Sweet Deception Regency 07 - The Divided Hearts by Karla Darcy Page B

child,” Priscilla Woodbridge
warbled as she hurried across the room on her tiny high heel
slippers. She had changed her church ensemble for one of yards of
pink muslin that fluttered around her ample figure. Pink ribbons in
streamers and bows were strategically placed giving the look of a
festooned confectionary cake.
    Judith dropped into a graceful curtsy,
hoping that her face had not betrayed her chagrin at the appalling
decorations which made one wonder at the ability of anyone to
remain in the room for any length of time.
    “Welcome to Seaview. A cunning name, don’t
you think? Let me reacquaint you with all my guests.” Priscilla’s
mittened hands clamped onto Judith’s elbow and propelled her into
the room. Dismissively the woman waved Simon to the far side of the
room. “Winfield is over there holding court. As usual he’s regaling
the men with tales of his misspent youth at court. I’ll take care
of darling Judith.”
    Simon crooked his eyebrow at his speechless
daughter and took himself off to the far side of the immense room.
In Priscilla’s wake, Judith followed, or more properly was dragged,
from group to group, making the rounds with her hostess. Several
hours later, Judith pressed her fingers to her throbbing temples
wondering how soon she and her father could leave. Simon had been
correct wishing they had remained in town. Right now she could be
reading a good book in front of the fire instead of smiling
woodenly at this misplaced group of people.
    For Judith the most bewildering aspect of
the afternoon was that she felt as though she had been transported
back to London and was watching a second rate drawing room comedy.
The majority of the people she had met resembled actors playing
their parts as proper English gentlemen and ladies. In a country
that had fought a war to sever their ties with England, it was
incredible that this group of people clung so tenaciously to the
outward appearances of the London social set.
    She had never thought much about the
artificiality of her life in London. But seeing that world
superimposed on the fresh, new country she had seen in the carriage
ride from town, was somehow jarring. Thinking back to the people
she had met after the church service, the ones who intrigued her
were different than the ones gathered at Seaview. The people that
she had enjoyed talking to had a straightforward, honest quality
about them. They had not impressed her as imitators of a bygone
lifestyle but rugged individuals who reveled in the sheer
excitement of creating a new country.
    She had met some interesting and amusing
people among the guests. The older men had a courtly quality that
Judith found quite charming, treating her as though she were as
fragile as delicate china. Several of the older women had
entertained her with fascinating stories of the early days of
Newport. Although the younger set treated her with a disconcerting
deference, she found a few of the girls had a deal of conversation
above the usual topic of fashion. Perhaps, given time, she might
find someone her own age that she could talk to with more
depth.
    Much to her dismay, Judith found Nathanael
Bellingham the most intriguing member of the ensemble. She had
attempted to avoid any group that gathered around him, but to her
own chagrin her eyes were constantly drawn to the popinjay. Even
when she turned her back to him, she would catch the deep rumble of
his voice or the irritating sound of his braying laughter. From the
secluded security of the window seat, Judith contemplated the
odious man.
    As usual Nathanael reclined amid a circle of
simpering young girls, their skirts spread like petals around them
as they sat at his feet. He resembled a garden gnome surrounded by
showy flowers, Judith muttered. He was pointing his quizzing glass
at one of the blushing beauties, apparently twitting her about some
beau. The others in the group hung on his every word, vying for his
attention. Judith had to admit there was