Lady Caraway's Cloak by Hayley Ann Solomon

Author:Hayley Ann Solomon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2012-03-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

When Lord Caraway and Captain McNichols called the following afternoon, they were forced to be satisfied with merely leaving cards, for Serena had informed the house staff she was not at home to visitors (forgetting that they would consider his lordship a visitor rather than family) and Miss Julia Waring was having a delightful time riding through Hyde Park on a mare bought by Serena specifically for the purpose.

She was accompanied, very properly, by a groom, with a maid walking purposefully alongside her, but these impediments were as nothing, for it stopped not a single gentleman from stopping and admiring the weather—and, quite naturally, her bonnet. London was, quite simply, delightful. She quelled a little voice telling her it would be more delightful yet if a certain captain of the seas should happen to have his horses take exercise here and she should happen to see him, for she knew she was being absurd.

That very gentleman was escorting her—or strictly speaking, Serena—to the ridotto that evening. She wondered why, of a sudden, the day seemed to be so slow in passing, and the gentlemen doffing their beavers at her so ... uninspiring. She would lay a farthing none of them had a shine in their boots quite like Captain McNichols. As for their eyes, though she had looked at a dozen or so pairs that morning, it was fair to say that none were as soulful, or as compatible with her moods as his were.

Julia had come, rather guiltily, to understand that despite her very proper upbringing, she preferred an impudent smile to polite admiration. Admiration, though pleasant, did not have that fascinating effect upon her pulses, and though she loved pleasantries in the proper form, there was nothing so pleasant, really, as flirtation in the improper form! Captain McNichols had not yet been so bold as to flirt, precisely, but she was very certain he would be amenable to encouragement.

And how much more fun it would be than with Lord Blanely, who leered, or Mr. Curruthers, who lisped simperingly, or even Sir Peter Blakeborough, who had picked a delightful posy for her, but somehow did not have the same effect upon her person as dear Captain Adam McNichols.

As for the Earl of Caraway ... well, he was positively frightening! Julia blushed as she recalled—again, for how could one not reflect on such a thing?—how he had tried to kiss her in the conservatory. Bold as brass, yet somehow too mocking and confident for her tastes. No ... he might have kissed her—shameful behavior! —but he had not meant it to mean a thing. She was positive of it, despite all her mama’s hints and hopes. Thank heavens, too, for she was quite certain that they would not suit. Besides being a great age older than herself (to the young at heart two-and-thirty seems very ancient indeed), he was too confident, too careless with his caresses ... not at all like his debonair friend.

A small sigh escaped Julia, as she reined in the mare.

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