Free Lady Flora's Fantasy by Shirley Kennedy Page B

perfect? If so, how could that possibly be? Didn't he realize how lucky she was that as the Season progressed, Dashwood was paying more attention to her? Such sweet torture she'd gone through at the beginning, after Lady Hemple's ball, when Dashwood kept her in a constant dither. One moment he appeared to adore her, the next she wasn't sure he even knew her name. She recalled the dreadful night at Almack's when he'd totally ignored her—not asked for one single dance. She had been so crushed, she spent much of the next day fighting the lump in her throat that wouldn't go away. But next day he sent her a bouquet of roses, and that night at King's Theater, he appeared at the family's box, all charm and attentiveness. Invited to join them, he sat next to Flora, surreptitiously took her hand, and whispered such sweet compliments in her ear that when the great Catalani sang Semiramide she never heard a single note.
    One day Amy remarked, "Flora, this isn't like you. I detest seeing you in this love-sick state."
    "I am not love-sick," she protested, not willing to admit that when she thought of Lord Dashwood, which was most of the time, she, the fiercely independent Lady Flora Winton, grew weak-kneed with desire, sometimes to the point where she had to plead a headache and go lie limply upon her bed, giving herself up to fantasies of Lord Dashwood.
    Her father said she needed a good physic.
    Her mother blamed the dreadful London air.
    Flora knew exactly what she needed. The question of whether or not she could capture the dashing Lord Dashwood was driving her mad.
    Amy had continued, "Well, it seems to me he is just toying with you—attentive one minute, ignoring you the next. Like a cat with a mouse."
    "I don't own him," Flora indignantly protested, "not yet anyway. I'm sure he'll come around."
    Slowly he had. Lately, Flora's happiness had soared as Lord Dashwood appeared more often, obviously paying court. "Well, Papa?" she asked again, determined to find the cause for her father's long silence.
    "Lord Dinsmore is of sterling character, no question," replied Flora's father, "but I'm not sure about his cousin."
    "Whatever do you mean?" demanded Lady Rensley. "What are you not sure of? Really! Lord Dashwood is titled, soon to be rich, and all that. What more could we ask for?"
    "Of late, he's been most attentive," Flora contributed, her worry burgeoning. "I could very well marry him, Papa, so please, tell us why you sound so unsure."
    Lord Rensley bluntly replied, "The man's a gambler."
    "So are many in London."
    "Not like Dashwood. On-dit has it he's not only deep in debt, he's a welcher."
    Lord Dashwood? Flora was shocked and refused to believe such a thing. "That can't be true, Papa. I've never even heard him mention gambling."
    "Of course he wouldn't, but I have it first-hand from the Duke of Bedford. Dashwood's been banned from the race course for defaulting on his bets."
    "A misunderstanding, I'm sure," Lady Rensley protested.
    "Is it?" Lord Rensley regarded his older daughter with concern. "I hope it's only a misunderstanding, Flora. Believe me, it would give me great pleasure to link our name with that of Lord Dinsmore. On the other hand, I've no wish to see you marry a decadent profligate who's only after you for your dowry, which is considerable, as you well know."
    "He is not just after my dowry ." Flora set down her tea cup with a clatter, sprang to her feet, and glared at her father. "Lord Dashwood possesses the most sterling integrity. What must I do to show you how honorable he is, how trustworthy, how much he genuinely cares for me?"
    "You needn't do a thing, my child. Calm yourself. Sit down." With a wise smile, Lord Rensley continued, "I sincerely hope you're right. If you're not, time eventually sheds its light on matters of the heart."
    "Then I know you'll soon see Lord Dashwood for what he's really like," answered Flora, sinking to her seat again, taking up her tea cup, vastly relieved. She knew in her heart