To Love an Earl by Elizabeth Thornton

Author:Elizabeth Thornton
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

« ^ »

Rathbourne's earnest suggestion that Deirdre ease Mrs. Dewinters's way in polite society seemed, on more sober reflection, as impracticable as it was unpalatable. The more she debated the propriety of such an action, the more ineligible Deirdre deemed the enterprise. Setting aside a personal distaste, which appeared irrational in light of her avowed cordiality toward the actress, she did not see how her aunt could be persuaded to such a course, quite the reverse, as she soon discovered.

In the carriage on the way home from the reception, there could be little doubt that Rathbourne had lost his credit with Lady Fenton. Deirdre, still reeling from the shock of Mrs. Dewinters's presence in Brussels and all that it might signify, sat mute and miserable as her aunt voiced her outrage at Rathbourne's want of delicacy in consorting openly with such a woman. Lady Fenton's parting shot at the door of her bedchamber as Deirdre made to move off down the length of the corridor, "You're well out of it, my dear, well out of it," expressed the very thought that had taken hold of Deirdre's mind. Had she been persuaded to marry Rathbourne, she would be stuck at his estate in Warickshire while he would be cavorting in Brussels doing whatever it was he was doing with Mrs. Dewinters. The thought was the perfect antidote to the morass of self-pity that heaved with distressing effect in the pit of her stomach. A surge of pride, hot and angry, brought a quickness to her step and a determined jut to her chin. If she was discomposed by Rathbourne's misconduct, and she was not prepared to admit that it was more than that, he at least would never know it. She would kill Rathbourne and his lightskirt with kindness before she let him think that he could evoke in her breast anything stronger than an imperturbable tolerance.

For the next day or two, Deirdre pushed Rathbourne from her mind. She had an unwitting ally in Lord Uxbridge, for on the morning following the reception, Sir Thomas arrived at the hotel with a note from the commander. Uxbridge requested in the politest terms possible that Deirdre allow him the honor of providing a mount for her for as long as she intended to stay in Brussels. He had done as much for his sister, Lady Capet, who had arrived with her family, as arranged, in the previous week. Furthermore, he taunted brazenly, he was sure that once Deirdre had put her spurs to Lustre, she would be forced to concede what she had disclaimed in their tête-à-tête at the Embassy, namely that, in spite of her preference for Barbaries and Turks, there could be no finer horseflesh than the English thoroughbred, especially when such a specimen could claim Eclipse for her grandsire.

Deirdre was thunderstruck. She looked at her uncle for confirmation.

"I gave my permission," he said with a twinkle. "Uxbridge's groom awaits your pleasure."

Deirdre picked up her skirts and dashed down the stairs with little ceremony and halted abruptly when she was blinded by the bright light of day.

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.