Free A Curious Heart (Love Vine: A Regency Series) by Diane Davis White

feeling her way uncertainly. "It is just that, well, we cannot—"
    "What would you have me do young woman? If you will not tell me, I cannot discover what you want of me."
    Eleanor plucked up her courage, happily surprised her voice did not quaver. "My wish is that you would put it about—discretely, of course, that Rothburn and I have changed our minds."
    She took a deep breath, chanced a glance at the Countess, then plunged ahead, running her words together in her agitation. "You see, if you no longer expect the match, I will be free, and Rothburn as well. It would appear that we had just drifted apart and no damage will be done to either of our reputations."
    "I cannot say that I like the idea. However, as I said, I cannot force the match if you do not concur, therefore I would have an alternative. You know well Rothburn will not wed until I have sanctioned his match."
    Countess Rothburn preened slightly as she spoke, obviously well pleased with the control she assumed she had over her son. She queried the younger woman suddenly, "Who is the girl?"
    "Lady Alana Fisk, Madam." Eleanor, though loathe to give her new friend's name, felt it imperative to the outcome of this conversation to be as frank as possible. "She is the daughter of—"
    Lady Susan interrupted, a blotch of red spreading from her throat into her face. "I know who the girl is. Know her mother well, the scheming wretch. Is the girl anything like the mother?"
    Without waiting for an answer, she said, "I recall Lady Grace's dark beauty and even darker soul." Lady Susan appeared distressed and less than enthused. "Well, is she?"
    "I—I do not know The Countess of Champlay, Madam, so I cannot say. But I do know my friend Alana. She is bright and kind and very much admired among the Haute ton . I would vouch for her any time."
    In a loud and voracious tone, the older woman barked at Lady Eleanor, "This girl is your friend? And she wants your betrothed? How strange you young people are. Although you are not officially engaged, I have always thought of you as such. Thus, I cannot so easily dismiss the arrangement that has long been an agreed item between our families."
    "Madam—my dear Countess Rothburn—that is, I—" Eleanor lost courage and wished herself elsewhere as the older woman stared her down. When Lady Susan, Countess of Rothburn, assaulted one, one knew one had been assaulted, in spades. "I cannot think what to say—"
     The older woman watched with apparent satisfaction, evidenced by her cool smile and glacial gaze, as Eleanor blushed and stammered, trying to gather her wits. Content that she had adequately flustered the young woman, Lady Susan withdrew her attitude by slipping back in her chair and visibly relaxing.
    Eleanor could not relax, however. She thought the woman took secret delight in flustering anyone weak enough to succumb to her dominance and she, herself, was no exception. It was a quirk of the older woman's personality—one of her few flaws. Beware those who didn't see it coming!
    Eleanor could not help wonder what a meeting between this formidable woman and the indomitable Lady Alana would be like.
    As though her thoughts had been discerned, Lady Susan said, "Bring Lady Alana to meet me as soon as you can arrange it. Send a note and I will make sure I am available. I would speak with her myself before I sanction a change in suit."
    Lady Eleanor gathered her gloves at the dismissive tone and prepared to leave, effusing gratitude for the other woman's understanding.
    The Countess stopped her with a last question, causing the girl to turn in alarm, her eyes flying to the other's face with some apprehension.
    "Does my son and his friend, Sir Gordon, know that you ladies plot their downfall?"
    "S—Sir Gordon, Madam? I cannot think what you mean."
    Laughing lightly, Lady Susan fixed the girl with another of her smug smiles, and waved a hand in dismissal, saying only, "I have ears and eyes, you know, as much of society has. There are