A Sisterly Regard Read Online Free PDF Page B

with enormous silver buttons
looked as if it had been assembled directly upon his body. It partially
concealed a waistcoat of extravagant stripes of scarlet and purple. Yellow
pantaloons fitted snugly over long, slim, but well-shaped legs, and any
number of fobs hung from his waistcoat. His shoes had narrow red heels
all of two inches in height. Deep-set gray eyes were outlined by the
longest, thickest lashes Chloe had ever seen. He coolly scrutinized the
assembled ladies through an ornate quizzing glass. The other hand held a
lacy handkerchief.
    At last he moved, strolling languidly across the room. "Ah, your
Grace, I find you as beautiful as ever," he said in a pleasant baritone drawl
as he bowed over the Duchess' hand.
    "Piffle," she responded. "Reggie, you know Mary. Let me make
you acquainted with Lady Gifford and her daughters, Miss Hazelbourne
and Miss Phaedra Hazelbourne."
    "Lady Gifford, I believe we met some years past, but to be in
your charming company is always pleasing to me," he said, lifting her hand
to his lips in quite the most elegant gesture Chloe had ever seen. "And
Lady Mary, you are, as always, the most perfect pocket Venus of my
acquaintance," he continued, with a graceful bow in her direction.
    Lady Mary merely smiled and said, "Hullo Reggie."
    Turning in the sisters' direction he again raised his glass. Silently
he inspected them, obviously paying close attention to their fashionable
walking gowns as well as to their physical appearance. Chloe contained her
irritation at being so closely inspected. She simpered and looked coyly at
him from beneath lowered lashes. Her sister, clearly resenting his
scrutiny, lifted her chin and glared at him. Finally he spoke vaguely to the
space between them. "Miss Hazelbourne and Miss Phaedra, one of you
would be ravishing; the two of you together is nothing short of
breathtaking."
    Chloe smiled widely and gave him her hand. He bowed over it,
his lips not quite touching it, and murmured, "Such charm. Such style. I
am overwhelmed. You are the elder, I take it."
    "I am, sir, and am most pleased to make your acquaintance. You
are the first gentleman whom I have met in London." Chloe cast a melting
look into his face.
    He turned to Phaedra and she grudgingly extended her hand.
Chloe would have pinched her if she could have done so surreptitiously.
Again he bowed, elegantly, gracefully. "Disapproval, Miss Phaedra? Or
shyness? You interest me." He received no response, nor did he seem to
expect one.
    For the next several minutes, the conversation was general. Mr.
Farwell shared several gossipy tidbits with them, mentioning names Chloe
had often seen in the Gazette . Her mother and the Duchess
laughed with him at tittle-tattle that held little meaning for Chloe. She
decided he was someone to cultivate, however, because he seemed so
completely at home in the ton .
    Eventually her mother signaled that it was time for their
departure. As Chloe and Lady Mary were finalizing their plans to meet in
the park the next afternoon, Mr. Farwell stepped between her and her
sister.
    Phaedra took a half step back as Mr. Farwell loomed over her.
He was so very tall. Somehow he had separated her from everyone else in
the room. Leaning slightly towards her, he murmured, "Were you
refreshed by your exercise the other day, Miss Phaedra?"
    She stared.
    "A good dash across the park is so invigorating, is it not? You did
run quite a distance, however, and I feared you might have been quite
exhausted." His eyes gleamed with amusement.
    Oh, no! Of all people to see me. Oh, well, there is no help for
it. "I had grown quite stiff and sleepy from sitting that day. Do you
not feel that a good run often clears away the cobwebs and invigorates
one?"
    "Quite, Miss Phaedra. Quite." His smile faded and the drawl
was suddenly missing, although his voice remained nearly inaudible. "A
word of warning, however. In the future, you might consider your
appearance before stepping out of doors. Had you appeared more