Lord and Master by Rosemary Stevens

him and turned her head toward the front of the room. In the process of doing so, her gaze fastened on Lord Ravenswood. She had not seen him arrive and was startled by the increase in her heart rate now that she was aware of his presence.
    Goodness, she thought abruptly, why was he glaring at her with the most awful frown on his handsome face? What could she have done to cause this reaction? It happened in a mere instant of time before Lord Ravenswood turned his attention to the tenor. Daphne began to doubt the earl even saw her look at him, but there was no doubting that his black look was for her.
    She sat through the entertainment with less enjoyment than she would normally have had from such a gifted talent. Her mind was too busy running over events and trying to determine what she had done to earn such censure from Lord Ravenswood.
    By the end of the performance, she came to the conclusion that she had behaved in no way that would have given the earl a disgust of her. Her emotions ran from bewilderment to irritation, and she was determined to know the source of his disapproval.
    “Excuse me, Lord Guy, I must speak with someone,” she said, rising to her feet.
    “Of course, Miss Kendall. Until Wednesday night?”
    “I shall look forward to seeing you,” Daphne dissembled while dropping a curtsy.
    Lord Guy watched her go with a speculative expression on his long face. Why was this rich beauty not wed?
    Rising, he caught the sleeve of one of his gambling cronies. “I say, Chesterfield, what do you know of pretty Miss Kendall?”
    Lord Chesterfield was thin to the point of emaciation. He raised a bony hand to his quizzing glass and fingered it. “Gad. Nothing wrong with her now. Someone bound to snap her up.”
    Lord Guy looked at his friend through narrowed eyes. “What do you mean ‘nothing wrong with her now .’ What was the problem?”
    Lord Chesterfield made a moue of distaste. “Horrible companion by the name of Miss Oakswine. Face like a hedgehog. Put it about that Miss Kendall was fond of her. Wouldn’t think of marrying and not taking her along. Trust me, she was more than any man could stomach.”
    “What happened to her?”
    “Dead as mutton, by George. Heart gave out at Astley’s. Fashionable place to pop off, though, for a paid companion.”
    Lord Guy rubbed his fingers across his chin. “Miss Kendall’s a taking little thing.”
    “Her third Season, but, mark me, fellows will be beating a path to her door. I would myself, but I hear her cook is always three parts disguised. I like my wine as well as the next person, but I like it in a glass, not wasted down a servant’s throat. The man’s drinking is well-known about Town. Can’t think why Miss Kendall hired him.”
    Lord Chesterfield wandered away, and Lord Guy noticed he was wearing false calves. He smoothed his own coat, which boasted of generously padded shoulders, and quit the room. A consultation with his valet would be necessary before his appearance at Almack’s Wednesday night.
    He would dazzle the beautiful Miss Kendall and her large dowry. Pity redheads were not the fashion, but he might be persuaded to overlook the fault.
    Meanwhile Daphne had placed herself in a position where she might casually speak with Lord Ravenswood, this position being a few feet behind his chair. He could not fail to see her when he rose from where he was talking to a waiflike creature in white.
    He turned and saw her standing there.
    For a moment they simply looked at one another before he stood and bowed to her. “Miss Kendall, how are you? May I present Miss Blenkinsop?”
    Daphne met his gaze and once again felt the magnetic intensity of his eyes. “I am well, my lord.” She stepped closer to the pair and offered her hand to the girl. “And happy to make your acquaintance, Miss Blenkinsop.”
    Elfleta murmured an unintelligible greeting and looked pained when Daphne shook her hand. She spoke in a voice that was just above a whisper, as if the