Escapade Read Online Free PDF Page B

satin-shod toe in impatience as Clare was run to ground by one mama after another. She remarked that it was not once necessary, or even possible, for him to seek a girl out. Always there was one in line, waiting to pounce. Clare dutifully paced the floor with two others after Miss Sedgley, then his civility was at an end. He strode out the door with a harassed expression on his face and headed to the parlor where the insipid beverages were served. Sara was after him like a shot and could not believe her luck to find him quite alone. He threw a wary look over his shoulder when he heard her enter.
    “Relax, Clare, it's only me,” she said brightly. “And I have no notion of asking you to stand up with me, or my niece."
    “Sara, nice to see you,” he smiled in relief. “Come and bear me company, and help stave off the mamas."
    It was the very sort of remark that enraged Miss Prattle, yet after watching Clare's evening entertainment, one could hardly blame him. They hounded the man to death.
    “A tedious bore, being an eligible dook, ain't it?” she teased.
    “Truer words than you know, my girl, but never mind that. Where's Herbert these days? I didn't see him at Tatt's so he must be out of town."
    “Yes, gone to Kent to help his papa with some estate business. He'll be gone a fortnight."
    “Why didn't you go with him?"
    “You forget I have a niece to chaperon."
    “Oh, is that girl still with you? Taking you a devil of a long time to get her popped off. What's the matter with her?"
    “She tells me the old gentlemen are so wise she bores them, and the young ones don't interest her. It's a problem."
    “We all have our problems,” he replied in a condoling spirit and led Sara to two chairs in a quiet corner, conveniently apart from other seats to allow privacy. They were old friends, coeval, and had hit London the same season. Clare had fancied Miss Watley at one time, but she had never had eyes for anyone but Sir Herbert. Still, they remained friends, met every season, and sent each other cards for their balls and larger parties. She was always happy to have a few minutes’ flirtation with him when they met socially, and he was similarly inclined. Sara was now determined to capitalize on this long friendship to wangle Ella an invitation to Clare Palace. Miss Prattle would enjoy it, and while she would have no hope of attaching Clare, she would meet others there, and it would lend her a certain cachet to have been among the elect at his party. She broached the subject cautiously.
    “One hears you are skipping town for a week or so. Taking a party to Clare, are you?"
    “Yes, I have to go on business, like Herbert. Strayward has told me Honor is going with me, and I'll be damned if I'll be stuck with her alone, so have enlarged the party to lessen the strain of her company. Also, I might add, to lessen the likelihood of being expected to make an offer."
    “They can't make you have her, you know."
    “Can't they? I don't know, Sara. It's in the air. They expect it. I shall awake one morning and find Miss Prattle has got me engaged to Honor, and I'm for it then."
    Sara squirmed in her seat at this reference to Prattle, but made no comment on it. “So you have invited a couple of your gayer flirts to enliven the party. Whom are you taking? Miss Sheridan, I gather?"
    “And as Miss Sheridan is a ravishing brunette—rather in your style, Sara, so far as looks go—I have invited a redhead to complete the trio."
    Sara felt a flush of pleasure at the comparison—it was his eyes that made one feel so special, she thought. Really, the devil was a charmer. No wonder the girls were all after him.
    “Miss Prentiss,” she supplied the redhead's name. Everyone knew Patrick's flirts, of course. “How interesting. Society will expect you to return caught by one or the other of them."
    “My reason for inviting Sherry and Miss Prentiss was to eliminate that possibility, you recall."
    “Yes, I do recall, but you don't often