Free Lord Runthorne's Dilemma: A Regency Romance by Sarah-Jane Steele

macaroons put by, perhaps she might add some to the tray.” Elizabeth hesitated. “Ask one of the other maids to help you.”
    “ Thank you, Miss, I will.” Resting the edge of the tray against her thin chest the maid tried to free a hand. “I’ll just open the door for you.”
    “ No.” Elizabeth and Mr Compton said together. “I think you should just take the tray away. Carefully,” Elizabeth said. “We shall announce ourselves.”
    “ You were very kind, Mr Compton,” Elizabeth said when the maid had departed.
    He gave a one shouldered shrug. “Gosh, it was nothing,” he said, flushing.
    Elizabeth smiled. Mr Compton had always struck her as empty-headed and self-absorbed, his obsession with fashion certainly encouraged that impression, but she realised she had only seen his surface.
    “ Thank you, nonetheless,” she said.
    Mr Compton ’s blush deepened. Elizabeth did not wish to embarrass him further, so she opened the door and preceded him into the room.
    It was not a large room but it was pretty with lovely views of the Park. Elizabeth found the soft, cream and white décor extremely restful and the perfect foil to her aunt’s gentle good looks.
    Today, however, a jarring note had been added to the room. Lady Delphine dominated the company, her heavy, puce satin gown and matching turban making Aunt Edina, in her more restrained green silk, fade into the background.
    Small groups of ladies, their chaperones in discreet attendance, graced the room. A few gentlemen, those who were not indulging in the more masculine activities Captain Maybourne had arranged, were also present. The general murmur of conversation dimmed as Elizabeth and Mr Compton entered.
    “ I do declare, Edina,” Lady Delphine said with no discernible effort to modulate her voice in the sudden silence, “I do think this room is lacking in warmth or personality. You must allow me to send you my own decorator. He is a quite adorable little man. French of course, but one must not hold that against him when he is such a genius with colour.”
    In the corner, as far from his wife as it was possible to be whilst remaining in the same room, Mr Lacey shuddered behind his newspaper.
    Elizabeth led Mr Compton, weaving their way through the small gathering to her aunt’s side.
    “ Elizabeth, my dear, here you are.” Aunt Edina smiled with just a tinge of relief in her eyes. “How kind of you to call on me, Mr Compton,” she added, giving him her hand. Her soft voice was almost drowned by Lady Delphine’s boom.
    “ Mr Compton, you say?”
    Mr Compton bowed with a flourish and Aunt Edina made the introductions, allowing Elizabeth to retreat to the door. If she was quick she would be able to wash her face and change into something more appropriate for her aunt’s parlour. However, before she could make her escape, Lady Delphine called to her.
    “ A moment of your time, if you please,” she called. Elizabeth turned back, conscious that she was now the focus of more than a dozen pairs of eyes.
    “ I quite understand that you have been out of polite company for some years,” Lady Delphine continued, “but I cannot believe you think it acceptable to appear in your aunt’s parlour in such disarray.”
    There was a general giggle of amusement from a group of girls by the fireplace and Elizabeth felt her cheeks warm. She opened her mouth to defend herself but seeing her aunt’s distressed face, realised that anything she said would give Lady Delphine more ammunition. Instead, she donned her dignity like a cloak, raising her chin.
    “ I do apologise, Lady Delphine,” she said. “If you would excuse me, I will remedy the situation.” She was rewarded with the sight of Lady Delphine’s jaw dropping. Elizabeth was not certain, but she thought she heard a snort of laughter coming from behind Mr Lacey’s newspaper.
    Elizabeth ’s victory was short lived, however. At that moment, the door opened and Miss Lacey glided into the room. Although