Animating Maria Read Online Free PDF Page B

shamefully and openly lost her virginity.
    ‘She told me she was engaged to a ship’s captain,’ said the duke. ‘If she is already engaged, why does she need a Season?’
    ‘Don’t ask me,’ said his mother. ‘Maybe the captain heard the scandal and cried off.’
    Beau, the duke noticed, was gazing adoringly at Miss Kendall. His friend would have to be warned. The duke was apt to take care of his friends with the same patronizing kindness as he took care of his tenants. So far he had never done anything to interfere in Beau’s life, which was possibly why Beau was one of his very few close friends.
    After supper, Maria was surrounded by a crowd of men begging her for the next dance. Beau shrugged ruefully and walked away to join the duke.
    ‘Step aside with me a little,’ murmured the duke. ‘There is something I must tell you.’
    They strolled together out of the assembly room and into the quietness of the hall.
    ‘What is it?’ asked Beau lightly. ‘You look deuced serious.’
    ‘I must put you on your guard against Miss Kendall.’
    ‘I think you should stop right there,’ said Beau angrily. ‘You said she was common and vulgar and she is neither. She is one of the most enchanting girls I have ever met.’
    ‘Mama heard that Miss Kendall lost her virginity in the pantry at the Comfreys’ hunt ball. She is being sent to the Tribbles.’
    ‘Fustian! Who are the Tribbles?’
    ‘You are out of touch.’
    ‘I have been travelling abroad, as you know.’
    ‘They are spinster ladies who reside in London and charge a vast sum to bring out so-called difficult girls.’
    ‘I cannot believe you,’ said Beau. ‘Oh, not about the Tribbles, but about her not being a virgin.’
    ‘I am not in the way of relating vicious slander, and neither is my mother,’ said the duke.
    ‘No, I suppose not,’ said Beau gloomily.
    ‘Cheer up, my friend. If she is so careless with her favours, perhaps you may have them without marriage.’
    Beau shook his head sadly. But when they returned to the ballroom, they arrived on the scene just as Maria had decided to begin to flirt to see if she could attract the duke’s attention.
    Beau saw the roguish looks she was casting at her partner and his heart sank. Still, she was such a beautiful creature that the least he could do was to get a kiss from her.
    But he could not get near Maria for the rest of that evening, she was so besieged by partners.
    The ball finished in the small hours with an announcement that the duke’s estate workers had diverted the torrent and repaired the road. The travellers would be able to continue their journey.
    Beau had been drinking a great deal. He became more determined than ever to see Maria alone.
    Maria was sitting at her toilet table and Betty was just about to unpin the silk roses from her hair when there came a scratching at the door and then a note was slid underneath it.
    Betty picked it up and gave it to Maria. ‘What is it?’ asked Miss Spiggs avidly. ‘What an odd time to deliver a message.’
    Maria swung away from her and quickly read the message: ‘Meet me in the coffee room as soon as possible, Beaumont.’
    ‘I must go,’ said Maria. ‘Miss Sunningdale wants to see me about something. Don’t wait up for me, Betty. Both you and Miss Spiggs go to bed.’
    She swung a long cloak about her shoulders, made her way down to the coffee room and pushed open the door.
    It was empty except for Lord Alistair Beaumont, who was standing, leaning one arm on the mantel and looking down into the embers of the fire.
    He swung round as Maria entered.
    Maria knew she should not have come, but the prospect that Lord Alistair might mean to propose marriage to her was too big a temptation. She thought of the duke’s outraged face when he learned she had enslaved his best friend. That was almost as good a revenge as spurning the duke.
    ‘My darling, I knew you would come,’ said Beau. He strode towards her, caught her in his arms and began