The Talk Of The Town by Lynne Connolly

Author:Lynne Connolly [Connolly, Lynne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2023-06-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

“I’m afraid I must leave soon, too,” Bianca said at breakfast. Alex had just announced that he was leaving and then left the room to see Villiers, or so he said.

“Oh dear!” Lady Salish, the mother of two aspirants to Alex’s hand exclaimed. A tall, ascetic woman, not quite as tall as Bianca, but getting there, she tended to dress in delicate fabrics in light pastel colors. “And I was wishing for a quiet word with you. Unfortunately, we must leave soon, too, delightful though this visit has been.” She glanced at her husband and shrugged. “We have enjoyed your hospitality, Lady Stonyhurst.”

Maria was present, though her husband was not. She appeared considerably brighter these days. Perhaps she’d found a new lover. As long as her husband acknowledged any child she bore as his, the child, whoever his father, would become the marquess. Though if the marquess didn’t take heed of Alex’s warning, all hell would break loose. With the marquess’s three heirs in the house, the respectable wing had better sort itself out and decide who was marrying whom.

“We’ve hardly exchanged a word since you arrived,” Lady Salish said with a pout. “Would you walk with us after breakfast? The day is so lovely, it would be a shame to spend it indoors.”

Since she could not excuse herself without appearing rude, she agreed to the stroll. Lady Salish had treated her coldly during this visit, but perhaps Bianca had redeemed herself without realizing it.

At any rate, she found herself in the company of not only her ladyship, but two of her daughters. They had to walk a little apart, to avoid the clash of parasols. Bianca soon put hers down, since the day was overcast, and her bonnet would shelter her face from the sun, but Lady Salish’s daughters spun and flirted with theirs, despite there being no gentleman present.

“This house is astonishing,” her ladyship began. “Do you not think so?”

“It certainly holds its share of treasures,” Bianca answered cautiously. “And everything is displayed in the greatest taste. But . . .”

“Yes?”

Well, why not explain her misgivings? “A treasure house doesn’t make a home. Every room is carefully arranged. Some of the sofas have legs so thin I dare not sit on them.”

“Oh, the ones his lordship obtained from the Versailles auction?” Her ladyship twirled her parasol and glanced up at the sky before following Bianca’s example and putting it down. She moved a trifle closer. “Though one does not like to ask how he obtained them, it has to be admitted that they are of the very best. Perhaps the poor late queen sat on those sofas or used that charming bonheur du jour in the music room.”

“It’s possible.” Bianca didn’t really care for the over-gilded, over-designed pieces, but she wouldn’t say so, since her ladyship obviously admired them.

“And if her ladyship doesn’t make haste to begin her nursery, it will all go to the mongrel.”

Bianca closed her eyes, forcing the reply back when her ladyship used that hateful word.

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.