Miss Delacourt Has Her Day Read Online Free PDF Page B

Grandmama, you imply I have done some thing unwarranted. I would, however, be remiss if I neglected to inform you of my uncle’s opposition to my upcoming nuptials.” There, it was out, and he was glad of it. “If you must know, I believe he cherishes a hope I will marry my cousin’s widow. Wouldn’t that be a provident solution?” he said with as much nonchalance as he could muster. Surely they would see all what was ludicrous in that statement!

    Surprisingly, they did not. Grandmama’s face went deathly white, and the tears he had hoped for from Ginny moments before started in earnest.
    His first emotion was one of intense relief. Finally, a sign that she cared! As he hastened to Ginny’s side, he wondered if his selfish reaction meant he was some kind of cad. Taking her into his arms, he let her sob, at great length and with startling thoroughness, into the expensive cloth of his favorite Weston coat as penance for his callousness.
    “My poor darling,” he murmured into her ear. “I hadn’t meant to be so blunt. That is, I did mean to say exactly what was on my mind, but I wasn’t wishful to make you so desperately unhappy.” Surely a tear or two would have been more than enough proof of her love for him, but there was no sign that the deluge would come to a stop. What now? He waggled his eyebrows at Grandmama over the top of Ginny’s head.
    Grandmama was not so circumspect. She threw her hands into the air and cried, “Would that I knew! Ginny was her usual intrepid self earlier today over luncheon.”
    “It’s only that I wish to be the best duchess I can be,” Ginny divulged between sobs.
    “Not that again!” Anthony wanted to give her a good shake but fished in his pocket for a handkerchief instead. “Grandmama, what have you said to her?”
    “I? What have I said to her?” she gasped. “You are the one who reintroduced that nasty bit of news about your uncle. I daresay the talk about Lady Derby was none too pleasing either.”

    “I am referring to this newfound passion to be a duchess,” Anthony demanded, happy to turn attention away from the two most unsettling conversations of his day thus far. This was quickly becoming the third. “She hasn’t been herself since I arrived” The way her fingers crept up into the curls at the nape of his neck was also new, but he thought it best not to draw attention to that bit of impertinence. Grandmama might put a stop to it, and he found he rather liked it. Very much, in fact.
    “Yes, well, no doubt we can lay the blame for that in your mother’s dish, as usual. Deborah makes it more than clear she doesn’t have confidence in Ginerva. Not all young ladies are cut out to be a proper duchess, if you must know, Anthony.”
    “Since when does Ginny have a care for what anyone thinks of her?” Anthony demanded over the sound of renewed sobbing, but he was not to get an answer, for just then there was a rap on the door, and a Madame Badeau was announced.
    “Ah, at last!” the dowager duchess sputtered. “You are late!”
    “As you say, Your Grace,” Madame Badeau said with a shrug of her shoulders. “Specialement if by late you mean early and attendu outside this door pour toujours.”
    Finally, someone who was a match for Grandmama, not to mention a splendid diversion for Ginny. Anthony felt something akin to glee. How he wished he might tarry and see how events unfolded, but it would not do to remain in the room while his beloved was fitted for her wedding gown.
    “I will leave you ladies to your work, then” Gently, he drew Ginny from his shoulder and put a finger under her chin to lift her gaze to his. “Come, come, Miss Delacourt, will you not at least smile for me?” She did not reply, and in the end he was forced to make do with regarding her delightfully upturned nose while discreetly whisking away the teardrop that had made its way halfway down her chin; whereupon there was nothing left to do but depart.
    Once the door had shut