Free The Fugitive Heiress by Amanda Scott Page A

and Princess Esterhazy, Emily Cowper was one of the patronesses of Almack’s and that Catheryn must be on her best behavior. Lady Cowper condescended to be at home and, though she seemed an amiable shatterbrain, quickly saw through her principal guest’s artless chatter and demanded to know if Elizabeth had not come seeking vouchers for Miss Westering. Lady Dambroke admitted it, whereupon their hostess turned her attention to Catheryn, asking a number of probing questions about her antecedents and fortune. She seemed to think the latter might better have been larger but laughingly added that breeding was what counted and that, after all, Elizabeth could not, in all courtesy, leave her guest at home on Wednesday evenings.
    Catheryn nearly chuckled at this unconscious echo of Dambroke’s words, but the thought brought another on its heels, and the next thing she knew she was making a clean breast of the morning’s episode in Hyde Park while firmly ignoring Tiffany’s guilt-ridden face and the agitated fluttering of Lady Dambroke’s hands. Only Lady Cowper was unmoved, listening patiently until Catheryn had finished her confession and made a graceful apology. Then she smiled.
    “It could have been worse, my dear,” she said. “At least you did not choose the promenade hour. Of course, you must never do it again, but if anyone brings the matter to my attention, I shall simply say I know all about it and that your horse ran away with you. It is much better, you know, to have aspersions cast upon your horsemanship than upon your conduct.”
    When they climbed back into the carriage for the ride around the square to Stanthorpe House, Tiffany squeezed Catheryn’s hand. “I thought you must be mad, Catheryn, but I see you knew exactly how to carry it off! Imagine if she had heard about it later! She would not have been so conciliating then.”
    Lady Dambroke agreed heartily and expressed gratitude to the Fates who had guided her to Lady Cowper for the vouchers and not, though she knew her quite as well, to the much haughtier Lady Jersey. She added that Catheryn would be the death of her if she meant to make a habit of confessing her crimes at such awkward moments. By the time Catheryn had apologized for giving her such a start, the carriage had drawn up at Stanthorpe House. The ladies were soon shown into a bright drawing room, where a regular party seemed to be in progress.
    Gay laughter and chatter came to a momentary halt as the butler announced them, only to renew itself in merry greetings to the newcomers. Out of what seemed a mob of people, Catheryn recognized a few familiar faces. Lord Dambroke got up from a chair next to the settee upon which reclined a pale young man with blond hair and blue eyes, who seemed to be the focal point of the gathering. One of his legs was propped up, and a lazy apologetic smile lit his face when he saw them. Lord Thomas stood behind him, and Lady Margaret jumped up from a low stool in front of the settee to greet them.
    Catheryn was soon introduced to the Countess Stanthorpe, a brisk, bright little bird of a woman who greeted the Dambroke ladies with great affection, reacquainted them with Lady Trevaris, and complimented them on their looks. Then she clasped Catheryn’s hands warmly between her own and told the three girls that she knew they had no wish to sit gossiping with old women and to take themselves off.
    It was easy to see how the Lady Margaret came by her vivacity, Catheryn thought, as she was borne off by that young lady to meet the others. Maggie laughed when she began the introductions, begging everyone’s pardon in advance in case she should make a botch of it.
    “First, there is Lord Thomas Colby and two of his sisters, Lady Prudence on the right,” indicating a girl a year or two older than Catheryn with rather prim features and a more placid expression than any of the others, “and Lady Chastity, of all things, on the left,” indicating a merry-eyed brunette who