Free The Man in the Green Coat by Carola Dunn Page B

unerring eye for fashion and could point out exactly how a particular gown enhanced or detracted from the appearance of the wearer. She was commenting on a particularly unfortunate combination of palest pink and green, worn by a high-complexioned girl who should, she said severely, have known better, when their tête-à-tête was interrupted.
    Alain, returning with lemonade for Gabrielle and champagne for her ladyship, brought with him a sprightly matron and her two daughters.
    “Lady Harrison!” exclaimed the older lady. “Monsieur de Vignard tells us that you have a new charge.” She stared with frank curiosity at Gabrielle, who rose and curtseyed as she was introduced.
    The younger of the two girls was gazing at Alain with besotted eyes, and he soon took her off to dance. The others stayed in conversation, and gradually a group gathered about them. Several young men asked Gabrielle to dance, but she remained firm in her refusal, finding more and more outrageous reasons which set everyone laughing.
    “Miss Darcy is a wit,” explained one of the gentlemen to a newcomer attracted by the merriment.
    “A dashed pretty one,” he responded.
    A new dance started up, and several young couples departed to take their places, but others arrived and Gabrielle soon had more new acquaintances than she could count. Lady Harrison had not been boasting when she claimed a large circle of friends.
    Gabrielle was enjoying herself enormously. She waved gaily to Alain as he delivered his lovestruck partner to her mother and departed with another young lady. There was no sign of Gerard, and she hoped he was having as good a time as she was. She also hoped that Mr Everett saw how little need she had of his acknowledgment. Let him ignore her in favour of his tall blonde! She did not care.
    “I see Monsieur de Vignard is popular with the ladies,” she whispered to Lady Harrison, as once again he came to assure himself that they were comfortable before he went back to the dancing.
    “Oui, he has excellent manners, besides being so very ‘andsome, and the mamas like him because he makes no secret of his position and does not try to ingratiate himself, and dances with les jeunes filles who are ugly as well as with les belles .”
    “He is truly good-natured!”
    At that moment, a new voice addressed Lady Harrison.
    “Madame, I think you know my daughter? Allow me to present my son to you.”
    Gabrielle looked up and gasped. The tall blond lady stood before them, a delicately beautiful young girl beside her, and next to them, Mr Everett. He bowed over Lady Harrison’s hand, murmuring a polite "Enchanté, my lady.”
    “‘Ow do you do, monsieur,” said Lady Harrison cordially. “Lady Cecilia, permettez that I make known to you my young friend, Miss Darcy.”
    Bewildered, Gabrielle made her best curtsey. Lady Cecilia looked older close to than in the distance, but nowhere near old enough to be Mr Everett’s mother. She wondered momentarily if they were for some obscure reason playing a trick on her. A single glance at the gentleman’s sober face laid that notion to rest. He was regarding her with an intensity she found decidedly disturbing.
    “It is hot in here, Miss Darcy,” he said. “Perhaps you have not yet discovered the terrace? May I be allowed to escort you thither?”
    Gabrielle cast a glance of wild appeal at her chaperone, and noticed that Lady Cecilia was looking at her with a slightly cynical smile, though not unkindly.
    “Perfectly unexceptionable,” she assured Lady Harrison. “It is well lit and there are a number of people outside. It is a warm night for the time of year, is it not?”
    At that moment Alain de Vignard came up and Lady Harrison introduced him.
    “I have met Monsieur de Vignard, I believe,” said Mr Everett. “Are you not an associate of General Pichegru, monsieur?”
    “You flatter me, sir! I am the general’s secretary, no more."
    Lady Cecilia looked her approval of such frankness, and made