Free Miss Quinn's Quandary by Shirley Marks Page A

Randall’s care for
a dance or two?” the viscountess said to Larissa.
“Rushton is a most persuasive man. He assures me you are quite safe with his
nephew. I must say, I am quite taken with him myself. I am persuaded he will
serve well as an escort.”
    “No, Aunt. You go right ahead. I’ll be fine.” Larissa returned to
Randall’s side. She laced her arm through his and gave him a superb smile,
pretending to flourish in his company. Without a doubt, it was solely for her
aunt’s benefit.
    Now that Larissa would be watched over, the dowager viscountess left on Rushton’s arm. She leaned toward him
and whispered something confidential and they both broke into a hearty bout of
laughter, making quite a spectacle of themselves.
    “You’d best mind your temper,” Larissa warned, watching her aunt
retreat.
    “You’d best mind your tongue,” Randall countered.
    “I feel we would both be better off if you left me in Lord
Fenton’s care when he arrives,” Larissa suggested. “And that will leave you to
Lady Dorothea.”
    Randall knew better than anyone how stubborn Larissa was once she
got an idea in her head, and his first impulse was to accede. However, he was
not one to give in so readily. After all, he had just promised to keep watch
over her. He couldn’t very well just leave her to someone he hardly knew. Or
could he? Randall was tempted, and it might not take much to sway him to her
perspective.
    “I do not see why we need suffer because of their budding romance,”
she continued, trying to drive her point across.
    “Their ‘budding romance’ as you put it, is all that I am
interested in, at the moment.”
    “Is it really?” She smiled, her eyes positively glowed. “Wouldn’t
Lady Dorothea be interested to hear that. ”
    “You leave Lady Dorothea out of this,” Randall warned. It would
do his case no good for Dorothea to hear of his interest from Larissa.
    Larissa tilted her head, looking over his shoulder and gesturing
to someone with her fan. “Here she comes now.”
    Randall turned to see Lady Dorothea approaching at this
inopportune moment. “My lady,” he greeted, sketching a bow. He couldn’t very
well put her off now.
    “Sir Randall,” Dorothea acknowledged. “Miss Quinn.”
    “Sir Randall was just speaking of you, Lady Dorothea.”
    “Were you?”
    “He was just pondering of your whereabouts, and now,” she
shrugged, “here you are. I shall leave you two alone as soon as Lord Fenton
makes his appearance.” She perused the room and glanced every now and again at
the doorway. “I do hope he arrives soon. I find a threesome so awkward, don’t
you?” Her face brightened. “Ah, here he is now. Lord Fenton,” Larissa called to
him in soprano tones.
    “Miss Larissa.” Lord Fenton placed a kiss on the back of
Larissa’s hand, holding it far longer than he needed to. “Lady Dorothea, and
Sir Randall, how nice that we meet again.”
    “How nice,” Randall echoed without enthusiasm, playing along with
conventional ballroom etiquette.
    Larissa interrupted. “Oh, Lord Fenton, I’m afraid I cannot bear
to step foot onto the dance floor if I do not find something to drink this
instant.”
    Lord Fenton took this as a personal challenge. “I cannot have you
experience another parched moment. Let us find the refreshments.” He nodded to
Randall and Lady Dorothea. “If you will kindly excuse us.”
    Randall watched Lord Fenton lead Larissa away. That presumptuous
puppy and that ill-tempered chit most certainly deserve one another, Randall
thought.
    “Do you disapprove, Sir Randall?” Dorothea asked.
    “Disapprove? Why should I disapprove? I don’t give a fig one way
or the other.” Randall forced himself to look at Lady Dorothea and smiled,
taking interest in her. “Your delightful presence is the only thing making this
evening worthwhile.”
    “How kind of you to say,” Lady Dorothea remarked. She blushed and
in a quick, light flutter waved her fan in front of her face,