The Silver Squire by Mary Brendan

Author:Mary Brendan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

‘You seem a little happier this evening, Amelia.’

‘Stephen has been so agreeable,’ Amelia brightly disclosed. ‘We chatted this afternoon for an age and although nothing was mentioned of those suspicions I told you of he seemed very attentive. He took Jake out on his pony…and spent time in the nursery with Alice and us all.’

Emma breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Good…you were perhaps mistaken in your reasons for arguing by the lake, then.’

‘I do hope so,’ Amelia sighed. ‘And I’m glad you managed to slip out and see your friend Matthew. It was very mean of Richard to deny you a carriage just because you had quarrelled. Unlike him, too. He is never usually petty when cross with someone.’

Amelia linked arms with Emma and they strolled away from the sets forming on the dance floor and towards some chairs ranged against the wall.

‘Richard never accompanies you all to these dances?’ Emma asked casually, yet praying that the answer would be in the negative. Her wanton behaviour in his study that afternoon was so fresh in her mind that her lips pulsed and her face flamed anew with the memory of it. It must have been the stress of the day that had caused her to act so, she consoled herself. There was no other explanation for acting like a mindless fool, obeying his every command.

‘Heavens, no!’ Amelia broke into Emma’s pensiveness. ‘You would have more chance of spying him at one of Mrs Petersham’s afternoon tea parties!’

‘I’m sure Mrs Petersham and Veronica would be very happy to see him,’ Emma returned a little sourly.

Amelia tinkled a laugh and flapped a hand. ‘Oh, that is nothing. Miriam has no real wish for an alliance there. She simply hopes that by placing Veronica constantly in Richard’s way he might surrender and finally pay his addresses to the woman he will eventually marry: a duke’s daughter. As you are friends he will no doubt tell you himself of his intentions towards Lady Penelope—and her dowry, of course. Stephen says the settlement will bring Richard copper-mining rights in Devon that he is desperate to have.’ She lowered her voice. ‘Apparently there is a fortune to be unearthed on the Duke of Winstanley’s land.’ She smoothed her gloves, then continued. ‘Naturally, it is no love match…although Penelope seems quite smitten. But Richard will not worry…he has his…lady friends.’ She glanced at Emma from beneath her lashes. ‘As you know him of old…in his London heyday…you know that he and David Hardinge were most terrible scoundrels. Richard is improved, but not cured of bachelor excesses. He and Ross are no doubt carousing about town as usual.’ Amelia sighed. ‘I think, at times, Stephen hankers after their permissive lifestyle…’

‘I’m sure it’s no more than an idle envy,’ Emma reassured her friend, but her voice was thin and an odd chill seemed to seep through her veins. Richard, married? For some reason it had not occurred to her that a serious alliance might be brewing. Yet it

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