Free Fallen Angel by Charlotte Louise Dolan Page A

together, he decided that he did not need to visit the last two ladies on his list.
    Halfway home a further thought occurred to him, and he ordered his coachman to proceed to the Wasteneys’ residence. He arrived on the heels of the lackey wearing Lord Finzel’s livery, who handed over a gilt-edged invitation to the butler, who admitted Gabriel to the drawing room, where Miss Jolliffe was sitting with her sister.
    Lady Wasteney accepted the invitation from the butler’s hand with open astonishment, and even Gabriel found it somewhat astounding, since Lady Finzel’s had been the last name on his list, and he had not even called upon her that day.
    Seating himself beside Miss Jolliffe, he said, “I wish to thank you both for the pleasant evening last night.”
    The baroness did not immediately reply, and turning to her, he saw she was caught in a most unfortunate dilemma.
    She could not quite manage to hide her curiosity to know the contents of the invitation, but on the other hand, she could not be so rude as to read her mail while entertaining a caller. Her eyes kept darting from him to the missive lying on the little table beside her, and as a result her conversation was most disjointed.
    As amusing as it was to observe, Gabriel had no wish to spend the rest of the afternoon watching her dither. “I see you have also received an invitation to attend Lady Finzel’s musical evening today. I have heard that she has engaged the services of that new Italian soprano everyone is talking about.”
    At his words, Lady Wasteney snatched up the missive and broke the seal. Unfolding it, she glanced quickly at the contents, then laid it aside. “We have not yet decided if we shall attend, for in general my husband finds such events boring.” She smiled suggestively at Gabriel and batted her eyes.
    Only a fool would have missed such a blatant hint, and Gabriel was no fool. “Then you must allow me to escort you,” he said promptly.
    “Oh, you are too kind, my lord,” Petronella simpered, “but I should not wish to put you to any inconvenience on my behalf.”
    “It will be no trouble. I shall be delighted to act as escort for you ladies this evening.”
    Verity should have been happy at the reappearance of Lord Sherington in her life. After lying awake for hours the night before remembering every look he had given her, every word he had spoken to her, she should have been delighted that he was to accompany them to the party.
    But one thing she knew she could count on—her sister would see to it that she, not Verity, was the one hanging on to Lord Sherington’s arm this evening.
    “It is settled then,” Lord Sherington said, rising to his feet. “I shall pick you ladies up at eight this evening. And now, Miss Jolliffe, might I prevail upon you to drive out with me?”
    “But it is too chill outside,” Petronella said immediately. “It will be so much more cozy for us all to stay inside by the fire, and besides, I am expecting Antoinette to return from her shopping at any minute.”
    “I shall fetch my cloak,” Verity said, ignoring her sister’s objections and hurrying from the room.
    Her hands were trembling so much she had difficulty tying the strings of her bonnet, but still she was ready to go by the time Otterwall had helped Lord Sherington with his greatcoat and top hat.
    The day was damp, and there was a sharp wind out of the northwest that cut to the bone, but sitting beside Lord Sherington in his carriage, Verity was so happy just being with him, it seemed as if an intense warmth were radiating out from her heart to every limb of her body. But just as they were about to go through the gate into Hyde Park, he began to swear softly under his breath.
     

 
    5
    “My Lord?” V erity asked, wondering why Lord Sherington’s mood had changed so suddenly and without any warning.
    “Why did you not tell me you were becoming chilled?” he asked, scowling down at her.
    She opened her mouth to reply, but her