Sally James Read Online Free PDF Page B

Charlotte! I have observed you closely, Miss Isabella, as I say, and found in you all the estimable qualities-'
    'You are too kind, Sir Frederick, but I do not deserve your praises,' Isabella interjected hastily, rising to her feet and moving rapidly to the window.
    'Truthful too,' he replied complacently, and strode purposefully across the room towards her. He was prevented from seizing her hands in his only by her swift action in lifting and pretending to examine an exquisite piece of Chelsea ware displayed on a small table beside the window. 'Miss Isabella, tell me, may I hope that my regard for you-'
    'Lord Fordington,' Baxter announced in ponderous accents and Isabella turned, her cheeks flushed, a look of relief in her eyes, towards the new visitor.
    * * * *
    Lord Fordington glanced quizzically from Isabella, unusually agitated, to Sir Frederick, who had stepped hastily away from her when Baxter had so opportunely entered the room, and was uncomfortably fingering a heavy signet ring on his little finger.
    'I fear I interrupt,' he said, a quiver of a laugh in his voice.
    'N-no, not at all, pray do come in. Baxter, will you bring the Madeira, please.'
    The butler inclined his head and departed, and Isabella, regaining her composure, replaced the figurine and sat down again, inviting the two men to be seated.
    'I was just telling Sir Frederick that my cousin was out and did not inform me when to expect his return,' she said hastily. 'May I give him a message, Lord Fordington?'
    'Thank you, but my business can wait. It was but a small query about the farms that I can ask when I see him.'
    'You are planning to go down to Sussex soon?' Sir Frederick asked in surprise, then glanced suspiciously from Lord Fordington to Isabella, who was nervously twisting her hands together.
    'I know it is a trifle early, the season still not over, but there is little to keep me here, after all.'
    'I was under the impression you had several engagements with young Flaxton,' Sir Frederick commented. 'He was at Watier's last night and mentioned the party his parents are giving next week.'
    Discerning the malicious note in his voice, Isabella glanced up at Lord Fordington. He was looking amused and she recalled a scrap of gossip she had heard that he was paying decided attentions to Miss Lizzie Flaxton, one of the belles of the season, and causing speculation that one of the ton's most eligible bachelors was at last about to throw the handkerchief.
    'Did he?' was all the reply he vouchsafed to Sir Frederick's remark. 'How is Miss Georgiana?' he asked, turning to Isabella.
    'Still in disgrace,' she told him.
    'Yet you have not posted back home at the crack of dawn!'
    'Dressmakers are so dilatory!' Isabella pointed out, laughing. 'But I confess it is uncomfortable here with Sir Roderick playing the stern parent and Georgiana unable to expend her energies by riding or walking, and I shall be pleased to be home. Georgiana offended her father by a silly prank the other day,' she added calmly, noting Sir Frederick's ill-concealed curiosity.
    'Another instance of a young girl with inadequate guidance,' was the response. 'Not that one can blame her poor mother, naturally, but Sir Roderick has been too preoccupied with his attendance on the Prince Regent to be able to devote as much time as he must have wished to do to his children.'
    'And I have been a very poor help!' Isabella said quickly. 'Will you both take some wine?' she asked, and Baxter, who had just appeared, handed round the Madeira and then withdrew.
    After a few more minutes of desultory conversation Lord Fordington set down his glass, and rose.
    'Pray give my regards to Miss Georgiana and say that I am unhappy not to have seen her,' he said, holding his hand out to Isabella.
    She had risen too, and gave him such an anguished look his eyebrows rose in surprise. Isabella blushed and began to murmur a disjointed farewell, but Lord Fordington nobly answered her unspoken appeal as he turned to Sir