A Captain of Consequence by Rachel Osborne

Author:Rachel Osborne [Osborne, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: regency historical romance
Publisher: Rachel Osborne
Published: 2019-06-25T04:00:00+00:00

“I DO HOPE THE GENTLEMEN are quite well.”

Emily’s voice quavered a little but Grace knew her sister well enough to know that it was not concern, but agitation, that made it so.

“Free to smoke and drink and talk precisely as they wish without us ladies nearby to moderate their tone?” Amelia’s eyes sparkled, as she looked from Joanna to Grace and back again. “I should think it impossible that they are not quite well.”

Emily smiled, but it was a half-hearted thing, and Grace saw her eyes dart to her harp. She wished for her audience to arrive so that she might play and begin receiving the adulation she deserved. Unkind sister! Grace chastised herself. She sighed, and it was this sound that caught her friends’ attention. Joanna’s sharp gaze seemed to understand her in a moment, and she looked up from her cards.

“You ought to have joined us in our game of whist, Emily, then you would not notice the time passing so slowly as it seems to.” She nudged Grace. “Guard your cards, Grace. We shall have the best of Mrs Hardcastle and Amelia yet!”

Her voice was artificially bright, but Grace appreciated her intent. She had always been a little nervous around Joanna, conscious of her insightful gaze and waspish temper, although Amelia had always tempered her well. Since Sir Benjamin Devereaux’s return, she had softened still more and whilst Grace knew she must lament the loss of her mother, she could not own that she preferred this new Joanna to the old.

“You ought not to speak so soon, Jo, dear,” Amelia declared, barely containing her laugh of glee as she played the winning hand, escorting her and her partner to victory.

“I demand a rematch!”

The cards were barely laid before Joanna was calling for a second hand, and she summoned Emily closer.

“You will play with us this time, Emily, surely?”

“Yes, dear, you may take my place,” began Mrs Hardcastle, but her words could not be acted upon before the door to the parlour opened to admit the gentlemen, returning as conquerors, with merry smiles for all the ladies.

“Well, now!” Mr Crampton declared, his voice peculiarly loud in the quiet room. “I believe we were promised harp music, were not we? Come, Miss Hardcastle, do not disappoint us now!”

Grace kept her eyes on the table, collecting together the cards she and her friends had been using and setting the small pack down.

“I think we might allow Miss Hardcastle a moment’s respite before pressing her into service,” Captain Sudbury said, and in spite of herself, Grace felt her gaze lift in his direction.

“Oh, she is in no need of further rest, brother, dear!” Amelia said, brightly. “I believe that of all of us, Miss Hardcastle was the most eager for your return so that she could play. Alas, it seems we ladies alone are not enough of an audience to warrant a performance.”

“I see that did not deter you from making fine use of your time,” Sir Benjamin Devereaux teased, as he skirted the card table and offered his hand to his bride-to-be.

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