Summer's Secret by Sandra Heath

Author:Sandra Heath [Heath, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Time Travel Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1997-03-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Francis presented Summer. “Mrs. Courtenay, may I present my father’s ward, Miss Huntingford?”

Lady Harvey’s diamond sunburst was dazzling as Melinda gave a slight smile and inclined her head. Behind her domino her eyes were an arresting shade of lilac, and although she directed her reply to Summer, it was upon Francis that her gaze was turned. “I’m honored to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Courtenay.”

Summer was shaken to realize who her quarry had turned out to be. “And ... and I yours, Miss Huntingford.”

At last Melinda’s eyes moved to her. “I trust you are enjoying the ball?”

“I am indeed.” Summer saw how fondly Francis smiled at Melinda, and how anxiously poor Caro watched them both.

“I vow I admire your coiffure greatly, Mrs. Courtenay, and I am especially envious of your Egyptian circlet.”

“Thank you, Miss Huntingford.” It was the opening Summer sought. “May I say in return that your necklace is quite the most beautiful I have ever seen?”

A slender gloved hand crept to the sunburst, and Melinda nodded. “Yes, it is, isn’t it?”

“Is it a family heirloom?”

Melinda paused. “Er, no. It was a gift from my brother.”

Summer felt cold inside. “Indeed? How fortunate you are to have a brother who thinks so highly of you.”

“Brand is very generous.”

Isn’t he just, Summer thought miserably. Had she been closer to the mark than she realized when she accused him of being the thief at the Black Lion? Oh, please, she thought, don’t let that be so, and yet—what other explanation was there? How else could Melinda have come into possession of the necklace? Oh, what a gull she’d been to allow him to seduce her yet again ...

Francis spoke. “Actually where is Brand? I haven’t seen him tonight.”

Melinda smiled at him, “Oh, he’s probably playing billiards with Lord Lytherby; you know how thick they’ve become of late.”

Summer’s heart reached the lowest ebb possible. More and more she feared that Brand had to be party to the plot to force Francis from Caro’s arms into Melinda’s.

Caro toyed with her fan, then glanced at Francis as the orchestra struck up another ländler, “Oh, please, let’s dance,” she begged, determined to get him away from Melinda.

“But we’ve already broken the rules a little too much by dancing three dances in succession,” he replied with a smile. “You know it simply isn’t the thing for a gentleman to dance so frequently with the same lady.”

Caro fell silent, but her crestfallen glance turned briefly toward Melinda.

Summer spoke up. “Caro, have you had any supper yet?”

“Supper? Er, no ...”

Summer tapped Francis’s arm. “Sir, it does not do to neglect the inner woman, or the inner man, for that matter. Why do you not adjourn to the supper room? I vow the spread looks most choice.”

He immediately turned to Caro. “Forgive me, my dearest, I should have thought earlier. Come.” He offered her his arm, and Caro’s little face lit up again as they inclined their heads and left Summer and Melinda.

Melinda’s lilac eyes followed them. “How very happy they seem,” she murmured.

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