Marion Chesney by The Sins Of Lady Dacey

Author:The Sins Of Lady Dacey [Dacey, The Sins Of Lady]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-03-08T00:14:20.973000+00:00

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She was not an heiress, and in any case, any female under the protection of Lady Dacey should not be encouraged. Archie sunnily accepted his parents’ remarks and promised to court either Miss Faring or Miss Briggs like the dutiful son he was.

The company was gathered in the Buchans’ drawing room when Pamela and Honoria entered. Archie, Honoria saw immediately, was standing by the fireplace talking to two ladies. He looked up briefly at her and then returned to his conversation.

“So kind of you to come,” said Lady Buchan. “Is Lady Dacey not yet returned?”

“No, I am afraid not,” said Pamela. She had noticed Archie's indifference and her heart sank. She wished now that she had warned Honoria.

“That must put you in a very difficult situation,” said Lady Buchan. “Come and meet the rest of the company. Miss Briggs and Miss Faring...” And so the introductions went on. Honoria curtsied to Archie and thanked him shyly for the bouquet of flowers he had sent her that day. He gave her a hunted look, said hurriedly it was nothing, nothing at all, and then immediately engaged Miss Briggs in conversation again, talking about people Honoria did not know and therefore excluding her from the conversation.

The duke arrived with Mr. Delaney just in time to see what was happening. He bowed to his hosts and walked immediately to Honoria's side and raised her hand to his lips. “Miss Goodham,” he said in a caressing voice. “Your beauty eclipses us all. Walk with me for a little. I have news of your aunt.”

“What news?” asked Honoria. She felt miserable about Archie. He had a silly laugh, she decided suddenly. She looked up at the duke, who smiled intimately down into her eyes, making her feel awkward and breathless.

“I heard from a friend recently returned from Paris that your aunt, Lady Dacey, had declared her intention of returning home to take up her duties, namely you and Mrs. Perryworth.”

Honoria felt that what had started as a bad evening was becoming horrible. She realized all at once how comfortable she and Pamela were together and how she secretly dreaded her aunt's return. But there was worse to come. “Do not take Archie Buchan's defection to heart,” she heard the duke say. “I fear I am responsible for that. Mr. Delaney put it about that you were an heiress. I disabused Lord Buchan of that notion. Hence the presence of two genuine heiresses and the busy courtship of Archie.”

“This is dreadful,” exclaimed Honoria. “Such vanity! Mine, I mean. I am grateful to you, Your Grace, for interceding on my behalf. If Mr. Buchan's interest in any female is because of her fortune, then he is not worth knowing.” She looked up at him candidly. “And I know you are flirting with me to be kind, to give me a social cachet I might not otherwise have. I have heard you have a wicked reputation, but I judge people as I find them.

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