Free A Regency Match by Elizabeth Mansfield Page B

tact and his mother’s charm to convince Mr. Carrington that the misunderstanding did not matter a whit. “You shall have the green bedroom, just as you always do when you stay here,” Lady Wynwood assured them airily. “We can put the boys in the west wing in the old nursery. And Fanny and Cissy can have the room right next to yours. That will serve perfectly well, won’t it, Marcus?”
    Marcus mentally tore to shreds the elaborate plans he had drawn up for the assigning of bedrooms. “That will be fine, Mama,” he assured her recklessly. “Just fine.”
    Everyone would now have to be given rooms in the completely haphazard way his mother would have done if he hadn’t been there at all. And probably everything would turn out well enough. Mrs. Cresley would undoubtedly manage to arrange for enough food to feed ten extra mouths. He’d been a fool for wasting his time trying to organize things.
    The Carringtons, their hosts, their children, their boxes and their dog had moved into the entrance hall when Lady Alicia’s coach drew up to the door. “Sophy,” the old lady hissed before allowing herself to be assisted down from the equipage, “take off that hideous hat before Charlotte sees us. I can’t think why you wore such an abomination.”
    â€œI like it,” Sophy said stubbornly.
    â€œNonsense. I’ve never seen you wear such a thing before. It makes you like like … like a damned actress !”
    â€œYes, doesn’t it?” Sophy agreed with a wicked gleam. “That’s just the effect I intend.”
    Lady Alicia’s eyebrows drew together suspiciously, and she opened her mouth to pursue the matter when she saw her friend Charlotte approaching. Instantly, the matter of Sophy’s hat flew from her mind. “Charlotte!” she chortled, hopping down from the carriage with the agility of a youngster, “you are a witch ! I don’t believe, in the years since I last laid eyes on you, that you’ve aged a day !”
    As the two friends embraced and laughed and admired each other, Lord Wynwood offered his hand to assist Sophy to alight. “Welcome to Wynwood, Miss Edgerton,” he said with a cautious smile.
    â€œThank you, my lord,” Sophy answered grandly, offering her hand to be kissed. “The edifice of your house is every bit as impressive as I had heard.”
    Marcus couldn’t help smiling at her imperious manner. “But not as impressive, I’m sure, as your bonnet, ma’am,” he said smoothly.
    â€œDo you really think so?” Sophy responded indifferently. “Grandmama thinks it would be more suitable on Mrs. Siddons.”
    â€œIt could be no more suitable on anyone than it is on you,” Marcus said reassuringly. But his compliment fell on deaf ears, for Sophy had turned to greet his mother.
    The party moved into the entrance hall, where the Carringtons still lingered. The group from the garden also came indoors at this moment. The hall was as crowded as an inn courtyard, with children darting about, footmen carrying baggage, friends greeting each other, and the Carringtons’ spaniel waddling about and barking hysterically. Sophy paused in the doorway and took in all the details. Then her eyes narrowed, she took a deep breath, stepped over the threshold and gave a piercing scream.
    â€œGood Lord, Sophy, what’s wrong?” the startled Lady Alicia cried. Everyone in the room stood stock still and stared.
    â€œThe dog !” Sophy gasped, one hand clenched to her bosom, the other dramatically pressed against her forehead. “That dreadful beast ! Take it away!”
    â€œDog? What’s wrong with the dog?” her grandmother asked bewilderedly.
    â€œ Please ! Someone take it away!” Sophy shrieked.
    â€œBut my dear, it’s only Shooshi,” Mrs. Carrington said deprecatingly, approaching the quivering girl. “She’s