gaze. ‘ And are you aware, my lord, that such childish, insulting behaviour is most unbecoming in a gentleman? ’
James’s eyes narrowed , but b efore he could reply the d owager swept into the room and claimed her seat at the head of the table.
‘ Really, Eleanor, ’ she puff ed, evidently sensing the t ense atmosphere , ‘ I do hope yo u are not irrita ting James again. You r eally must learn to hold your tongue, my girl. It does not do for young ladies to go around voicing their opinions on all and sundry. Indeed it is positively unbecoming. ’
Eleanor gawped at her godmother in astonishment. Why was it that the woman always concluded she was in the wrong ? Wh ereas James-
Her train of thought was interrupted by Giles appearing in the doorway. ‘ Lady and Felici ty Carmichael to see you, your g race, ’ he announced, his tone reverberating with disapproval. ‘ I have informed her ladyship that you are at luncheon, ma’am , but she insists it is a matter of some import. ’
‘ Good l ord, ’ groaned Lady Ormiston. ‘ Was it not enough that they invited their ghastly selves to dinner yesterday evening under the pretext of discussing so me charity event with me? What on earth can they be wanting now? Oh well, the sooner we get it over with the better , I suppose . Show them in, Giles, ’ she gestured impatiently.
The butler bowed before vacating his spot . He returned s everal seconds later with the unexpected guests.
‘ My dear Lady Ormiston, ’ gushed Lady Carmichael. ‘ Oh and you too, James. We d id so hope that you would be- ’ s he broke off a t a sharp nudge from Felicity . ‘ Anyway, ’ she blustered, ‘p lease do forgive the intrusio n but we needed to see you on a most urgent matter. ’
The d owager ’s eyes narrowed as she surveyed the visitors suspiciously. ‘ Did you indeed, Cynthia? And what, may I ask , is this urgent matter? ’
‘ We ll, ’ continue d a flushed Lady Carmichael. ‘We believe that Felicity may have left her, um, shawl here yesterday evening. ’
The d owager emitted a snort of disbelief. ‘ T hat is indeed pressing, Cynthia. Why , if I didn’t know you better, I would assume you were simply looking for an excuse to visit me again. Although , perhaps , it is not myself that you wished to see. ’
Lady Carmichael ’s flush deepened while her daughter cast her an accusing glare. ‘ I am sure, Lady Ormiston, ’ she flustered , ‘ that I have not the faintest idea what you mean. Felicity and I were simply on our way to Richmond this morning and , as we were to pass by Whitlock , it made perfect sense for us to call in. However , I can see you are busy and … come , Felicity, ’ she cupped her daughter by the elbow. ‘ Let us leave these good people to their luncheon. ’
James leant over to his friend and whispered something that resu lted in an obnoxious sneer spreading across Derek Lovell’s ugly face.
‘ Come now, my dear Lady Carmichael, ’ announced James, his eyes sparkling mischievously . ‘ Now that you are here would you not do us the pleasure of joining us for luncheon? ’
Felicity, Eleanor noticed with surprise, shot James a look overflowing with contempt. Lady Carmichael, on the other hand, seemed quite at sixes and sev ens that her plan had obviously been rumbled. ‘ We ll, ’ she stuttered, shuffling her feet awkwardly, ‘ I really do think perhaps that we should be on our way. After all, it was very improper of us to call so unexpec- ’
‘ Oh, d o stop twittering and sit down, Cynthia, ’ boomed Lady Ormiston. ‘ I cannot abide dithering. ’
Lady Carmichael , visibly delighted she had finally achieved her desired result, produced a tremulous smile. ‘ Well if you insist, then w e would be delighted to j oin you. Particularly as we missed out on the pleasure of James’s company yesterday evening. ’
‘ Well , now you shall have the pleasure
James’s eyes narrowed , but b efore he could reply the d owager swept into the room and claimed her seat at the head of the table.
‘ Really, Eleanor, ’ she puff ed, evidently sensing the t ense atmosphere , ‘ I do hope yo u are not irrita ting James again. You r eally must learn to hold your tongue, my girl. It does not do for young ladies to go around voicing their opinions on all and sundry. Indeed it is positively unbecoming. ’
Eleanor gawped at her godmother in astonishment. Why was it that the woman always concluded she was in the wrong ? Wh ereas James-
Her train of thought was interrupted by Giles appearing in the doorway. ‘ Lady and Felici ty Carmichael to see you, your g race, ’ he announced, his tone reverberating with disapproval. ‘ I have informed her ladyship that you are at luncheon, ma’am , but she insists it is a matter of some import. ’
‘ Good l ord, ’ groaned Lady Ormiston. ‘ Was it not enough that they invited their ghastly selves to dinner yesterday evening under the pretext of discussing so me charity event with me? What on earth can they be wanting now? Oh well, the sooner we get it over with the better , I suppose . Show them in, Giles, ’ she gestured impatiently.
The butler bowed before vacating his spot . He returned s everal seconds later with the unexpected guests.
‘ My dear Lady Ormiston, ’ gushed Lady Carmichael. ‘ Oh and you too, James. We d id so hope that you would be- ’ s he broke off a t a sharp nudge from Felicity . ‘ Anyway, ’ she blustered, ‘p lease do forgive the intrusio n but we needed to see you on a most urgent matter. ’
The d owager ’s eyes narrowed as she surveyed the visitors suspiciously. ‘ Did you indeed, Cynthia? And what, may I ask , is this urgent matter? ’
‘ We ll, ’ continue d a flushed Lady Carmichael. ‘We believe that Felicity may have left her, um, shawl here yesterday evening. ’
The d owager emitted a snort of disbelief. ‘ T hat is indeed pressing, Cynthia. Why , if I didn’t know you better, I would assume you were simply looking for an excuse to visit me again. Although , perhaps , it is not myself that you wished to see. ’
Lady Carmichael ’s flush deepened while her daughter cast her an accusing glare. ‘ I am sure, Lady Ormiston, ’ she flustered , ‘ that I have not the faintest idea what you mean. Felicity and I were simply on our way to Richmond this morning and , as we were to pass by Whitlock , it made perfect sense for us to call in. However , I can see you are busy and … come , Felicity, ’ she cupped her daughter by the elbow. ‘ Let us leave these good people to their luncheon. ’
James leant over to his friend and whispered something that resu lted in an obnoxious sneer spreading across Derek Lovell’s ugly face.
‘ Come now, my dear Lady Carmichael, ’ announced James, his eyes sparkling mischievously . ‘ Now that you are here would you not do us the pleasure of joining us for luncheon? ’
Felicity, Eleanor noticed with surprise, shot James a look overflowing with contempt. Lady Carmichael, on the other hand, seemed quite at sixes and sev ens that her plan had obviously been rumbled. ‘ We ll, ’ she stuttered, shuffling her feet awkwardly, ‘ I really do think perhaps that we should be on our way. After all, it was very improper of us to call so unexpec- ’
‘ Oh, d o stop twittering and sit down, Cynthia, ’ boomed Lady Ormiston. ‘ I cannot abide dithering. ’
Lady Carmichael , visibly delighted she had finally achieved her desired result, produced a tremulous smile. ‘ Well if you insist, then w e would be delighted to j oin you. Particularly as we missed out on the pleasure of James’s company yesterday evening. ’
‘ Well , now you shall have the pleasure
Similar Books
