How to Please a Lady Read Online Free PDF Page B

hundred twelve. A new couple lives there now. She’s the granddaughter of the Duke of Glastonbury. Perhaps you know her; she’s not that much older than you are.”
    Rose smiled. “Now you are surely jesting with me. I met her just this last season. Her Grace was quite enthusiastic about bringing Lady Genevieve out and she was the talk of London for a time.” A sudden blush stained Rose’s cheeks when she remembered more about Glastonbury’s granddaughter. “She seemed like a lovely girl, but she did cause a bit of a scandal now that I recall. There was a story in an American newspaper. It caused quite a stir here.”
    â€œI must have missed it, and I’m not one to read society pages at any rate,” Mr. Cartwright said, with the smallest hint of censure in his voice. “The Campbells are good neighbors and seem pleasant enough.”
    â€œI’m certain they are. I did not mean to imply the opposite, truly, but I was taken aback by how coincidental it is that you’ve had not one but two of my acquaintances as neighbors. I hope Caroline was a good neighbor.”
    â€œShe was. I dined at their home several times and they at mine. I was sad to see them leave.”
    â€œIs New York very different from London?”
    â€œVastly. Everything is new there. Even the buildings that are meant to look old are new. We are such a young country, it’s quite striking to be in a place where a new building is one built in the last two centuries.”
    â€œAnd which do you prefer?”
    â€œThey both have their charms,” he said diplomatically.
    â€œYou truly do have a fine future in politics,” Rose said, laughing lightly. “Do you wish to be president some day?”
    â€œI’m afraid nothing as lofty as that.”
    â€œYou will have a duchess in your corner, whatever you choose.”
    He smiled, and again she was taken aback by just how very handsome he was. “I am grateful. For now, though, I would be content with a dance. Will you do me the honor?”
    Rose glanced at her dance card and nodded. “Of course.”
    The rest of the evening was like a pleasant dream. She danced with her father, who again told her how very proud he was, and Rose beamed a smile up at him. She’d never in her life felt so special, so loved, so full of hope for the future. As evening grew into morning and guests either left in their carriages or retired to their rooms, Rose sat next to her mother, who was exhausted but happy.
    â€œI think the evening went quite well, Rose, quite well. His Grace remarked that you have comported yourself excellently all evening, and I think he is quite pleased with his choice.”
    â€œI’m glad. He seems a very pleasant man and I do believe we shall get on well.” Rose wanted to believe her words, even though she still was more nervous than anything else around the man. It was his age, the way he looked at her, the way they didn’t seem to have a single thing in common other than the fact they were marrying each other. While they were dancing their second waltz, she mentioned the possibility of going to the continent for their wedding trip, but he dismissed the idea immediately. “I do apologize, my dear, but going to the continent doesn’t appeal to me in the least.”
    Rose swallowed her disappointment, for she’d been secretly hoping for a lengthy wedding trip where she would finally be able to see the things she’d only been able to read about. Rome with its Colosseum, Greece with its Parthenon, Egypt with its pyramids. Everything seemed so exciting, but it was clear her future husband had no interest in travel.
    â€œNow all you have to do is plan the perfect wedding, Mother,” Rose said with a tired laugh.
    â€œI’m too exhausted to even give that a thought,” her mother said. “I’m off to bed. We’ll have a late luncheon to allow everyone to get a good