly from flower to flower. His wife would probably have to accustom herself to his philanderings, but no doubt there were any number of girls who would not mind, and would only too gladly pick up the handkerchief if Timothy chose to drop it. He was beginning to doubt, however, if Miss Kirkley was of their number.

He stood quietly watching the dancers, as yet unnoticed save by his sister. Then, as the music died and the flood of talk and laughter began to swell again, moved across to the little dais where the musicians were established and spoke for a moment with M. d’Aubiac. The old man’s face lit up with pleasure but he spread his hands wide in a deprecating gesture and his eyes sought Lady Hester’s with a hint of rueful appeal. The Earl smiled, patted him lightly on the shoulder, and crossed to where his sister was standing wondering what in the world he was about. By this time all the eyes in the room were upon him, one or two of the older guests looking startled, even mildly affronted by this unheralded arrival of their absentee host, the younger ones obviously delighted, for to most of them he was little more than a legend, so rarely did he put in an appearance at a purely social function. The glamour of his military career still hung

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