Free Lord Devere's Ward by Sue Swift Page A

take.”
    Pauline grinned. “You know I have an interest in languages. How else would I learn cant, if I did not talk to coachmen and stable boys?”
    Anna shuddered. “Please do not talk cant in London. That is the most sure way to obtain a reputation as fast.”
    “I want to be a prime article. Why not begin practicing now?”
    Her parents sighed, and Kate divined their thoughts with ease. Pauline would have to be carefully watched while in close proximity to the manifold perils of the city.
    The butler opened the door of the library and announced the advent of the Earl of Devere.
    Excitement fluttered in Kate’s stomach like a butterfly escaping from its chrysalis. She hadn’t seen Quinn since that ill-fated drive in the park. Drat the man, she’d even had trouble keeping him out of her dreams.
    Dressed casually for the visit, her guardian wore a fitted coat of fawn worsted over trousers of cream pinstriped twill. His Hobys gleamed in the mellow candlelight.

    “Uncle Devere!” Pauline squealed. Kate watched as Pauline seized upon her uncle as a diversion from the undesirable occupation, leaping up from her place at the large library table. Pauline hugged Quinn around the waist.
    Kate said a shy “hello” and went back to her labors, observing him covertly.
    Anna rose. “Quinn,” she said, and gave him her hand to kiss. After he bent over her hand, she added,
    “Pauline, that’s enough. Get back to work.” Pauline swung Quinn’s hand back and forth.
    “Not with Uncle here,” she said cleverly. “That would be rude.”
    Her mother glared at her. Kate suppressed a smile.
    “Shall I ring for tea, Mother?” Pauline asked.
    “Oh, no no no no. No need to make a pother,” said Quinn, waving his free hand in the air.
    Letting him go, Pauline yanked the bell pull. “It’s not a bother, really, Uncle Devere. We were just going to have tea. We need a bit of extra nourishment, since we’ve been working so.”
    “And what is this?” Quinn advanced to the library table, and lifted his lorgnon to view the scattered sheets. “A ball for the Honorable Louisa Anna Michaela Penrose! And all these hundreds of invitations to be written out in one’s finest hand. Oh, how well do I remember.” He cocked his head toward his niece. “And you, dear Pauline, are not submitting to torture with good grace.”

    “No, I’m not,” said Pauline. “I’m dreadfully bored.”
    “Well, it may be that there is a special treat in store for a good little girl who helps her sister prepare for her season,” said Quinn. “And perhaps for her cousin, too,” he added, smiling at Kate.
    His smile both warmed her and tied her tongue into knots. How on earth did he manage that trick?
    Pauline didn’t seem to notice anything amiss.
    “Why, whatever do you mean, Uncle?”
    “Astley’s,” he said.
    “Astley’s!” All three girls screamed at once.
    “Astley’s Amphitheatre. The evening after these invitations are completed and sent out, we shall all go to the circus. With your permission.” Quinn bowed in the direction of his sister and her husband.
    A footman entered with the tea tray as Pauline dashed back to her place at the table. “Jenks! What are you doing here!” she snapped at him. “We don’t want your catlap! Can’t you see we’re busy?”

    * * *

    “Look at that woman.” Kate nudged Quinn with an elbow and pointed with her fan to the other side of the sawdust ring. During the interval between acts at Astley’s, the family amused themselves by watching the passing throngs and commenting upon their appearance and manner of dress. “Her hat looks exactly like the cockade on the dancing horse.” Quinn pretended he needed a better angle to see the woman, creating an opportunity to edge closer to Kate. He liked her subtle lilac scent. “You’re right.
    Those feathers are the same appalling shade of puce.” He raised his lorgnon to get a better look. “All of London comes to Astley’s, cousin Kay. You