Free Nicola Cornick by The Larkswood Legacy Page B

thoughtfully, before returning to the road.
    ‘I think not.’ Annabella spoke demurely. ‘You have already provoked me into divulging far more aboutmy marriage than was seemly, and now you know the sordid truth of my existence with the St Aubys. That only leaves my quarrel with Alicia, and I imagine that she will have told you enough of that!’
    Sir William shook his head slowly. ‘Your sister is remarkably loyal to you, Mrs St Auby! Oh, I believe that she told Caroline Kilgaren the whole of it, but the rest of us only know that there has been some sort of dispute between you. It would be a pity if it could not be resolved, for I imagine the two of you would get on famously. Now…’ he sighed ‘…I suppose I must take you back to that old harridan, but if you can be prepared for a remove to Mundell tomorrow, I will come to fetch you.’
    He dropped her at the door of the house in Fore Street with a reminder about the subscription ball that evening. A couple of hours later, a pair of exquisitely made evening gloves were delivered to the house. Annabella looked at her sore fingers and smiled.
     
    Lady St Auby was nervous. Previously she had not cared how Taunton society viewed her treatment of Annabella, for the girl had no one to champion her cause. Now, unexpectedly, she had acquired powerful protection, and that had changed the whole case. She made no demur when Annabella raised the subject of the ball and even sent her own maid along to help Annabella with her toilette. Pleading a sick headache to excuse herself, Lady St Auby told her daughter-in-law that Sir Thomas and Lady Oakston were only too happy to ask her to join their party for the evening. Annabella could not wonder at it.
    There was a little awkwardness to begin with. SirThomas had never acknowledged Bertram Broseley as an acquaintance, and had paid scant attention to his daughter even when Francis had been alive. Now, Annabella’s elevation to Mundell’s social sphere suddenly made her a worthwhile connection, but Sir Thomas did at least have the manners to feel the delicacy of the situation. Fortunately the Oakstons had a very lively and unaffected son, Julius, and an equally vivacious daughter Eleanor, who was just out. Annabella, happy in her new-found friends and excited at the prospect of seeing Will Weston again, was prepared to be generous.
    This time, the heads turned as she came into the ballroom, and it was a new and entirely enjoyable experience. In a determined effort to look her best, Annabella had dug an old dress of purple taffeta out of a chest, had stripped it of all frills and furbelows, had sponged it down and made it look quite acceptable. It had originally been made for her before her marriage, and the effect had been far too sophisticated for a young girl. Now it was eminently suited to a widow, albeit one of only twenty-one. Joan, Lady St Auby’s maid, had cleverly turned one of the frills into a matching headband, and had arranged Annabella’s honeyed curls to tumble in barely restrained profusion about her heart-shaped face. Her green eyes glowed with pleasure and for the first time she thought she might be almost beautiful.
    The party from Mundell had yet to arrive, but Annabella danced with Julius Oakston and several other young men who eagerly solicited her hand, and chatted to Eleanor, who was anxious to tell her about her recent visit to the spa at Bath. There was also other,less congenial company about. When Annabella went out on to the balcony for some fresh air, she was cornered by George Jeffries.
    ‘The divine Annabella! Too far above my touch now, are you not, my love!’ He swayed a little, and Annabella realised with apprehension that he was already drunk. Although they were within easy call of the ballroom, it would be embarrassing in the extreme to have to summon help. Beyond the billowing curtains, she could see dancing couples circling the floor. They could have been several thousand miles away for all the