Free A Rival Heir by Laura Matthews Page A

a glass of orgeat.”
    “I detest orgeat,” Aunt Longstreet said, but she accepted the chair with some eagerness. Nell suspected that her gout was troubling her, though she had made no mention of it.
    Emily remained standing at Nell’s side, seeming determined to offer whatever assistance was needed. She bent down and whispered in Nell’s ear, “They are only country dances, you know. The waltz isn’t danced here yet, more’s the pity. Didn’t you learn country dances in the schoolroom?”
    “Not in any recognizable fashion. My mama was my only teacher, and since there was no one else to form a set, it was impossible to do more than imagine what such dancing must be like.”
    Emily frowned. “It is shameful that your aunt never took you to an assembly. How were you to meet young men? When were you to have any fun?”
    Nell laughed. “I assure you, Mrs. Holmsly…Emily, that I have had many very enjoyable days at Longstreet Manor.”
    “I cannot conceive how,” Emily admitted with a disparaging glance at Aunt Longstreet, whose concentration on the scene before her was almost unnerving. “Is she looking for someone in particular?” Emily whispered to Nell.
    “I don’t think so. She certainly didn’t mention that we were to meet anyone here. Is it true that we should not have come without an escort?”
    “Most assuredly. You undoubtedly shocked the Master of Ceremonies, but I dare say your aunt annihilated him with one of her wicked comments.”
    Nell’s lips twitched. “She did. She told him that she had better things to do than cater to a bunch of ill-conceived, antiquated rules.”
    “Ha! I should have thought anything antiquated would have pleased her excessively,” Emily retorted.
    At this point Sir Hugh arrived with glasses of orgeat for Nell and Emily, and wine for Aunt Longstreet. His godmother sniffed it suspiciously and took a small sip. “Watered!” she announced, but she proceeded to drink it all the same.
    Emily’s husband joined them and was introduced to the two women. Nell thought Mr. Holmsly cut a dashing figure, like someone from a romance—with his shining black hair, piercing blue eyes and rugged features. He was just the sort of man she imagined married to Emily, though she was a trifle disappointed when he spoke, for his conversation was somewhat prosaic—a comment on the state of the roads between Bath and Bristol.
    She caught the amusement in Sir Hugh’s eyes as he regarded her. “Did you think he would offer tales of high adventure?” he asked in an undertone. “Be thankful he is not as derring do as his appearance, else he would be totally unable to manage my sister!”
    “Your sister is charming.”
    “Yes, but quite a handful, I promise you. I don’t envy Holmsly the keeping of her.”
    As Emily was smiling very prettily at her husband just at that moment, Nell could not conceive what difficulty Mr. Holmsly ever had with his wife, but she remained silent. There were mysteries between married couples which she would never experience. And she did not intend to pretend that she possessed some sophisticated knowledge that she did not.
    Sir Hugh accepted her silence with good grace and asked, “Shall I tell you about some of the people here tonight?”
    “Oh, yes, please. I should like that immensely,” she said, her eyes sparkling.
    “We shall start with the couple at the head of that set,” he said, indicating the dancers closest to them. “Mrs. Witchford and Mr. Kennyhall. She comes to Bath for two months in the spring each year, without her husband, for the express purpose of taking the waters—and setting up a flirtation. Mr. Kennyhall is not the gentleman with whom she has set up her flirtation this year. That is Mr. Pymore, the next gentleman in the set. His partner is the youngest Haddenham daughter, the fifth. Her family is anxious to see her settled, but she has shown no inclination toward any of the young men who have shown an interest.”
    “She’s