Patricia Veryan - [Sanguinet Saga 07] - Married Past Redemption by Patricia Veryan

sense of humour battling with her sympathy, Lisette
took the weeping girl into her arms. "Poor Amanda. May I call you
Amanda? Is it not dreadful to be heartbroken? I understand exactly how
you feel."
    Amanda raised her head from Lisette's damp shoulder and
blinked at her. "You—do?" she said. "But—you are so very high—er—I
mean—"
    "High in the instep?" Lisette suggested, laughing. "Oh, never
say so."
    "I meant—highly born." Amanda accepted the handkerchief
offered and attempted to dry her eyes with that tiny wisp of lace and
fine cambric. "I cannot concede how you could know h-how I feel." And
noting the curiosity touching the great dark eyes that watched her so
sympathetically, she sighed. "Oh dear I must have said the wrong word
again I always do it I try not to but somehow things get muddled up and
Lucian my cousin Lucian St. Clair he's Jeremy's best friend next to
Strand and Harry Redmond, Lucian is always quizzing me about it only I
don't mind because he is the very dearest boy do not you think?"
    The ingenuous gaze was lifted trustingly to hers. Astounded
that so much had been said in one breath, Lisette smiled. "I know Lord
St. Clair very slightly, but it would seem you've a most interesting
story and I should so love to hear it. Would you call on me soon?"
    "How very kind you are but—" The eager face became woeful
again. "I doubt your mama would—"
    "I have found you, I see."
    Amanda gave a gasp, and Lisette turned, a horrible suspicion
that she knew that brisk masculine voice confirmed when she saw who
stood in the doorway. Justin Strand's ball clothes were very well cut
and flattered him, she thought. The jacket was superb and the knee
breeches revealed lean but surprisingly shapely legs. There was a
suggestion of carelessness about the cravat, and his fair hair was neat
but had certainly not been coaxed into one of the more modish styles.
Yet Judith had spoken truly, and if he were only less gaunt he might be
fairly attractive. A sense of repressed energy radiated from him, or
perhaps that thin face made him look more intense than most men.
Assuredly, he had his share of effrontery, for he had doubtless sought
her out so as to beg her for a dance. Well, Mr. Justin Strand was in a
fair way to being disappointed, for her card was quite full, as she
would show him, did he dispute the matter! Why he should presume that
she would condescend to dance with one of
his
revolting clan, was—
    "I have come to beg you will dance the quadrille with me," he
said predictably, coming into the room, a smile crinkling the corners
of his eyes.
    Lisette drew herself up, her brows arching quellingly. She
began to lift her dance card, the better to emphasize her refusal.
    "Good evening, Miss Van Lindsay," he said pleasantly, and
walked past her, offering his arm to Amanda. "I do not mean to take no
for an answer, Mandy."
    Amanda voiced an inarticulate hodgepodge of protest. Strand
bent, took both her hands, and pulled her to her feet. "Foolish child.
Come now, or they will begin." And with a sideways grin at Lisette, he
swept his reluctant partner from the room.
    Lisette stared after them. "Well!" she said in a sort of gasp,
and taking up a macaroon, sank her teeth into it with unnecessary
ferocity.
    When
Lisette returned to the ballroom, an
indignant Jocelyn Vaughan hurried to her and complained that the
quadrille was almost over.
    "And what has that to say to anything, young man?" demanded a
querulous voice beside them.
    Vaughan jumped, bowed deeply, and lifting the wrinkled hand of
the old lady who viewed them with fierce dark eyes, kissed it.
    "Had I known you were here, dear ma'am," he flirted, "I'd have
spent the entire time at your side."
    "I don't believe a word of it," snorted Lady Bayes-Copeland,
not unkindly, rapping him with her fan. "Now, be off with you, Vaughan.
I'd have words with my lady Toast, here!"
    Still battling astonishment that her grandmama should have
made one of her rare excursions into Society,