Amanda Scott Read Online Free PDF Page A

painted ceilings?” Lydia demanded. “I’ve heard it said that Inigo Jones went completely wild in designing that room.”
    Diana nodded! “The Herberts are proud of it, and I suppose it’s very nice. Rory and I were looking at the Van Dyck portraits and just sort of talking. I said something he didn’t like—I fear that, like you, I dared to doubt that he was truly serious about his love for Sophie—and he grabbed my shoulders to make me look right at him, just to emphasize whatever it was he was about to say, of course, and not for any other reason. His temper can be as volatile as Simon’s at times. But of course Simon must choose that exact moment to interrupt our conversation. He knocked Rory down,” she added with another sigh and a small, ironic smile.
    “Well, that at least is nothing new,” Lydia pointed out matter-of-factly, “whatever you may choose to think of Andover’s not having a violent streak. They say the Warrington twins have been at it hammer and tongs since the day Lord Roderick first discovered that by having had the misfortune to present himself to the world some twenty minutes after Andover’s arrival, he had done himself out of the title and anything other than what little his father or brother might choose to grant him from the unentailed property.”
    “But it need never have been that way if the marquess had not lavished all his attention on Simon and if Lady Marimorse had not dubbed him the good twin and poor Rory the bad twin before ever they were out of short coats. My mama said the marchioness’s attitude was the source of the whole unfortunate business, and I’ve no doubt Mama has the right of it. I think it a most fortunate thing indeed that the marchioness is no longer around to shove her oar between them.”
    “Diana!” Lydia exclaimed, scandalized.
    “Well, I won’t unsay the words,” Diana returned stoutly. “I think she must have been a dreadful woman. I can only be glad she did not live long enough to cast a blighting influence over dearest Susanna. Goodness knows she’s had enough to contend with in Lady Ophelia, but at least her ladyship means well.”
    “She is a bit overbearing at times, I daresay,” Lydia said, diverted again.
    “Not overbearing, merely a trifle weighty. Papa says she creates boredom, then causes others to suffer mightily. Mama merely calls her the platitudinous Lady Ophelia. But her ladyship is kind to Susanna, and the twins both adore their little sister, so she will come out of it all right in the end.”
    “Is not Susanna to make her come-out this year?”
    “Indeed she is, and her letters to us have been full of nothing else. She was invited to make one of the Wilton House party, but both Lady Ophelia and the marquess forbade it, saying it would not be the thing, since she is not yet out. Not that that stopped Lady Sarah Fane from taking part. She does not make her come-out until spring either. But that is beside the point. We have prevailed upon the marquess to allow Susanna to emerge from the schoolroom for the Christmas festivities, and they are to be very grand, as you well know. My mama took up Susanna’s banner when the marquess was loth to allow her to take part. Mama wrote him a charming letter, assuring him that his lovely and very well-behaved daughter could only profit from being granted such a treat, that it would be far better for her to try her wings for the first time on her home ground and under benevolent eyes. Simon also wrote to him,” she added.
    “Ah,” said Lydia with an air of vast wisdom.
    Diana made a face at her. “Getting him to write was one of Mama’s knacky notions, too, if you must know everything. My mama is a very knowing one when all is said and done.”
    “She is, indeed,” agreed Lydia, who made no secret of the fact that she adored her mama-in-law. There was a moment’s silence before she added softly, “Did you explain the matter to Simon, Diana?”
    Diana had no difficulty following