Lady John Read Online Free PDF Page B

life. There was a muttered
something which might have been “how d’ye do,” and a strange pleating of his
upper lip which might have been a smile. Olivia, determined not to be put out
by this poor behavior, smiled as sweetly as she could at the Duke, and passed
on to his sisters with well-hidden relief.
    His Grace’s reaction to Mrs. Martingale, on the other hand,
was anything but indifferent. The quizzing glass, raised at the ready to
depress pretension, dropped suddenly; a high, rosy color mounted to the Duke’s
cheeks and his eyes bulged slightly at the sight of his guest’s fair curls,
sweet expression, and her trim, but matronly figure.
    Lady Susannah, watching this performance, murmured low to
her Mamma that she feared Julian was infatuated again, and that she hoped the tendre would not distress poor Mrs. Martingale.
The Duchess looked pained and continued her introductions.
    “But my dear madam,” Tylmath was murmuring possessively to
Mrs. Martingale. “May I not offer you a chair? And welcome you, of course, to
Catenhaugh.” Mrs. Martingale had prepared herself to dislike Tylmath, not the
least for his cavalier treatment of her daughter; she was totally taken aback
by the Duke’s attentive murmur in her ear, and cast a look of panic at her
daughter.
    “I hope your Mamma shall not dislike it very much,” Lady
Bette whispered to Olivia at their introduction. “I fear Julian has taken a
fancy to her.”
    It took Olivia some moments to comprehend exactly what was
meant. Then, “to Mamma?” She gaped unbelievingly. “I know she is a pretty woman
for her age, and I have often wondered if she might not like to marry again.
But John’s brother?”
    Lady Bette nodded her stylishly cropped brown head. “I’m
afraid that Julian does rather tend to develop these infatuations for ladies of—well,
mature years. He’ll make a fool of himself, probably, which is mortifying for
all of us but nothing we are not accustomed to. I only hope he will not give
you a dislike of all of us on his account.” She smiled shyly. “Julian’s really
the only unbearable one here. There’s Sophy, but she is happily in Somerset
with her children, who have the most providential mumps! You see, Sophy and
Julian are Melverings; they take after Papa’s mother. Kit and Kate and I take
after our papa. And William, who you shan’t meet until he comes home at
Christmas, and Susannah, and poor Anne and John, they take after Mamma.”
    “I see,” Olivia answered civilly, hoping that in time she
would.
    “I know it must be dreadful confusing for you. Mamma wanted
to keep the party small, a-purpose not to terrify you at once, but Susannah and
Kate would come to meet you the first
night. They will take their husbands away in a day or so and we can begin to
plan our Season. It will be only you and me and Mamma and your mamma then. And
you have no idea how many pleasant things we are planning—it will be such fun
to make our come-out together.”
    “Together?” Olivia repeated. At which interesting moment
dinner was announced, and Lord Christopher presented himself as an escort to
the dining room.
    “We’re short of gentlemen tonight, ladies. I hope you will
not mind my offices?”
    “What an unfair thing to ask Olivia—may I call you Olivia?
After all, we’re sisters now. But you know that the merest civility requires
her to say something charming about you.”
    “I mean, brat, to take you in to dinner,” Lord Kit replied,
unruffled. “Unless, of course, you had rather take your dinner in the
schoolroom. Standing.” With which dire offer he took Olivia’s arm.
    “ I don’t intend to run
such a risk. Thank you, sir,” Olivia said mildly, folding her hand on his arm.
    “There, you see. Olivia knows just how to answer you, Kit.
Of all the toplofty—”
    “Toplofty? Why, you little
gabblemonger—”
    Fortunately they had fetched up in that moment at the table,
and the two affectionately sparring Tenderers were separated.