Going to a mantle full of floral offerings, she selected a bouquet of yellow roses she had set in the very center. After taking a long sniff, she waltzed around the room, holding them to her as though they were her partner.
“And what do your parents think of this young man?” Sophie asked. She felt ancient suddenly, wondering if she could ever experience an ecstasy that would cause her to act as carefree as her friend did. With the childhood she had experienced, Sophie had never been lighthearted and had learned to bury her feelings, be they good or bad. Melissa had been the only harbinger of joy at a very bleak time in her life.
“Oh, it is far too soon for any of that. But, speaking of the parents, my father is livid. Only think: Donald was sent down from Oxford for gambling in his rooms!”
“Was your father very harsh with him?” Sophie asked.
“He’s threatening to withhold his allowance for the next quarter if he gambles again. He called him a bird-witted clunch!” Melissa giggled. “Now, I have monopolized the talk, and your escort was by far and away the handsomest man present. Father liked him, no doubt because they side with one another on the Corn Laws Tariff.”
“I am certain Gorgeous Frank has faults, but I could find none,” Sophie sighed. “Of course, any future between us is impossible, simply because he is so gorgeous. How could he be interested in someone who could not dance? Besides which, he is a Corinthian—sports mad—according to Buck. And he knows I cannot so much as ride a horse. It must have been a very dull evening for him.”
“Whenever I looked over, he seemed very attentive to you.”
“He was exceedingly attentive.” She told Melissa about the Carstairs and all the other musical people she had met. “I found out when I returned home that dear Fan had asked him to introduce the Carstairs to me.”
“What do you think Lady Hatchet would think of him?”
“Oh, pray do not speak of my mother to me. She would not welcome the match. After all, Elise married a duke, and Fanny a marquis. A mere viscount would not satisfy her.”
{ 4 }
VISCOUNT TROWBRIDGE WOKE LATE and breakfasted at home. After perusing the Times and various sporting periodicals, he adjourned to his library, where he had several matters to take care of regarding his Oxfordshire estate. Old Grimes had passed on to his reward, and there was his widow to see to. Consulting the chart that showed his cottages and their inhabitants, he saw that he had a small dwelling available in the village next to his estate. He busied himself writing to his estate agent to see that the Widow Grimes was moved into the cottage and added to the list of pensioners. Her former cottage on the home farm was to be turned out and prepared for a new tenant.
Frank checked his watch and heaved a sigh. He must visit Lila and get it over with.
He found his mistress at home in Berkeley Square. Her husband was presently in the country tending to his passion—horse breeding—rendering Lila more available, and hence more demanding than usual.
“Darling Frank,” she greeted him, drawing him into her gold-furnished boudoir. “I thought you would never come. Shall we go to Richmond today for a picnic? I have had Cook make one up for us.” She hung onto the lapels of his jacket, a thing which he realized had always annoyed him.
“I think not, Lila. I am engaged later this afternoon and have only just eaten.”
Lila did not pout. Instead, she grew distant and austere. “The Edwards chit, is it?”
He raised an eyebrow but forbore answering.
“So are you going to become boring and respectable, then?”
“Not boring, I hope. Let us do a little shopping on Bond Street.”
“I do not want any jewelry. And I will not accept my congé ! You are going to grow tired of that limping little miss, I guarantee it. And then where will you be?”
“It is not Miss Edwards, Lila.”
“So it is me? You do not care for me any longer? I still do not believe it.” She turned her back to him.
“Shrewsbury is interested, Lila. You will be far better off with him. He has a less uncertain temper.”
“Just go,” she said, her voice hoarse with tears. “I do not wish you well. In fact, I hope you will be quite miserable.”
With relief, he left the overcrowded, overly sumptuous boudoir and wondered how it had ever excited him. Wondered how Lila had ever excited him. He must have been truly bored.
He walked to Bond Street, anxious for his appointment with the Gentleman. When Frank got to the boxing saloon, he hailed Shrewsbury, who was just taking off his gloves. “She’s all yours, my friend. But you’ll have to be conciliatory. She’s a little angry at the moment.”
Shrewsbury grinned. “In need of solace, is she? I’m very good at that. Perhaps I will go bearing gifts.”
“That is a good idea.”