Harlequin Historical March 2017, Box Set 2 of 2 by Tatiana March

Author:Tatiana March
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488021244
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Two nights later, Ben handed the Lambornne ladies into a hackney as they set off for dinner at the Lyndlingtons’.

‘I see the shopping expedition was a success,’ he said as the ladies seated themselves. ‘That celestial blue becomes you wonderfully, Lady Aldermont. You are lovely, too, Lyssa. That gold trim on that green brings out the fire in your eyes.’

While Lady Aldermont blushed and thanked him, Lyssa merely nodded. She also seemed as tense as she was lovely—as if already convinced the dinner would be a trial.

‘Too bad this will only be a casual dinner, with no dancing. I’d be the envy of the gentlemen, squiring two such lovely ladies across the floor,’ he said, hoping to set her more at ease. Without much success, for she only frowned.

After a concerned look at her daughter, Lady Aldermont said, ‘Won’t you tell us who will be present tonight, Mr Tawny?’

Hoping to set his intended more at ease, Ben said, ‘It will be a small group and you may well be acquainted with some of them, Lady Aldermont. Lady Lyndlington’s father, Lord Witlow, and her aunt, the Dowager Countess of Sayleford, will be there, along with my colleagues, of course. Giles Hadley, Lord Lyndlington, David Tanner Smith and his wife, Faith, formerly Duchess of Ashedon, and Christopher Lattimar.’

‘Your Hellions?’ Lady Aldermont asked. ‘I am acquainted with Lord Witlow—a fine, courteous gentleman. Lady Sayleford was quite the arbiter of fashion when I was coming out—all the girls on the Marriage Mart lived in terror of a blighting word from her! The younger set, I don’t know. Could you tell me a bit about them?’

With a glance at Alyssa, who continued to sit in silence, looking grim as if girding herself for an ordeal, Ben continued, ‘Giles’s mother—as I’m sure you’ll remember, for it was quite a scandal—was divorced by his father when Giles was quite young. Like me, he spent his early days with her in an isolated cottage. After his aunt’s prodding, his father eventually was induced to send him to school and university. Whereas the Viscount sustained us in tolerable comfort—as much, I suppose, as can be expected for a woman who bears a child out of wedlock,’ Ben said, trying to keep the bitterness out of his voice, ‘he also provided for my schooling, which is where I met Giles and Christopher, at Eton, and later David, at Oxford. With all of us having an unusual family background to set us apart from our fellows, we became fast friends.’

He chuckled. ‘The ladies are equally out of the common way. Lady Margaret, daughter of one of the Tory leaders in the House of Lords, wed Giles, the voice of the Reform opposition in the Commons, while the Duchess recently scandalised society by marrying David, a farmer’s orphan. In her defence, he’s both a long-standing friend of the family and an exceptional man. When still a lad, his courage and initiative won the respect and esteem of Sir Edward Greaves, who sponsored him at school and in Parliament.

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