were so close and Harry’s cheeks are all red now. I think she likes him.”
“Oh she does,” agreed Mary.
Oh God, she wanted to die. Now.
Chapter Eight
William helped Harriet down from the coach and Lord Stephen helped Miss Callahan down. The gentlemen escorted the ladies inside the Simkins London residence. They had waited at least half an hour for their carriage to make it to the head of the line so they could alight and enter the house. Once inside Harriet heard Lord Stephen’s murmured directions to Miss Callahan as to what to do, his instructions polite and subtle. She would be introduced as William’s intended for the first time and was under strict instructions to do and say as little as possible to draw attention to herself. As a maid for many years in a big house, they had decided that Mary could probably pull that off quite easily. It was, after all, the job of staff to be not seen or heard.
Once they had been introduced by a footman, something that had caused a few murmurings—no doubt from people wondering who Miss Callahan was—the gentlemen went in one direction and the ladies in another. They were approached by the Countess of Assynt and her two twittering daughters. The woman wore a garish turban with three large peacock feathers, while her earlobes were weighed down with the heaviest diamonds that Harriet had ever seen—and Harriet had seen a lot of diamonds in her life. The daughters were typical young ladies in white silk gowns, searching for husbands and probably failing due to their overbearing mother.
“Ah Lady Harriet, I hear you brought your… err… brother with you. I hope he is going to behave himself.”
“I am sure he will,” Harriet answered politely, seething inwardly. “Pray, how is Viscount Hornby and his lovely wife? Does she still sing in the opera? Or has motherhood stopped her? I have to say everyone was surprised how healthy the baby was when it was born at just six months. Such a blessing though for you.”
“Oh yes, it is and they are all doing fine, thank you. Oh I beg your pardon. I see Lady Stanhope. I must speak to her. Lovely chatting.”
As the woman rushed away, Mary turned to Harriet.
“Lady Harriet, that was a bit cruel. They will say that about me.”
“Mayhap, my dear, but I shall not be the one sticking the knife in first.”
“Oh I see.” Though Harriet suspected she did not. But the thing was, the ton was a nasty institution, if one could call it an institution. One had to have claws to survive it, especially when one’s brother was classed as an imbecile… and that was one of the more pleasant epithets used for William.
“Ah Lady Harriet, how lovely to see you.” A gentleman bowed courteously to Harriet and she curtseyed to him.
“Lord Dansworth, always a pleasure. May I introduce Miss Callahan? She is to marry the Earl of Oldbeck.”
Lord Dansworth bowed to Mary. She curtseyed slowly as Harriet had taught her earlier that afternoon after their impromptu dance lesson. She was a fast learner, at least in this instance.
“A pleasure, Miss Callahan. May I say you look very fetching this evening? Perhaps you might honour me with this dance.”
“Oh I…”
“What Miss Callahan means is that she turned her ankle on her way out of church this morning and it still pains her. She would be too polite to refuse you as she does not know you, my lord, but as old friends, I have no such compunctions. If I may, I shall refuse you on her behalf and you can be offended at my rudeness.”
He chortled merrily.
“Same old Harry, eh? What about you, then. Would you dance with me?”
“I would love to but I would not wish to leave Miss Callahan alone.”
“Let us look after Miss Callahan then.” Harriet turned to see Lord Stephen and William standing, glasses of champagne in hand. “Please, go ahead and dance.”
Harriet smiled and accepted Lord Dansworth’s hand graciously. She had not really wanted to dance but it would be churlish to
“Oh she does,” agreed Mary.
Oh God, she wanted to die. Now.
Chapter Eight
William helped Harriet down from the coach and Lord Stephen helped Miss Callahan down. The gentlemen escorted the ladies inside the Simkins London residence. They had waited at least half an hour for their carriage to make it to the head of the line so they could alight and enter the house. Once inside Harriet heard Lord Stephen’s murmured directions to Miss Callahan as to what to do, his instructions polite and subtle. She would be introduced as William’s intended for the first time and was under strict instructions to do and say as little as possible to draw attention to herself. As a maid for many years in a big house, they had decided that Mary could probably pull that off quite easily. It was, after all, the job of staff to be not seen or heard.
Once they had been introduced by a footman, something that had caused a few murmurings—no doubt from people wondering who Miss Callahan was—the gentlemen went in one direction and the ladies in another. They were approached by the Countess of Assynt and her two twittering daughters. The woman wore a garish turban with three large peacock feathers, while her earlobes were weighed down with the heaviest diamonds that Harriet had ever seen—and Harriet had seen a lot of diamonds in her life. The daughters were typical young ladies in white silk gowns, searching for husbands and probably failing due to their overbearing mother.
“Ah Lady Harriet, I hear you brought your… err… brother with you. I hope he is going to behave himself.”
“I am sure he will,” Harriet answered politely, seething inwardly. “Pray, how is Viscount Hornby and his lovely wife? Does she still sing in the opera? Or has motherhood stopped her? I have to say everyone was surprised how healthy the baby was when it was born at just six months. Such a blessing though for you.”
“Oh yes, it is and they are all doing fine, thank you. Oh I beg your pardon. I see Lady Stanhope. I must speak to her. Lovely chatting.”
As the woman rushed away, Mary turned to Harriet.
“Lady Harriet, that was a bit cruel. They will say that about me.”
“Mayhap, my dear, but I shall not be the one sticking the knife in first.”
“Oh I see.” Though Harriet suspected she did not. But the thing was, the ton was a nasty institution, if one could call it an institution. One had to have claws to survive it, especially when one’s brother was classed as an imbecile… and that was one of the more pleasant epithets used for William.
“Ah Lady Harriet, how lovely to see you.” A gentleman bowed courteously to Harriet and she curtseyed to him.
“Lord Dansworth, always a pleasure. May I introduce Miss Callahan? She is to marry the Earl of Oldbeck.”
Lord Dansworth bowed to Mary. She curtseyed slowly as Harriet had taught her earlier that afternoon after their impromptu dance lesson. She was a fast learner, at least in this instance.
“A pleasure, Miss Callahan. May I say you look very fetching this evening? Perhaps you might honour me with this dance.”
“Oh I…”
“What Miss Callahan means is that she turned her ankle on her way out of church this morning and it still pains her. She would be too polite to refuse you as she does not know you, my lord, but as old friends, I have no such compunctions. If I may, I shall refuse you on her behalf and you can be offended at my rudeness.”
He chortled merrily.
“Same old Harry, eh? What about you, then. Would you dance with me?”
“I would love to but I would not wish to leave Miss Callahan alone.”
“Let us look after Miss Callahan then.” Harriet turned to see Lord Stephen and William standing, glasses of champagne in hand. “Please, go ahead and dance.”
Harriet smiled and accepted Lord Dansworth’s hand graciously. She had not really wanted to dance but it would be churlish to
Similar Books
