Free Secret Heiress by Lillian; Shelley Page B

hope the doctor gives him leave to return to duty shortly,” she said. “I must remember to speak to him about it.”
    When Giles returned home that afternoon, he found Arabella waiting for him. She was wearing a dark blue velvet suit trimmed with fur, and her blue eyes sparkled as she smiled at him.
    â€œThis time I am ready and you are late!” she said with a giggle.
    â€œBut I knew that if I came home late you would have time to arrange your hair or select a more fetching bonnet,” said Giles.
    â€œOh, you are teasing me,” said Arabella.
    â€œOnly a little,” said Giles with a smile. “Shall we go?”
    â€œYes, please,” said Arabella. They walked to the carriage, which was waiting in front of the house, and Giles helped Arabella inside. They joined the parade of clattering carriages along the cobbled streets of Mayfair until they reached the Park at the fashionable hour when members of the ton went to see and be seen. Giles pointed out the Duke of Dorset on his white horse, the Earl of Sefton and the Ladies Molyneux, the Regent himself and the reigning Beauties; among them the Duchesses of Rutland and Argyll and Ladies Cowper and Mountjoy. The ladies vied with each other, not only in the elegance of their dress, but in the appointments and upholstery of their carriages and the liveries of their powdered-wigged footmen. It was a heady feeling for Arabella to be part of Society.
    â€œSo many elegant ladies!” she exclaimed.
    â€œThey are probably very envious of you,” said Giles.
    â€œOf me!” exclaimed Arabella, “Why should such beautiful ladies be jealous of me?”
    â€œTheir beauty comes from hours of preparation while yours comes from youth and nature.”
    Arabella looked at Giles through her long lashes, saying nothing. Suddenly her attention was diverted by a carriage stopping alongside theirs.
    â€œMr. Kendal,” said a voice from the other carriage.
    â€œMiss Chessington,” said Giles. “How nice to see you again.” Eyeing her companion, he said coolly, “And you, Bradford.”
    â€œKendal,” replied Adrian.
    There was a silence, which Caroline broke.
    â€œI am sorry we have not been introduced,” she said to Arabella. “I am Caroline Chessington.”
    â€œOh, excuse me,” said Giles. “I forget my duties. Miss Chessington, Mr. Bradford, may I present my mother’s goddaughter, Arabella Chedworth, who is here for her first Season. Arabella, Miss Chessington is also a newcomer to London.”
    â€œHow do you do?” said Arabella shyly.
    â€œHow lovely to meet you. Miss Chedworth,” said Caroline. “You must be very excited about the Season. I am certain yours will be a very successful one.”
    â€œThank you,” said Arabella. “Everyone has been so kind to me, so very kind. Will I see you at any of the parties?”
    â€œNo, I shouldn’t think so,” said Caroline. “I live a quiet life and my stay in London is only for a short time.”
    â€œBut London is so exciting!” said Arabella ingenuously as everyone smiled. “So much to do and see. I could not see it all if I stayed a lifetime. So many balls and Assemblies. I am even to have a ball just in my honor.”
    Caroline smiled. “It does sound exciting for you. But I am happy with my more quiet enjoyments.”
    â€œAnd I am shamed to admit that I have been monopolizing Miss Chessington’s time of late to the exclusion of other pleasures,” Adrian added smoothly.
    â€œI think we must be getting on,” said Giles, clearly peeved at Bradford’s proprietary air. “Miss Chessington, your obedient. Bradford . . .” He bowed, but before the carriages could move on in opposite directions, Arabella turned to Giles and said, “I should like it above all things if Miss Chessington and Mr. Bradford could come to my ball.” She looked at Caroline,