Free Passion's Song (A Georgian Historical Romance) by Carolyn Jewel Page B

for Isobel. Lord Hartforde tried to hide his
amusement when he saw the look Miss St. James gave her father for
changing the subject. The topic next was society, and, though he
had turned his attention to the delightfully ignorant Mrs. Vincent,
from the corner of his eye he watched Miss St. James lean back in
her chair and push her untouched veal around her plate with the tip
of her knife. She listened to Lord Burke with an air of utter
fascination, while she absently poked holes into the chop until she
had almost shredded it. She looked down at her plate, evidently
surprised at what she had done, then looked guiltily at her father.
There was such a touching mix of apprehension and affection in the
look that Lord Hartforde thought to himself, Why, she is quite fond
of him! And for some ridiculous reason, when she smiled at her
father he felt a familiar tightening in his belly. He was staring
at her so intently, wondering what made him react that way, that
when Mrs. St. James asked him a question, he had to ask her to
repeat herself.
    By the end of the evening, when the men had joined
the women in the drawing room, Isobel and Lady Julia had agreed to
meet the next day for a ride in Hyde Park, Mrs. Vincent having
begged off by virtue of a prior engagement.
    “ May I have your permission,
Father?” Isobel looked at him, wondering if he would refuse her
again. To her relief, he nodded his agreement. “At last!” she
cried. “I have a lovely riding habit I thought was going to be out
of fashion before Father allowed me out of the house! I am given to
understand the design is French,” she told Julia. “All I know is
that it is exceedingly uncomfortable and it matches my
eyes!”
    Lord Hartforde smiled at her sally, but he politely
refused his sister’s entreaty to join them, though Lord Burke
readily agreed. He knew his sister too well not to think she wasn’t
already scheming to throw Miss St. James in his way. Julia had
taken a liking to the girl, and he knew she would be matchmaking in
no time. It was a shame he had no intention of marrying again,
because Miss St. James was a very fascinating and beautiful young
lady.

Chapter 7
     
     
    I
    Julia liked Isobel from the moment she saw her
standing at Lord Chessingham’s side looking a little nervous but
determined to put a brave face on it. The close friendship that
sprang up between them was aided by Lord Hartforde’s London house
being just down the street at number 10 Albemarle Street. There was
a strength about Isobel that fascinated Julia. She had always
thought Lord Chessingham a hard man, yet he seemed softened by his
daughter, and Julia thought anyone who could accomplish such a
thing was worth befriending. She had not been disappointed. She was
pleased to find she and Isobel thought alike on many subjects and
that their tastes in all things were remarkably similar.
    The earl encouraged their friendship. He knew very
well how important it was for someone with Lady Julia’s connections
to be seen with his daughter. He hoped curiosity about Isobel would
be brought to a pitch by the time he formally introduced her to
society. And, if the truth be known, he hoped Lord Hartforde might,
by reason of their being previously introduced, feel he had a
better claim to her than anyone else. That Isobel should marry
Hartforde was Lord Chessingham’s fondest wish. It was much to the
earl’s delight, therefore, that he began receiving numerous
inquiries about whether his daughter was “out” or not. Until then,
it was not proper for a gentleman to speak with her. Only Hartforde
and Burke had that privilege.
    Julia expected to be surrounded by men when she and
Isobel went abroad, whether it was to a concert, an at-home, riding
in Hyde Park, or walking at Kensington Gardens, but Isobel, she
knew, was ill at ease. Her friend’s awkwardness, however slight,
was a source of great concern to her. She was very anxious for
Isobel to make an impression in society. She was