The Yuletide Countess: Harriet's Traditional Regency Romance by Alicia Quigley

Francis looks well-pleased with himself,
while Miss Paley appears to be more conflicted.”
    Harriet followed her gaze, and indeed Lord Francis was beaming,
while Isobel face’s was decorated with the expression that Harriet had long
associated with her cousin’s mixed emotions when it came to her suitor. Lord
Glencairn caught her eye, and raised his eyebrows, a look of satisfaction on
his face.
    “Oh my,” she said. “Catherine, if you will excuse me, I believe I
must find out what has happened!”
    “Certainly,” replied Catherine. “I am most curious myself!”
    “I will let you know as soon as I may!” said Harriet. With a last
smile, she hurried toward the group.
    “My dear, there you are,” she said, lacing her arm through Isobel’s.
“I have been looking for you these five minutes I am sure. Only fancy, I have
just met Mrs. FitzCollum, and found out that she is a cousin of mine, though
the relationship is not close. I believe that her mother and my uncle’s wife
were connected -- that would be the Downforths of
Yorkshire, you will recall, and now I find her here. So surprising, for I was
sure that Maria had been closer to her family than to have let the connection
go. But here we are acquainted again, and I vow it is charming. Is it not
delightful, Lord Glencairn?” she asked brightly.
    “Delightful indeed, dear Miss Walcott. Hrrrmmph. Most charming. And
another delightful thing has occurred this evening,” he said with a grin. “Miss
Paley has agreed to assist me in the design and construction of a folly on the
shore of my ornamental lake. Is it not the very thing?”
    “An ornamental lake?” Harriet inquired. “I believe that I have not
yet seen it, perhaps I can beg your arm to the bottom of the garden so that I
may view it, for I am not, you know a strong walker. I find that none of the Walcott
females are, but a folly! You are indeed ambitious Lord Glencairn, but then I
am sure that you could not have found another person more capable of assisting
you in realizing your ambitions than Isobel, why her attainments in the field
of...”
    As Harriet talked Lord Francis returned with the glass of lemonade
Isobel had requested, and Isobel, fearful of Harriet revealing too much, made
haste to take a sip and fall into a choking fit. But when this had been
prolonged as long as her thespian capabilities would permit, Harriet for once
refusing to be diverted continued .
    “...Isobel's attainments in the field of Roman antiquities,
so very distinguished and scholarly, you know, although of course she dislikes
very much to have it spoken of, still we are among friends here, and I am sure
that dear Lord Francis and Lord Glencairn will not reveal these matters, for
after all, it is perfectly acceptable for a young lady to be involved with
landscaping, such a feminine use for your studies, much
more the thing than for you to be grubbing about in that dirty hole in the
ground and supervising the workers, who I am sure are not in the least
respectable.” Required at long last to draw breath, Harriet appeared to be on
the verge of embarking upon yet another peroration, when Lord Francis, with
ill-disguised mirth in his eyes, held up a languid hand.
    “I am sure that Miss Paley’s qualifications to design Glencairn’s
folly are all that you describe, Miss Walcott, and a great deal more,” he said.
“But perhaps Glencairn and I should quiz her on this matter at another time,
and return to the dance. For after all, there is always time to talk, but
dancing requires musicians, and we are positively neglecting them at this
moment.”
    He bowed gracefully to Isobel and offered his arm, which she took
thankfully, glad to abandon the dangers of conversation to join the set that
was just forming.
    Lord Glencairn looked after them with a satisfied expression on his
face, and then turned to Harriet. “Brava, Miss Walcott. Well done indeed.”
    “Thank you,” said Harriet. “Though you have done far better.