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.His bow was courtly, European in flavor, and with a shock, she recognized him.“Comte de Guignard, my rescuer in the park.” She lavished a smile on him.After all, it wasn’t his fault she hadn’t really needed rescuing.He had been as gallant as a dream.“Or one of my rescuers.Where is Monsieur Bouchard?”“I am here.” Monsieur Bouchard stepped forward, a man so overburdened by his mustache that it looked as though the weight of it had dragged the hair off his head.When she’d met him in the park, he’d been smoking a fat brown cigar, and he had smelled of the smoke.Although the cigar was gone, he reeked.He made an abrupt bow, and she thought he must come from a common background, more common even than her own, for his social graces seemed tacked on, learned late in life and not at all a part of his personality.“You are recovered.”“I am.Thank you both for being so chivalrous to a lady you didn’t know.” She spoke to them, but she directed the message at the hovering Lord Huntington.“Your kindness lit a warmth in my heart.”Comte de Guignard was in the prime of life; in other words, at that delicate age where men realized they were no longer the youngest and strongest males in the pack, and they always made fools of themselves over younger women.Caroline had seen it occur time and again; she smiled, she spoke, she teased, and the gentlemen became infatuated.She never intended for it to happen; she simply pandered to their vanity and their disappearing youth, and suddenly they fell in love with her.Now she saw it occur again.At her words, Comte de Guignard straightened his already straight spine, pulled back his muscled shoulders, and jutted his chin.“It was a pleasure I’ve dwelled on, hoping to renew our social contact, but alas, although I looked, I saw you nowhere.”“Yes.Speaking of contact, Miss Ritter, I see you’ve furthered your friendship with Lord Huntington.” Monsieur Bouchard’s eyes flicked between her and Huntington.It sounded like a statement, but it was a question, and rather an authoritative one.Obviously, Monsieur Bouchard didn’t fall in love as easily as Comte de Guignard, and his query brought all the assembly straining to hear her answer.But Caroline didn’t have to—didn’t want to—explain her connection with Huntington, so she used her smile with a hint of reserve.“I have.” She glanced around the small gathering, and with humor in her tone, said, “He improves on acquaintance.”“Miss Ritter is a friend of mine,” Nicolette said easily.“We had lost track of each other, and I was delighted to find her again.I’m sure you’ll frequently see us together.In fact, she’s staying with us.”Caroline saw the news travel from one ear to another until it had reached the far edges of the drawing room.She wouldn’t have been surprised to discover that it hopped out the window and flew through the streets of London like some kind of gossip bird that squawked like a town crier.Miss Ritter is the guest of the duke of Nevett and his wife, and their son visits frequently.As she’d feared, this arrangement held all the hallmarks of disaster.She had to move quickly to establish her presence was not of a romantic nature.Unless one could call one extremely glorious kiss romantic—which she did not.“Like all English ladies, Miss Ritter appreciates my social graces and the advice I can give her about the ways of the Continent.” Huntington preened like a peacock.Ah.Her chance came at once.“I beg you, my lord, don’t put words in my mouth.I can speak for myself, and while Comte de Guignard and Monsieur Bouchard bring a Continental flare to our gathering”—Caroline extended a gracious hand to Comte de Guignard—“it’s the English ladies who make the gathering bloom.”“You are wise.It is indeed the captivating ladies who brought us to England.” Comte de Guignard took her hand and bowed over it, then bowed again, a flawless, elegant bow that included all the company.“And their kindness to visitors that keeps us on your shores.”A spattering of applause proved they had the attention of the nearby company, and provided unexpected approval to Caroline.“Well said, Comte de Guignard,” Nicolette said.“We’re enchanted to have you and Monsieur Bouchard with us today.”“Ecstatic!” Huntington flapped his handkerchief like an overenthusiastic spaniel.The ladies in the room turned away as if embarrassed by his gusto, and Caroline wanted to groan.He had to marry, and if he couldn’t cajole a lady in this charitable gathering to sit with him, it would be impossible to find him a mate in society.Driven to distraction and despair, she caught his hand, halting the flip of the handkerchief, and hissed, “What are you doing? Stop that at once!”She must have said it a little too loud, for conversation faded, then picked up again.She glanced from side to side, met gazes that sidled away, and blushed hotly.“Of course.” Huntington put his handkerchief into his waistcoat pocket.“I obey you implicitly.”“Pish-tosh!” she retorted sharply.“Ladies hear such promises, and none of us expect them to be fulfilled.”“Miss Ritter.You have wounded me deeply!” But Huntington’s mouth lifted in an abashed grin.The ladies tittered, the gentlemen guffawed, and the company relaxed.At last Caroline dared to look around—and at once caught the cold, beady gaze of Lady Reederman.Lady Reederman didn’t pretend to converse, nor did she make welcome the female she had once publicly and deliberately cut.Instead she observed, withholding her judgment for one reason and one reason only—because the duchess of Nevett sponsored Caroline.Lady Reederman might not like to keep quiet, but she prided herself on her exceptional propriety, and as Nicolette’s guest she would do nothing that could be interpreted as a criticism of her hostess.But her basilisk gaze gave Caroline to understand that she would never approve of a young lady whose past was decidedly shady.Turgoose must have seen the direction of Caroline’s gaze, or noticed his mother’s imitation of a lemon ice, for he said, “You’re so amusing, Miss Ritter.The fellows all agree society has been a wasteland without your most excellent company.”Nicolette stepped between Lady Reederman and Caroline.“Miss Ritter, might I introduce those who are unknown to you?”Caroline hesitated, and Jude thought she was tempted to beg off.Her conflict was real, he knew.She faced the prospect of chilly greetings, and those were kind compared to the reaction she would have confronted without his stepmother’s patronage.Yet when he was done with her, she’d thank him for introducing her into society once more.And he would thank her for confusing and distracting the Moricadians.“I would consider it a privilege to meet your guests, Your Grace,” Caroline said with dignity.No one read the look she shot him, but he followed on her unspoken command.Turgoose hurried after them.De Guignard and Bouchard put their heads together and spoke softly, no doubt wondering at Huntington’s fascination with the woman he had had no time for before [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.His bow was courtly, European in flavor, and with a shock, she recognized him.“Comte de Guignard, my rescuer in the park.” She lavished a smile on him.After all, it wasn’t his fault she hadn’t really needed rescuing.He had been as gallant as a dream.“Or one of my rescuers.Where is Monsieur Bouchard?”“I am here.” Monsieur Bouchard stepped forward, a man so overburdened by his mustache that it looked as though the weight of it had dragged the hair off his head.When she’d met him in the park, he’d been smoking a fat brown cigar, and he had smelled of the smoke.Although the cigar was gone, he reeked.He made an abrupt bow, and she thought he must come from a common background, more common even than her own, for his social graces seemed tacked on, learned late in life and not at all a part of his personality.“You are recovered.”“I am.Thank you both for being so chivalrous to a lady you didn’t know.” She spoke to them, but she directed the message at the hovering Lord Huntington.“Your kindness lit a warmth in my heart.”Comte de Guignard was in the prime of life; in other words, at that delicate age where men realized they were no longer the youngest and strongest males in the pack, and they always made fools of themselves over younger women.Caroline had seen it occur time and again; she smiled, she spoke, she teased, and the gentlemen became infatuated.She never intended for it to happen; she simply pandered to their vanity and their disappearing youth, and suddenly they fell in love with her.Now she saw it occur again.At her words, Comte de Guignard straightened his already straight spine, pulled back his muscled shoulders, and jutted his chin.“It was a pleasure I’ve dwelled on, hoping to renew our social contact, but alas, although I looked, I saw you nowhere.”“Yes.Speaking of contact, Miss Ritter, I see you’ve furthered your friendship with Lord Huntington.” Monsieur Bouchard’s eyes flicked between her and Huntington.It sounded like a statement, but it was a question, and rather an authoritative one.Obviously, Monsieur Bouchard didn’t fall in love as easily as Comte de Guignard, and his query brought all the assembly straining to hear her answer.But Caroline didn’t have to—didn’t want to—explain her connection with Huntington, so she used her smile with a hint of reserve.“I have.” She glanced around the small gathering, and with humor in her tone, said, “He improves on acquaintance.”“Miss Ritter is a friend of mine,” Nicolette said easily.“We had lost track of each other, and I was delighted to find her again.I’m sure you’ll frequently see us together.In fact, she’s staying with us.”Caroline saw the news travel from one ear to another until it had reached the far edges of the drawing room.She wouldn’t have been surprised to discover that it hopped out the window and flew through the streets of London like some kind of gossip bird that squawked like a town crier.Miss Ritter is the guest of the duke of Nevett and his wife, and their son visits frequently.As she’d feared, this arrangement held all the hallmarks of disaster.She had to move quickly to establish her presence was not of a romantic nature.Unless one could call one extremely glorious kiss romantic—which she did not.“Like all English ladies, Miss Ritter appreciates my social graces and the advice I can give her about the ways of the Continent.” Huntington preened like a peacock.Ah.Her chance came at once.“I beg you, my lord, don’t put words in my mouth.I can speak for myself, and while Comte de Guignard and Monsieur Bouchard bring a Continental flare to our gathering”—Caroline extended a gracious hand to Comte de Guignard—“it’s the English ladies who make the gathering bloom.”“You are wise.It is indeed the captivating ladies who brought us to England.” Comte de Guignard took her hand and bowed over it, then bowed again, a flawless, elegant bow that included all the company.“And their kindness to visitors that keeps us on your shores.”A spattering of applause proved they had the attention of the nearby company, and provided unexpected approval to Caroline.“Well said, Comte de Guignard,” Nicolette said.“We’re enchanted to have you and Monsieur Bouchard with us today.”“Ecstatic!” Huntington flapped his handkerchief like an overenthusiastic spaniel.The ladies in the room turned away as if embarrassed by his gusto, and Caroline wanted to groan.He had to marry, and if he couldn’t cajole a lady in this charitable gathering to sit with him, it would be impossible to find him a mate in society.Driven to distraction and despair, she caught his hand, halting the flip of the handkerchief, and hissed, “What are you doing? Stop that at once!”She must have said it a little too loud, for conversation faded, then picked up again.She glanced from side to side, met gazes that sidled away, and blushed hotly.“Of course.” Huntington put his handkerchief into his waistcoat pocket.“I obey you implicitly.”“Pish-tosh!” she retorted sharply.“Ladies hear such promises, and none of us expect them to be fulfilled.”“Miss Ritter.You have wounded me deeply!” But Huntington’s mouth lifted in an abashed grin.The ladies tittered, the gentlemen guffawed, and the company relaxed.At last Caroline dared to look around—and at once caught the cold, beady gaze of Lady Reederman.Lady Reederman didn’t pretend to converse, nor did she make welcome the female she had once publicly and deliberately cut.Instead she observed, withholding her judgment for one reason and one reason only—because the duchess of Nevett sponsored Caroline.Lady Reederman might not like to keep quiet, but she prided herself on her exceptional propriety, and as Nicolette’s guest she would do nothing that could be interpreted as a criticism of her hostess.But her basilisk gaze gave Caroline to understand that she would never approve of a young lady whose past was decidedly shady.Turgoose must have seen the direction of Caroline’s gaze, or noticed his mother’s imitation of a lemon ice, for he said, “You’re so amusing, Miss Ritter.The fellows all agree society has been a wasteland without your most excellent company.”Nicolette stepped between Lady Reederman and Caroline.“Miss Ritter, might I introduce those who are unknown to you?”Caroline hesitated, and Jude thought she was tempted to beg off.Her conflict was real, he knew.She faced the prospect of chilly greetings, and those were kind compared to the reaction she would have confronted without his stepmother’s patronage.Yet when he was done with her, she’d thank him for introducing her into society once more.And he would thank her for confusing and distracting the Moricadians.“I would consider it a privilege to meet your guests, Your Grace,” Caroline said with dignity.No one read the look she shot him, but he followed on her unspoken command.Turgoose hurried after them.De Guignard and Bouchard put their heads together and spoke softly, no doubt wondering at Huntington’s fascination with the woman he had had no time for before [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]