merely needed advice
on her clothes and on the proper ways of conducting herself in Society."
"All of which you could provide."
Augustashrugged. "A legacy from my mother. She entertained frequently and taught me much. I have
also had the assistance of Lady Arbuthnott, who knows everyone. So you must not hand me all the
credit. I am well aware you gave me the task of launching Claudia as a remedy for my melancholy. And it
was kind of you. Truly it was."
Sir Thomas grunted in surprise. "As I recall, I merely asked you to accompany Claudia to a soiree one
evening. You took charge from there. You made her one of your projects. And whenever you are
involved in a project, my dear, things have a way of happening."
"Thank you, Uncle Thomas. But about Graystone. I must insist—"
"Now, don't you worry about Graystone. As I said, he'll make you a sound husband. Man's solid as a
rock. Got brains and a fortune. What more could a woman want?"
"Uncle Thomas, you don't understand."
"You're just feeling a bit emotional at the moment, that's all. The Northumberland side of the family
always was emotional."
Augustastared at her uncle in seething frustration and then she rushed from the room before she burst
into tears.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Augustawas still simmering with frustration later that evening as she dressed for the night's array of
soirees and parties. But at least she was no longer on the point of tears, she told herself with pride. This
was a crisis that called for action, not emotion.
Claudia studiedAugusta 's scowl with gentle concern. Then, with a naturally graceful gesture, she poured
two cups of tea and offered one to her cousin with a soothing smile. "Calm yourself, Augusta. All will be
well."
"How the devil can all be well when such a dreadful mistake has been made? Dear God, Claudia, don't
you understand? Disaster is upon us. Uncle Thomas got so excited he went ahead and sent the notices
off to the papers. By tomorrow morning Graystone and I shall be officially engaged. There will be no
honorable way for him to get out of the arrangement once the news is in print."
"I understand."
"Then how can you sit there pouring tea as if nothing has happened?"Augusta slammed her cup and
saucer down and shot to her feet. She whirled about and began striding back and forth across the width
of her bedchamber. Her dark brows were drawn together above her narrowed eyes.
For onceAugusta was hardly aware of what she was wearing. Her mind had been in such turmoil that
she had been unable to concentrate on the usually pleasant task of choosing her attire. Her maid Betsy
had selected the rose-colored evening gown with its daringly cut neckline edged with tiny satin roses. It
was Betsy who had chosen the matching satin slippers and elbow-length gloves. And it was Betsy who
had decided to dressAugusta 's dark chestnut brown hair in the Grecian style. The cascading ringlets
bobbed about wildly asAugusta stalked back and forth.
"I fail to see the problem," Claudia murmured. "I had the impression you were growing rather fond of
Graystone."
"That is simply not true."
"Come, now,Augusta . Even Papa noticed your interest in the earl and remarked upon it just the other
day."
"I asked to read a copy of one of Graystone's recent treatises on some moldering old Roman, that's all.
You can hardly call that a sign of deep fondness."
"Well, be that as it may, I am not surprised Papa went ahead and accepted Graystone's offer on your
behalf. He assumed you would be delighted, as indeed you should be. It is a wonderful match, Augusta.
You cannot deny it."
Augustastopped pacing long enough to give her cousin an anguished glance. "But don't you see,
Claudia? 'Tis all a mistake . Graystone would never have asked for my hand in marriage. Never in a
million years. He thinks me a terrible hoyden, an unruly scapegrace who is always one step away from
falling into a
on her clothes and on the proper ways of conducting herself in Society."
"All of which you could provide."
Augustashrugged. "A legacy from my mother. She entertained frequently and taught me much. I have
also had the assistance of Lady Arbuthnott, who knows everyone. So you must not hand me all the
credit. I am well aware you gave me the task of launching Claudia as a remedy for my melancholy. And it
was kind of you. Truly it was."
Sir Thomas grunted in surprise. "As I recall, I merely asked you to accompany Claudia to a soiree one
evening. You took charge from there. You made her one of your projects. And whenever you are
involved in a project, my dear, things have a way of happening."
"Thank you, Uncle Thomas. But about Graystone. I must insist—"
"Now, don't you worry about Graystone. As I said, he'll make you a sound husband. Man's solid as a
rock. Got brains and a fortune. What more could a woman want?"
"Uncle Thomas, you don't understand."
"You're just feeling a bit emotional at the moment, that's all. The Northumberland side of the family
always was emotional."
Augustastared at her uncle in seething frustration and then she rushed from the room before she burst
into tears.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Augustawas still simmering with frustration later that evening as she dressed for the night's array of
soirees and parties. But at least she was no longer on the point of tears, she told herself with pride. This
was a crisis that called for action, not emotion.
Claudia studiedAugusta 's scowl with gentle concern. Then, with a naturally graceful gesture, she poured
two cups of tea and offered one to her cousin with a soothing smile. "Calm yourself, Augusta. All will be
well."
"How the devil can all be well when such a dreadful mistake has been made? Dear God, Claudia, don't
you understand? Disaster is upon us. Uncle Thomas got so excited he went ahead and sent the notices
off to the papers. By tomorrow morning Graystone and I shall be officially engaged. There will be no
honorable way for him to get out of the arrangement once the news is in print."
"I understand."
"Then how can you sit there pouring tea as if nothing has happened?"Augusta slammed her cup and
saucer down and shot to her feet. She whirled about and began striding back and forth across the width
of her bedchamber. Her dark brows were drawn together above her narrowed eyes.
For onceAugusta was hardly aware of what she was wearing. Her mind had been in such turmoil that
she had been unable to concentrate on the usually pleasant task of choosing her attire. Her maid Betsy
had selected the rose-colored evening gown with its daringly cut neckline edged with tiny satin roses. It
was Betsy who had chosen the matching satin slippers and elbow-length gloves. And it was Betsy who
had decided to dressAugusta 's dark chestnut brown hair in the Grecian style. The cascading ringlets
bobbed about wildly asAugusta stalked back and forth.
"I fail to see the problem," Claudia murmured. "I had the impression you were growing rather fond of
Graystone."
"That is simply not true."
"Come, now,Augusta . Even Papa noticed your interest in the earl and remarked upon it just the other
day."
"I asked to read a copy of one of Graystone's recent treatises on some moldering old Roman, that's all.
You can hardly call that a sign of deep fondness."
"Well, be that as it may, I am not surprised Papa went ahead and accepted Graystone's offer on your
behalf. He assumed you would be delighted, as indeed you should be. It is a wonderful match, Augusta.
You cannot deny it."
Augustastopped pacing long enough to give her cousin an anguished glance. "But don't you see,
Claudia? 'Tis all a mistake . Graystone would never have asked for my hand in marriage. Never in a
million years. He thinks me a terrible hoyden, an unruly scapegrace who is always one step away from
falling into a
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