Gayle Buck Read Online Free PDF

those individuals she had known before in Brussels. The realization brought with it very mixed feelings.
    The society on the eve of Waterloo had been glittering and cosmopolitan, with representatives from every nation that had allied itself against Napoleon. The English in particular had been prominent, since not only the army had come, but all of the ton as well. In fact, the young English girls who made their come-out in 1815 did so not in London, but in Brussels. Undoubtedly Michele would meet others she had known and who would recall for her other memories that she found bittersweet.
    “Sir Lionel strikes me as a pleasant gentleman. I will not be averse to it if he should call.’’ Lady Basinberry noted her niece’s drawn brows. “That is, unless you would not care for it, Michele.”
    “Oh, no, it is a matter of indifference to me, my lady,” Michele said with a quick smile. “Sir Lionel once thought of himself as an admirer of mine. I hope that he has remained a friend.”
    Lady Basinberry regarded her with a worldly expression in her cool blue eyes. “He offered for you, did he? Well, that is something, at least. That touch-me-not air of yours is rather formidable. I was beginning to think of you as hopelessly on the shelf.”
    “Aunt Beatrice, what a perfectly horrid thing to say!” exclaimed Lydia indignantly.
    Michele began to laugh. Her midnight-blue eyes sparkled with the leavening of her somber thoughts. “Indeed it was, Lydia, as I am certain that our aunt is well aware. Am I not right, my lady?”
    Lady Basinberry smiled. She gave a pat to her niece’s arm. “You’ll do, girl. Lydia, do stop gawping. Michele and I understand one another very well. She’ll not take hurt from anything that I may say, I promise you.”
    When the ladies returned home from the park. Lady Basinberry pronounced herself well-satisfied with the consequences of their outing. Her nieces had been introduced to more than a score of acquaintances, some of whom had been kind enough to proffer invitations to the young women to upcoming social functions.
    “When we hold our own ball, you may be sure that we shall have full attendance, for it will now get about that I am sponsoring two lovely young misses. Curiosity alone will bring out the gentlemen. I could not be more pleased,” Lady Basinberry said, drawing off her lavender kid gloves.
    Michele saw the first precipice yawning before her. “My lady, I do not care overmuch for the whirl of society. I would prefer to leave the limelight to my cousin. Indeed, I had quite intended mine to be a quiet visit.”
    “Oh, no! You cannot mean it,” Lydia exclaimed, dismayed. “Why, the Season will not be half so amusing if you mean to sit at home.”
    “Stuff and nonsense! I shall not hear of it. Why, you are the perfect foil for Lydia, and she for you. Pray try to be reasonable, my girl, if only for Lydia’s sake. Her golden head will be wonderfully enhanced next to your striking dark looks. The gentlemen will be drawn like flies to honey. I shall take it very ill indeed if you deprive me of this advantage over the other matrons who are bringing out young misses, Michele.”
    Michelle surrendered the point with a laugh. “Very well, ma’am. I shall play the proper miss and attend those functions that I must. But I do not promise you that I shall become engaged during the course of the Season.”
    “I have not asked it of you, my dear.” Lady Basinberry threw her niece a slightly mischievous smile. “At least, not yet.”
    Michele shook her head and laughed again. She knew when she was faced by a formidable opponent, and Lady Basinberry displayed all the signs. That lady had every intention of seeing her tied fast to some unsuspecting gentleman before the Season was out, she thought.
    Lydia clapped her hands, delighted by the outcome of the genteel sparring. “What fun we shall have together, Michele! I am so glad that you are here. And I know just the thing to put you into