At Last Comes Love Read Online Free PDF

the ball tonight—and she had counted upon his being there—would Crispin demand an introduction and say something about their engagement?

    She would positively die of embarrassment.

    She did not know for certain, of course, that the marquess would be at the ball. Indeed, she was not even quite certain he was in town, though he surely would be since he took seriously his role as a member of the House of Lords, and Parliament was in session.
    Perhaps she should stay away from the ball herself. But she had been so looking forward to going and seeing the marquess again.

    Besides, why should she stay at home and postpone seeing him just because Crispin was going to be there—and because anger had goaded her into telling a lie, or a very premature truth, anyway?

    “You must say nothing about my betrothal, Crispin,” she said. “I ought not to have mentioned it. Even my sisters do not know of it yet.”

    “Then I am privileged indeed.” He took her right hand in his and turned it in order to set his lips briefly against the pulse at her wrist.
    “My lips are sealed. Ah, Meg, it is so very good to see you again. It has been far too long. And I have come too late as well, alas.”

    “Twelve years too late,” she said, and swallowed awkwardly. She could feel the imprint of his lips like a brand across her wrist.

    It was too late. She could feel only a pained hostility toward him.
    Surely he could have shown some embarrassment, some shame, some sign that he remembered how dishonorably he had treated her. He had not even written to her. She had found out about his marriage quite by chance.

    Vanessa and Katherine had finished their conversation and caught up with them at last. Vanessa asked Crispin about his daughter, who was still living atRundlePark with her grandparents.

    “They are coming to town,” he said, “since I cannot do without my little Maria for too long. They should be here any day.”

    Katherine took Margaret's arm and squeezed it in silent sympathy.

    Margaret smiled at her.

    Her head was throbbing. If she had known that he was coming toLondon , she would have stayed at Warren Hall. She would not even have hesitated. It was too late now, though.

    Would the Marquess of Allingham propose marriage to her tonight, when it would be their first meeting since last year— if he attended the ball, that was? It seemed highly unlikely that he would declare himself so soon. Surely he would wait until their third or fourth meeting, and even then he might be cautious since she had already refused him three times.

    Oh, everything felt ruined. She would feel somehow manipulative if she encouraged his suit—although she had intended to do so even before this afternoon. She would feel as if she were trying to force him to propose marriage to her simply so that she would not lose face with a former faithless lover.

    It was not that way at all!

    What did she care for Crispin Dew? She cared for the kindly, courtly man she had decided to marry.

    “Oh, Meg,” Katherine said. “How very distressing this must be for you. I wish we had known he was in town so that we could at least have warned you.”

    “I am not distressed at all,” Margaret said. “I have been walking quietly at your side because I am having an inner debate with myself about which gown I will wear tonight for my first ball since last year.
    It is a very serious decision, you must understand. I wish to cut the very best possible dash. The gold, do you think?”

    Katherine sighed theatrically.

    “Nessie's new bonnet this afternoon and your gold gown tonight,”
    she said. “I shall be quite overshadowed by the splendor of my sisters.”

    They looked at each other and laughed.

    Katherine was the loveliest of them all with her tall, slender figure and golden brown hair. If she wore a sack to the ball tonight, she would turn more than her fair share of appreciative heads.

    Crispin was turning to take his leave of them. Margaret smiled and