Rivals of Fortune / The Impetuous Heiress Read Online Free PDF Page B

announced.
    Conversation over dinner consisted of Erland’s praises of the food and his answers to Mr. Rowntree’s questions about the wilderness. Joanna was glad to rise at her mother’s signal and retreat to the drawing room once more. She was heartily sick of Canada, she thought defiantly, and she hoped that rather than joining them, the gentlemen would go directly to the library, where her father’s society was to meet at nine. When her mother made an innocuous remark about how unfortunate it was that Gerald could not come this evening, Joanna said only, “Humph.”
    She got half her wish. Her father did not appear after dinner. But Erland came in soon after them and sat down beside her mother on the sofa. He complimented her yet again on the dinner, then turned to Joanna with the air of a man who meant to become better acquainted. “I have not forgotten your promise, you know,” he said lightly. “And I mean to hold you to it, as soon as I can find the time.”
    â€œPromise?” echoed Joanna blankly.
    â€œYes. Have you forgotten we are to go riding together?”
    â€œOh. Oh, no.”
    He smiled at her, his gray eyes lighting. “I think perhaps you did. But as I say, I hold you to it. Perhaps on Saturday?”
    â€œWell, I am not sure…” Joanna looked to her mother.
    Mrs. Rowntree nodded. “That sounds like a splendid scheme. You have not taken your mare out all week, Joanna.”
    â€œIt’s settled then. You must come. Your mare will be wanting the exercise.” He looked into her eyes. “And I am sorely in need of guidance. I know there must be some charming rides in the neighborhood, but I have lost myself four times searching them out. You must show me.”
    Joanna smiled at the idea of Erland lost in the fields. “All right,” she said, though she was not certain she really wished to go.
    Erland opened his mouth to say something further, but at that moment, one of the maids came in and announced, “Mr. and Mrs. Peter Finley, ma’am, and Sir Rollin Denby.” And before Joanna and her mother could do more than open their eyes in astonishment, the three callers were walking into the room.
    Joanna’s eyes were drawn first to Peter, in spite of herself. He stood between the two strangers, looking somehow small and rather uncomfortable. His pale blond hair had been cut in London and was brushed into a modish Brutus. But it was his clothes that made Joanna blink. Peter had always been interested in fashion and had driven his Oxford tailors nearly frantic with constant requests for the very latest in London styles. Joanna had admired his clothes excessively. But she had never seen anything so magnificent as the outfit he now wore. His coat was pale blue and his pantaloons the palest fawn—the cut was exquisite. And the height of his shirtpoints, the arresting pattern of his waistcoat, and the mirror gloss of his high Hessian boots nearly overwhelmed her. She swayed slightly and was hardly able to stammer a reply when her mother greeted the trio and made the necessary introductions.
    Joanna sat down again and tore her eyes from Peter to study his wife. She had received the impression of height when the callers came in, and now she saw that, as she feared, Adrienne Finley was tall. Indeed, she appeared to be slightly taller than Peter, who was a slight gentleman. Her figure was statuesque and her blue evening dress magnificent, especially since she wore it with a stunning string of sapphires around her neck. But when Joanna raised her eyes to Mrs. Finley’s face, she felt some slight relief. The newcomer was not beautiful, and she was not truly blond. Her hair was a light brown, as was her complexion, and her rather prominent eyes were green. With a start, Joanna realized that her scrutiny was being returned, and she dropped her eyes. Adrienne Finley smiled.
    As Joanna looked at the floor, Peter greeted her mother