The End of Her Innocence by Sara Craven

Author:Sara Craven [Craven, Sara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780373130559
Amazon: 0373130554
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-02-20T13:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

BY THE night at the ball, Chloe had been so nervous she almost wished she’d developed shingles herself.

But the dress had looked even better than it had in the shop, and she’d caught back her newly washed tumble of dark curls, securing them away from her face with two pretty silver combs.

‘You look lovely, my dear,’ Uncle Hal greeted her as she came downstairs. ‘Isn’t she a picture, Libby? The belle of the ball in person.’

Her aunt, elegant in a plain black dress topped by a hip-length sequinned jacket, smiled affectionately and nodded, and if she still had concerns, she kept them well hidden.

The ballroom at the Hall was at the rear of the house, and was approached through a large conservatory where Sir Gregory waited to receive his guests, with Andrew Maynard beside him, the formality of evening clothes emphasising the rigidity of his demeanour, and making him look more like a soldier on parade than a man at the start of a pleasant social occasion.

But his tension appeared to be shared. Penny stood next to him, ravishing in a deep fuchsia-pink sheath, but her face under her immaculately piled-up hair was taut, and her smile seemed as if it had been painted on.

While of Darius, there was no sign.

As Chloe paused in front of Penny to say a shy, ‘Good evening,’ the older girl gave a slight nod, then turned calling ‘Laurence.’

A tall, fair young man detached himself from a nearby group and came towards them.

‘Yes, Mrs Maynard?’

‘This is Chloe Benson, our local vet’s daughter,’ Penny drawled. ‘It’s her first Birthday Ball, so make sure she meets a few people of her own age, please.’

Laurence did not appear overjoyed to have been appointed resident babysitter, and Chloe, smarting at Penny’s casual attitude, shared his reservations in full. It was far from being the introduction to the ball that she’d hoped for. Which proved only how silly it was possible to be, she thought as she followed him reluctantly.

And her misgivings seemed entirely justified as one of the girls in the group they were approaching looked at her dress and said in a stage whisper, ‘I thought this was a dance, not a fancy dress parade,’ setting off a faint ripple of amusement.

‘Meet Chloe Benson,’ Laurence announced. ‘Apparently she’s a local.’

‘Really?’ One of the other girls raised her eyebrows. ‘I don’t remember you at St Faiths?’ She was referring to the expensive girls’ day school on the other side of East Ledwick, and Chloe shook her head.

‘I went to Freemont High School.’

‘Oh,’ said the other. ‘Oh, I see. Well, I suppose that would explain it.’

‘Did you think tonight was fancy dress?’ The original speaker was back on the attack, looking her over.

Flushing, Chloe lifted her chin. ‘No,’ she returned. ‘I’m simply wearing a dress I fancied.’ And allowed her own appraising glance to suggest that scarlet taffeta was not the wisest choice for someone at least a stone overweight.

‘And why wouldn’t you?’ A brown-haired girl with mischievous hazel eyes came forward.

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