Free The Willful Widow by Evelyn Richardson

considerable charms and talents as she and the ballet appeared onstage to a vociferously enthusiastic audience.
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    The Willful Widow
    by Evelyn Richardson
    At the end of the first act, the sight of Reginald again gazing fervently on as Diana chatted with a group of young men reinforced his uncle in his resolve to do something. That this particular set of admirers, remarkable only for their rather sober dress and serious demeanor, appeared to be friends of Reginald's made not the least bit of difference to Justin nor, it appeared, to Lady Diana Hatherill. The hussy smiled and laughed just as gaily as she had with Ferdie's confreres, and St. Clair fumed all the more at the laughs and attention she was drawing.
    With no very clear idea of what he was going to do or how he was going to proceed, Justin grimly made his way to the box, too preoccupied to acknowledge the languishing looks cast at him by some of the ladies in the surrounding boxes. Even Sally Jersey failed to attract a glimmer of a smile, causing her to comment to her companion, "Whatever do you suppose is ailing St. Clair? He looks positively blue-deviled." Fortunately, Reginald was just leaving the box to go in search of refreshment for the ladies, thus sparing his uncle the necessity of resorting to some devious stratagem for getting him alone.
    "Uncle Justin, I am delighted to see you here. I had hoped perhaps we might..."
    His uncle sighed inwardly at the welcoming smile on his nephew's ingenuous face, which betrayed not the slightest hint of consciousness. A man in some doubt about the appropriateness of his choice of a life companion or properly respectful of his parents' strictures would have revealed some small sign of discomfort, but not Reginald. 71
    The Willful Widow
    by Evelyn Richardson
    "I am so glad you have come," Reginald reiterated. "You must meet Lady Diana Hatherill." The name was whispered so reverently that Justin felt he was like to be sick. Such romantic infatuation would have made him queasy at any time, but coming from a former young sobersides and in reference to a woman who was no better than she should be, it was positively nauseating.
    "You will like her, I know you will," his nephew continued eagerly. "She is quite out of the common way, not like so many women one meets who can speak of nothing but fashion and dress. Her father was a notable scholar and raised her without any of the silly notions you find among the rest of her sex. Her mind is most well-informed, and she is quite without vanity,"
    Justin restrained himself with considerable effort.
    "I know Papa would approve of her if he could only rid himself of the notion that she is after Great-Aunt Seraphina's fortune. You can see that she and her great-aunt are the dearest of friends, and Diana has confided to me that she wishes to make her own way in the world. In general, Papa's opinions are well considered, but I fear that this time his judgment is outweighed by worldly concerns." The viscount dismissed his parents' worries with a shake of his head. "But come, meet her."
    That's what you get, Alfred, for prosing on forever at the lad, Justin thought gloomily. He's been so filled with moral platitudes that he has become too high-minded for his own good. A young man who had been allowed to sow his wild oats in a proper fashion would have recognized the lady and 72
    The Willful Widow
    by Evelyn Richardson
    the situation for what they were, and would not be in the mess that Reginald found himself in.
    "No, I do not agree with you. Handel is, of course, inspiring, but his oratorio's inspire by overwhelming the audience rather than enchanting it. I believe Mozart to be the better composer, His harmony is far more deftly woven, and the listener is influenced subtly without being aware of it. I find that to be a greater art," a silvery voice caught his ear as Justin followed his nephew into the box.
    He glanced over to see Lady Diana deep in conversation with one of the earnest young