Fortune's fools Read Online Free PDF Page B

from side to side, "this is only for Miss O'Connor, because only she can handle such an extraordinary masterpiece!"
    "Thank you, Mr. Poupin," said Kate, who felt like giggling. Looking at her image, for the first time in her life she felt beautiful. As far as she was concerned, Mr. Poupin's work was more miracle than masterpiece.
    "Yes, thank you, Monsieur Poupin. Now, Kate, do rest for an hour. I will send Dolly to you to help you dress for the ball," said her mother, kissing her on top of the head before shooing everyone from the room.
    After running the comb through her hair and twice scratching her swan-like neck, Kate rose and went to the bed, stretching out across it and closing her eyes. Turning this way and that, she found sleep was impossible. She was about to go to her first London ball, and she was ridiculously nervous.
    She couldn't imagine why. She was five and twenty and had attended countless balls and danced with all sorts of men. Why she should suddenly be nervous, she could not understand. She had met many people since arriving in London, and she had felt no shyness with them. What was more, it was her aunt's ball, so she should certainly feel at home.
    Kate gazed at the Pomona green gown hanging on the front of the wardrobe. The color was as fresh as spring, and the cut was simple. It had long, fitted sleeves and a deep decolletage to show off her ample charms. Her aunt, Lady Murray, had sent over an emerald pendant on a short ribbon. When she had held it up to her throat, her

    father had said proudly that it matched her sparkling green eyes perfectly.
    Everything was ideal, so why had butterflies taken up permanent residence in her stomach? Surely it could not be because she was to meet Sir Milton. She had waited for the household to grow quiet each night, but her father had taken to inviting his cronies over to play cards every night, which meant the servants, too, were keeping late hours. Kate had not judged it safe to venture outside again.
    She had begged the cook and their footman to find out more about their neighbor, but they knew nothing. When all was said and done, it was all a hum, anyway. The man next door was probably most unsuitable and nothing out of the ordinary when seen in the daylight. He was probably five inches shorter than she was and as wide as he was tall. Even if he had managed to secure an invitation to her aunt's ball, she would probably not look twice at him.
    If, on the other hand, he were as tall and charming as his voice and words . . . there went those butterflies again.
    The key to being all the kick in London Society was to be unique, but not too unique. With Monsieur Poupin's newly styled hair, Kate O'Connor managed to walk that fine line. She was worldly enough to realize, of course, that by the next ball, her looks might be considered passe. But for this night, it amused and pleased her that her short red curls were the talk of her aunt's ballroom.
    Upon entering the ballroom, Kate stopped to gaze down at the bright colors of the ladies' gowns as the

    couples went through the motions of the dance. The butterflies took flight again. One of those men might be Sir Milton. 'Twas not his real name, she felt sure, but she would use it to help identify him—if she were lucky enough to hear his voice and if he was in attendance. She told herself once again not to set her hopes too high.
    "Come along, my dear. There is Lady Nance with her handsome grandson. Her son was one of my suitors all those years ago. He was just as handsome as this young man. I will introduce you." Obediently, Kate followed her mother.
    "I will meet up with you two later," called her father, turning and heading toward his brother-in-law's study, where he knew Lord Murray would be hiding with a few old friends, playing at whist or hazard.
    As she and her mother neared the young man and elderly matron, Kate whispered, "He is not very tall."
    "No, but he is quite suitable in every other way. We talked about