Free Mr. Malcolm's List by Suzanne Allain Page A

walk toward the house, she
discovered that her dress had somehow found its way under his foot.   There was a loud ripping sound and Selina
looked in dismay at the torn ruffle at the bottom of her dress.
    Malcolm
immediately apologized and when Selina looked up at him to assure him it was
all right, she began to wonder if he had planned the entire incident.   He did not look surprised or sorry, but
rather was looking at her in a quizzical manner, as if judging her reaction.
    Is this
another of his stupid tests? Selina
thought to herself, as she continued on to the house while assuring him once
again that it was nothing.
    “I am
sorry to be so clumsy, but I am relieved to see you have forgiven me so
readily,” Malcolm told her.
    “Oh, I am
not one to hold a grudge, particularly over such a small matter as a torn
ruffle,” Selina said, and when Malcolm broke into a huge smile, she realized
that once again she had passed one of the criteria on that blasted list.

 
 
    Eight
     

 
 
 
    Malcolm
went with Selina into the drawing room and extended an invitation to his house
party to Julia and Mrs. Thistlewaite before taking his leave.   Julia was pleased to hear about the house
party, particularly when she found out Mr. Ossory was going to be in attendance
as well.
    “You will
be quite impressed with Hadley Hall, Selina,” Julia said.   “It was built around a hundred years ago in
the Palladian style and has an immense entrance hall which is considered one of
the finest classical rooms in all of England .”
    “It
sounds quite impressive.   Have you ever
been there?”
    “No, I
have not; I have only read about it.   However, I have always longed to see it.   Now I shall have the opportunity.”
    Julia did
not seem to feel any twinges of guilt about accepting hospitality from a man
upon whom she was scheming to avenge herself.   Selina could only reflect that it must be convenient to have such an
easy conscience.   She herself looked upon
the visit with a sense of dread.
    But she
could not deny she felt a certain curiosity, as well.   She would meet Malcolm’s mother and see his
estate.   In such a setting they were
bound to spend more time together than they had enjoyed together in London .   She would finally be able to discover if
Malcolm was the arrogant scoundrel Julia insisted he was, and he sometimes gave
evidence of being, or if he was the man of her dreams, which she often thought
he was as well.
    Selina
wondered if she would have felt differently about Malcolm if she had not known
about the list.   She had to admit to
herself that she would.   If one was
unaware one was being measured like a pair of shoes, it would not have been so
disconcerting.   After all, Selina was
matching Malcolm to a set of criteria, although not as overtly.   She, too, had qualifications she desired her
future husband to meet.   That was not
arrogant, it was practical.  
    And so
far Malcolm had exceeded all of Selina’s requirements but one:   she required humility in a husband.

 
 
    Julia
told Selina there was one last ball she wanted them to attend before leaving
town.   “Normally I would not care to go,
as it is given by Lady Cynthia Sommers, who everyone knows is becoming
desperate in her efforts to find a husband, but I asked Mr. Malcolm if he would
be there and he said he would, and so we should go as well.”
    “And will
Mr. Ossory be there?” Selina asked.
    “I
believed he mentioned he would be.   What
a bother that man has become.   I will
have to distract him once again or he’ll be sure to monopolize your time.”
    “I
appreciate your efforts in my behalf,” Selina said.   Julia, who either did not recognize the
sarcasm in Selina’s tone or refused to acknowledge it, just replied that it was
nothing.
    Selina
was not disappointed to have to attend one last ball.   She enjoyed dancing very much, and the balls
she had attended upon her arrival in town put the small assemblies in her