At Last Comes Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

nodded to him and felt a queasiness in her stomach again.

    He was going to be at the ball tonight—with the express purpose of meeting her betrothed.

    Lies were never worth telling, were they? And that was a massive understatement.

    3

    MARGARET wore her gold gown to Lady Tindell's ball. She had bought it at the end of last Season, a foolish extravagance, she had thought at the time, as she had had no opportunity to wear it before returning to Warren Hall for the summer. But she had loved it from the moment she saw it, ready-made and ready to purchase and her exact size—though she had been a little afraid it was too revealing at the bosom. Both Vanessa and Katherine, who had been with her at the time, had assured her that it was not, that since she had a bosom she might as well show it to best advantage. It was an argument that was not necessarily reassuring, but Margaret had bought the gown anyway.

    She felt young and attractive in it now. She was not really young, of course. But was she still a little attractive? Modesty said no, but her glass assured her that what beauty she had been blessed with had not altogether faded yet. And she had never lacked for partners at any of the balls she had attended during the past few years.

    She had attracted the Marquess of Allingham, had she not? And he was without a doubt one of the most eligible matrimonial catches inEngland .

    Oh, she hoped he would be at the ball tonight.

    And she hoped Crispin would change his mind and stay away. She really did not want to see him again.

    The underdress of fine ivory-colored silk clung to her every curve, and the transparent gold overdress shimmered in the candlelight. It was a high-waisted gown cut daringly low at the bosom, its sleeves short and puffed above her long gold gloves, which matched her dancing slippers.

    She almost lost her courage before leaving her dressing room. At her age she should surely be wearing far more sober and decorous gowns.
    But before she could give serious thought to changing into something else, there was a tap on the door, and when her maid opened it, Stephen poked his head inside.

    “Oh, I say, Meg!” he exclaimed, his eyes moving over her with open appreciation. “You look quite stunning, if I may say so. People will think I am escorting my younger sister. I am going to be the envy of every gentleman in the ballroom when I enter it with you on my arm.”

    “Thank you, sir.” She laughed at his absurdity and made him an elaborate curtsy. “And I am going to be the envy of every lady.
    Perhaps we ought to remain at home and save everyone all the heartache.”

    Stephen had been extraordinarily good-looking even as a boy, with his tall, slender frame, unruly blond curls, blue eyes, and open, good-humored face. But now, at the age of twenty-two, he had grown into his height with a careless sort of grace, his curls had been tamed somewhat by an expert barber, and his features had taken on maturity and a vivid handsomeness. Margaret was biased, of course, but she saw the way he turned female heads wherever he went. And it was not just his title and wealth that did it, though she supposed they did not hurt.

    “Better not.” He pushed the door wider, made her an elegant bow to match her curtsy, grinned at her, and offered his arm. “Are you ready to go? I would not deprive the male world of your company.”

    “Well, there is that.” She smiled at her maid, wrapped her silk shawl about her shoulders, picked up her fan, and took his arm.

    They arrived at the Tindell mansion half an hour later and had to wait only five minutes before their carriage took its place at the end of the red carpet and Stephen handed Margaret out. She gave her shawl to a footman inside the hall and ascended the stairs toward the receiving line and the ballroom on Stephen's arm. And if they were attracting admiring glances—and they surely were—she was free to believe that some were intended for her, even though most