who would bear me children and be docile enough
to put up with my amours.”
“How cold-blooded
of you, Phillip,” said Lord Exencour. “I believe you have some years to seek
out the right female before you sacrifice yourself and some child in such a
way. You may still find someone who touches your heart.”
“Your recent marriage
has addled your brains,” said the marquess, but the statement was accompanied
by a smile that softened the words. “I wish I were as romantic as you, Francis.”
The gentlemen’s
footsteps had led them to Grosvenor Square and they now paused some distance
from Strancaster House.
“You must come to
dinner sometime, Phillip. Isobel will be glad to see you again, as she knows
the esteem I hold you in. We do very little entertaining just now; a friend of
Lady Exencour’s was recently widowed and stays with us.”
“But you are not in
black gloves as well, are you? I hoped that we might make up a party and attend
the theater.”
“I will speak to
Lady Exencour. She is very concerned about her friend, but I am sure an
excursion such as that would be tempting to her. We are only recently out of
mourning for my brother,” said Lord Exencour.
As the two
gentlemen conversed, the door to Strancaster House opened and a lady emerged,
accompanied by a maid and two small children. She presented a lovely picture,
for although she was dressed in the strictest black, her widow’s weeds served
only to highlight her startlingly fair beauty. Angelically fair curls framed an
oval face with well-shaped brows over eyes of celestial blue. Her complexion
had been compared by more than one admirer to that of an English rose, and her
cupid’s bow lips were parted in a smile of delight. Despite her somber dress,
she laughed as she promised the clamoring children that yes, indeed, they were
going to the Park, and certainly it would be possible to play with their ball. The
picture was one of considerable charm, and Lord Exencour was amused to find his
friend staring quite frankly.
“Is that not
Letitia Winwood?” asked Lord Eynsford.
Lord Exencour was
startled that his friend recognized Letitia. “Yes, it is,” he responded. “Are
you acquainted with her?”
“No,” said Lord
Eynsford. “That is to say, yes. I danced with her during her Season in London
some years ago, but she was already engaged to Alfred Winwood at that time. She
was a charming young lady.”
“She is still very
charming. I admire Lady Morgan; if it were not for her, it is very likely
Isobel and I would not be wed,” said Lord Exencour.
“What befell Lord
Morgan?” asked Lord Eynsford.
“A most distressing
hunting accident,” said Lord Exencour. “Lady Morgan was very surprised.” He
reflected that this, at least, was the truth.
“I never cared for
Morgan,” observed Lord Eynsford. “It was nothing I could put my finger on, but
he seemed to be rather underbred. One could not say so, of course.”
“Of course,” agreed
Lord Exencour. “But I fear that you were right about Lord Morgan, and I wish I
had been as perceptive as you. Lady Morgan did not enjoy a happy married life.”
Lord Eynsford gazed
at the lady in question as she paused on the steps to take her daughter’s hand.
“I realize that she
does not go out into public, but perhaps you might introduce me, Exencour?” he
asked.
Lord Exencour
laughed. “Of course, Phillip. I am pleased to see you taking an interest in an
Englishwoman.”
“Unkind, Francis,”
said Lord Eynsford, a small smile on his lips.
“Perhaps the best
solution would be for you to come to dinner tomorrow night,” said Lord
Exencour. “Lady Morgan does not go out in public, but if you were to dine with
us en famille , you would not only be able to renew your acquaintance
with my wife, but with Lady Morgan as well. Afterward, perhaps you, Lady
Exencour, and I could attend the theater.”
“An excellent idea,”
said the marquess. “I would be delighted to see the former
to put up with my amours.”
“How cold-blooded
of you, Phillip,” said Lord Exencour. “I believe you have some years to seek
out the right female before you sacrifice yourself and some child in such a
way. You may still find someone who touches your heart.”
“Your recent marriage
has addled your brains,” said the marquess, but the statement was accompanied
by a smile that softened the words. “I wish I were as romantic as you, Francis.”
The gentlemen’s
footsteps had led them to Grosvenor Square and they now paused some distance
from Strancaster House.
“You must come to
dinner sometime, Phillip. Isobel will be glad to see you again, as she knows
the esteem I hold you in. We do very little entertaining just now; a friend of
Lady Exencour’s was recently widowed and stays with us.”
“But you are not in
black gloves as well, are you? I hoped that we might make up a party and attend
the theater.”
“I will speak to
Lady Exencour. She is very concerned about her friend, but I am sure an
excursion such as that would be tempting to her. We are only recently out of
mourning for my brother,” said Lord Exencour.
As the two
gentlemen conversed, the door to Strancaster House opened and a lady emerged,
accompanied by a maid and two small children. She presented a lovely picture,
for although she was dressed in the strictest black, her widow’s weeds served
only to highlight her startlingly fair beauty. Angelically fair curls framed an
oval face with well-shaped brows over eyes of celestial blue. Her complexion
had been compared by more than one admirer to that of an English rose, and her
cupid’s bow lips were parted in a smile of delight. Despite her somber dress,
she laughed as she promised the clamoring children that yes, indeed, they were
going to the Park, and certainly it would be possible to play with their ball. The
picture was one of considerable charm, and Lord Exencour was amused to find his
friend staring quite frankly.
“Is that not
Letitia Winwood?” asked Lord Eynsford.
Lord Exencour was
startled that his friend recognized Letitia. “Yes, it is,” he responded. “Are
you acquainted with her?”
“No,” said Lord
Eynsford. “That is to say, yes. I danced with her during her Season in London
some years ago, but she was already engaged to Alfred Winwood at that time. She
was a charming young lady.”
“She is still very
charming. I admire Lady Morgan; if it were not for her, it is very likely
Isobel and I would not be wed,” said Lord Exencour.
“What befell Lord
Morgan?” asked Lord Eynsford.
“A most distressing
hunting accident,” said Lord Exencour. “Lady Morgan was very surprised.” He
reflected that this, at least, was the truth.
“I never cared for
Morgan,” observed Lord Eynsford. “It was nothing I could put my finger on, but
he seemed to be rather underbred. One could not say so, of course.”
“Of course,” agreed
Lord Exencour. “But I fear that you were right about Lord Morgan, and I wish I
had been as perceptive as you. Lady Morgan did not enjoy a happy married life.”
Lord Eynsford gazed
at the lady in question as she paused on the steps to take her daughter’s hand.
“I realize that she
does not go out into public, but perhaps you might introduce me, Exencour?” he
asked.
Lord Exencour
laughed. “Of course, Phillip. I am pleased to see you taking an interest in an
Englishwoman.”
“Unkind, Francis,”
said Lord Eynsford, a small smile on his lips.
“Perhaps the best
solution would be for you to come to dinner tomorrow night,” said Lord
Exencour. “Lady Morgan does not go out in public, but if you were to dine with
us en famille , you would not only be able to renew your acquaintance
with my wife, but with Lady Morgan as well. Afterward, perhaps you, Lady
Exencour, and I could attend the theater.”
“An excellent idea,”
said the marquess. “I would be delighted to see the former
Similar Books
