Free The Gilded Web by Mary Balogh Page B

nod and smile at him.
    She hoped it was real love. There was something to be said for having had five Seasons in a row and having been free to enjoy them to the full while she saw around her the girls with whom she had made her come-out seasoned matrons already, some of them with more than one child. But there was still that eternal female longing to belong to one man, to have the security of his name. She wanted to be married.
    The only trouble was that she also wanted to be in love. And she had an annoying habit of falling in love with the wrong gentlemen or of falling out of love again just when she was thoroughly convinced that she was in forever. She had been in love with Sir Hedley Fairhaven at the start of the Season, though she could not now imagine why. The man was clearly nothing but a fortune hunter. She had probably imagined herself in love merely to assert her independence over Dominic, who had frowned his disapproval the very first time he had seen her dance with Sir Hedley.
    Thank goodness at least Edmund did not interfere quite so openly. He had told her during her very first Season that she might choose her own husband, within reason. Those last two words, of course, had more meaning than had at first appeared. She had accused him of going back on his word when he had discovered a note from Lieutenant Harris giving details of their elopement plans and had told her quite plainly that it would not do and that he would not consent to the marriage even if he had to confine her to her room for a year.
    But she had admitted long ago that on that occasion he had been quite right. She would not have been happy following the drum and she certainly would not have remained long in love with a man who was well known for his recklessness at cards and for his capacity to outdrink all companions. He had seemed dashing only because he wore a uniform and had a devil-may-care approach to life.
    But no one could say that Sir Derek was ineligible—not Edmund, and not even Dominic, who was much harder to please where her suitors were concerned. Sir Derek was elegant and wealthy and charming and very, very handsome. She wanted to be in love with him. She wanted to be married and settled in life, and it would undoubtedly be very glamorous to be married to someone like him.
    Madeline gazed around the crowded drawing room, well pleased with the evening. She chattered to the whole group and smiled on them all and exchanged special glances with Sir Derek—she was sure that he felt the same attraction she was feeling.
    And she wondered if Miss Purnell was present or about to be. It was rather difficult to look around one for someone one has never seen before, or at least someone one does not remember to have seen before. And how could she possibly ask anyone? Everyone would know perfectly well the reason for her curiosity. It was very probable, of course, that Miss Purnell would not be there. Even if she had planned to come, the scandal would doubtless keep her away.
    But Madeline hoped against hope that she would come and that somehow she would be recognizable. And it was very possible that she would be. She would surely have special treatment if she dared to put in an appearance. Madeline desperately wanted to see her. She wanted to see with her own eyes just what a very narrow escape Dominic and Edmund had had.
    She still found it hard to believe that Miss Purnell had refused both of them. Under the circumstances the girl appeared to have had little choice but to choose one of them. And anyway, to refuse her two brothers! They were surely two of the handsomest and most eligible gentlemen in town. She had felt very grateful to Miss Purnell when she had first heard of the rejections, and inclined to like the girl. It was only after her first relief that perversely she had started to resent the woman who had refused both her brothers, when they had nobly been prepared to sacrifice their own happiness in order to protect her