The Accidental Miss: A Novella by Mary Donne Donahue

Author:Mary Donne Donahue [Donahue, Mary Donne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TVAAW
Published: 2014-11-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

“Lady Saltash saw the whole thing in the milliner’s shop,” said a man’s snide voice. “I cannot believe she was invited here, bumbler that she is. I’ll swear, she shall never be invited to one of our parties.”

Gwendolyn’s cheeks began to burn, though the color drained from them. The voice she was hearing was directly outside the window on the terrace, and she recognized it with acute accuracy.

“To be sure, Conrad, why so much animosity against the lady?” asked another man with a twangy voice.

“My sister knows her, and we went riding together before coming to town, and the clumsy girl pushed me into a muddy creek, ruining my new Hoby boots I had just purchased,” he said, the venom still in his voice.

“Maybe you deserved to be pushed in,” laughed his cohort.

‘What a liar!’ Gwendolyn thought angrily. He knew it was her horse that pushed her into him, and he could not even admit that, but must needs be spreading malicious gossip about her.

Before she could move away from the window, Conrad’s loud voice came clearly through the open window as he said unpleasantly, “I hear she is called ‘The Blonde Bumbler’. I believe it suits her rather well.” Laughter followed this rude comment on the outside of the window, but silence fell among the few people within the drawing room who happened to be close enough to hear.

Gwendolyn stiffened perceptibly and her paled face now reddened. Those around who did hear merely looked at one another with questioning expressions, but Carolyn recognized her brother’s voice and that his ungentlemanly remarks were about Gwendolyn.

She quickly walked up to Gwendolyn and said quietly, “Oh, dear, Gwendolyn. Please forgive my crass brother. I cannot believe he would say those things.” Seeing her friend’s flushed but red cheeks, she asked placing her hand on Gwendolyn’s arm,

“Are you going to be all right?”

Gwendolyn took a deep breath and turned. “I must go to my mother. Thank you for your kind concern, Carolyn. I think I need to go now.” She walked away from the window to look for her mother in the crowded drawing room. She found her with a lady in a tall, purple turban hat with a large feather that bobbed about as she conversed.

“Mother, may I talk with you?” she asked weakly smiling in an attempt to overcome her strangled emotions.

“Yes, dear. Please excuse me, Lady Filbert. Now, Gwennie, what is the matter? You do not look so well, my darling?” she said with concern.

“Mother, I should like to go home. I have the headache,” she said quietly. “A dreadful headache.”

“I am so sorry, Gwennie. Yes, of course. I shall inform your father and grandmother that we need to leave. Do take leave of your hostess, Gwendolyn, and I shall have your father call for the carriage.” Gwendolyn found Lady Barclay and after saying her good-byes, headed for the door.

Across the room, Lord Cameron saw the exchange of Lady Carolyn and Miss Bowler by the window and noticed the shocked look on Miss Bowler’s face.

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