The Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer

Author:Georgette Heyer [Georgette Heyer]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Eighteen

The Large Gentleman is Awake

There would be cards at Fanshawe’s house, Prudence guessed; a fair number of young bucks might be counted on to be present; and her frustrated duel with Rensley must be sure of receiving notice.

She chose, at random, a coat of peach satin from her wardrobe, and found a fine waistcoat embroidered in silver to wear with it. Robin came to dredge powder on to her brown locks, and was busy with hot irons for a while. Coaxing a rolling curl into place, Robin said: – ‘Leave early, and have no private talk with Fanshawe. It’s my belief it’s a Quixotic gentleman with no other mind than to step between a callow youth and death. But it’s as well to have a care.’

Prudence agreed to the first part of this speech, but held her peace for the rest. No use in alarming Robin, but she felt there might be more in the large gentleman’s mind than her brother guessed. She waited patiently for Robin to finish tying the black riband in her neck, and rose afterwards to be helped into her coat. Her glance strayed to the mirror, and showed satisfaction. Faith, she made a neat young gentleman. Who should think more? She slipped a ring on to her finger, and her snuff-box into one of the great pockets of her coat. Her stockings seemed to her to be rolled too loosely above the knee; she bent to rectify the fault; gave a final pat to the ruffles about her throat, and sallied forth to the waiting chair.

The house in Clarges Street was strangely quiet. As she gave her hat and cloak into the servant’s care she listened for sound of voices, but none came. The lackey went before her to the door of Sir Anthony’s library, flung it wide, and sonorously called her name.

Sir Anthony was standing alone before the fireplace, where a small wood fire burned. There was no one else in the room. He came forward to greet Prudence, took her hand a moment, and asked a jovial question. She answered in kind, and realized with his next words that she was to be his only guest.

‘I’ve positively no entertainment to offer you, excepting a hand at picquet after dinner,’ smiled Fanshawe. ‘I feel I invite you under false pretences, but you’ll forgive me.’

‘Why, I’m pleased to have it so, sir!’ There was not much truth in that, but one must say something of the sort, she supposed. She paused. A word must be said also of his strange behaviour of yesterday, since it concerned her so nearly. There was not a tremor in her voice as she spoke: nothing but a mixture of amusement and some reproof. ‘I have a quarrel with you, Sir Anthony. You must be aware of it.’

He pulled forward a chair for her, and himself stood leaning with his broad shoulders against the mantelshelf. ‘Faith, not I,’ he answered. ‘Have I offended you?’

One of her long fingers played with the fob of her snuff-box.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.