Never Miss a Chance Read Online Free PDF

girth.
    “Lady Elizabeth,” he said while looking her up and down,
then letting his eyes fixate at bodice level, “how lovely it is to see you
again.  I hear tell you published something in the papers.  Of course, if it
ain’t in the sporting section or the gossips columns, I have scant chance of
reading it.  Perhaps, I might have the pleasure of your reciting it to me?”
    “Calvin, go away,” said his sister. 
    “But I’ve been sent here on an urgent matter by Stepmama. 
Your partner for the next dance awaits.”
    “I’ve promised no one this dance.”
    “Yes, but Stepmama did.   And his grace is waiting.”
    Rosalind turned with dismay to see the Duke of Fallmoor
speaking to her stepmother across the room.  The duke, who’d already buried
five wives, was a man in his 70s and had been, according to him, one of the
greatest matrimonial prizes of the mid-to-late 18 th Century.  Father
to thirteen legitimate children – all of them daughters – and any number of
natural offspring, it was said he still wished to provide the dukedom with an
heir.  Rosalind’s stepmother had been trying to engineer the match for the past
eleven months, since the death of the duke’s most recent wife.  Rosalind
suspected that her stepmother’s campaign had begun even before that.  In
another month, he’d be out of mourning and Rosalind knew she’d likely face the
choice of either getting engaged or being thrown out of her home. 
    Lizzie looked on helplessly as Calvin steered Rosalind to
the duke.  She was well aware of the machinations of Rosalind’s family, but all
offers she’d made to help her friend had been politely but firmly rejected.
    She was interrupted from her morose thoughts by a thin,
nasally male voice.
    “Lady Elizabeth, may I….may I speak with you for a moment?”
    Lizzie turned to see the anxious face of a young man whose
name she couldn’t recall, but vaguely remembered as a baronet enamored of
farming.
    “Pray forgive me for not approaching you earlier, but I’ve
been working up the nerve to speak to you.”
    “There’s nothing to forgive, Sir, uh…”
    “Sir John Matthews.  I have a baronetcy at Somerset.”
    “Yes, of course.”
    “It’s most beautiful there at this time of year.  The fields
filled with crops, cattle grazing, the plucking of chickens.”
    “I’m sure it must be quite peaceful for all, except for the
chickens, of course,” said Lizzie, with an eye on her escape.  “Now, if you’ll
excuse me.”
    “Might I have this dance?”
    The young man was dreadfully eager. 
    “While I am quite honored by the request, I’m afraid the
evening has been rather tiring,” she replied.  It was a bit of an untruth, but
Sir John seemed all things amiable, if a bit dull, and she had no desire to be
rude to one of the few people being nice to her.
    “I’m so sorry to hear you’re not feeling well, but it is
understandable that the fairer sex should feel faint with all the excitement of
a ballroom.  Might I escort you to the balcony for some air?”
    Elizabeth was about to first refuse him , then correct his rather
insufferable assumption that she should feel faint simply from being in the
company of a ballroom of twits, when her eye was caught by the sight of
Riverton dancing with Lady Willoughby, an unhappily married matron known for
her many affairs.  She was looking at him in a manner reminiscent of a cat and
cream.  For his part, he seemed quite eager to be lapped up.  It was
inexplicable that Lizzie should care.  But she found herself annoyed, no doubt
by the other events of the evening more than anything related to her brother’s
friend.
    “I would love to take some air, Sir John,” she said, as she
allowed him to escort her to the French doors.
    Sir John couldn’t believe his luck, as he guided Lizzie
through the crowd.

CHAPTER THREE
     
     
     
     
     
     
    The cool breeze was refreshing, and the relative quiet of
the corner of the terrace she’d been