Shattered Rainbows fa-5
Page 40
With a last admonishing glance at Emily, the countess swept from the room clutching Lady Cloris's precious missile to her breast and demanding, at the top of her voice, that someone find the earl.
She had scarcely closed the door behind her when Lucinda flung herself into Emily's arms. "I cannot bear it," she sobbed. "I'd rather die than marry the Duke of Montford. He is a horrible man… and he must be a thousand years old."
"You are exaggerating as usual," Emily said, giving her cousin's heaving shoulders a comforting pat. "I was,at Lady Halpern's musicale too, you know. I remember the duke well. He was neither old nor horrible. A bit stiff-necked and proud, I admit, but quite amazingly handsome… in a chilly sort of way."
In truth, she knew exactly why Lucinda found Montford forbidding; she'd developed a few shivers of her own in the brief instant she'd come under his frosty regard. She had even found herself thinking of him at odd moments ever since, and each time she thought of his dark, brooding countenance, those same shivers traveled her spine.
She racked her brain for something to say which would comfort the frightened girl. "Think of all the lovely new gowns you will have to wear."
"What good will they be if I die of fright?" Lucinda wailed, dropping in a crumpled heap onto a nearby chair.
"Isn't it early days to be turning this into a Cheltenham tragedy? After all, there is only a one-in-five chance the duke will choose you."
Lucinda's eyes widened in astonishment. "How could he not choose me? I am this season's Incomparable. Everyone who is anyone says I am the most beautiful girl to make her come-out in years." She sniffed. "I cannot even imagine who the other four might be."
Emily grudgingly acknowledged that while not exactly humble, her cousin's statement was probably true. Even now, when such a fit of weeping would have left any other woman with puffy eyes and a mottled complexion, Lucinda's perfect golden beauty remained undiminished.
"Brynhaven is known to be one of the grandest country homes in all of England," Emily said, deciding to try a practical approach to the problem. "I sincerely envy you the chance to see it. And since you really have no choice in the matter, why not make the best of it and enjoy your fortnight?" She paused. "And pray for a miracle."
Lucinda raised her head-her lovely eyes wide and frightened. "What do you mean, you envy me the chance to see Brynhaven? Never tell me you mean to let me face this terrible ordeal alone!"
"The invitation was addressed to you and your parents," Emily reminded her gently. "I do not remember any mention of other relatives."
"But surely it includes maids and valets and footmen and such. Everyone takes one's own staff to such affairs."
Emily gritted her teeth. She had grown very fond of her pretty, flutter-brained cousin in the short time she had spent with her, but there were times when the girl's tongue ran ahead of her wits. "Much as it may sometimes seem so, Lucinda," she said crossly, "I am not a servant. Just a 'poor relation,' as my aunt so aptly put it. I am afraid you will have to do without my services in this instance."
"I shall do no such thing! If I must spend a fortnight at Brynhaven with the dreadful duke, I shall need you beside me every minute to tell me what to do. You know very well thinking gives me a headache."
Lucinda's perfect, heart-shaped face assumed a mulish mien Emily had never before seen. "I'll tell Mama and Papa I will not go to Brynhaven unless I can take you as my companion. Not even if they lock me in my bedchamber with nothing but bread and water for the rest of my life."
She tossed her silky, burnished curls defiantly. "So you might as well begin packing your portmanteau, dear Emily. Mama will simply have to make the proper arrangements when she pens her answer to Lady Cloris."
FB2 document info
Document ID: fbd-b90556-e8a5-fc45-3685-d7a4-4b83-9c06ef
Document version: 1
Document creation date: 31.01.2011
Created using: Fiction Book Designer, FictionBook Editor Release 2.6 software
Document authors :
About
This file was generated by Lord KiRon's FB2EPUB converter version 1.1.5.0.
(This book might contain copyrighted material, author of the converter bears no responsibility for it's usage)
Этот файл создан при помощи конвертера FB2EPUB версии 1.1.5.0 написанного Lord KiRon.
(Эта книга может содержать материал который защищен авторским правом, автор конвертера не несет ответственности за его использование)
http://www.fb2epub.net
https://code.google.com/p/fb2epub/