Free The Maiden At Midnight by Kate Harper

where and what they were
wearing when they arrived. It did not take Isabella long to
discover that she rather liked Miss Piedmont, who seemed
refreshingly simple in her outlook. It quickly became apparent that
she had a sunny disposition and an inclination to think the best of
everybody. While Isabella might not agree with her in principle, it
did mean that she genuinely appreciated her sweetness, which was
just as well as a great deal hinged on them becoming friends.
Fortunately Alora Piedmont appeared to have taken a similar shine
to her and she suggested that the Hathaway sisters might care to
call on her at some time in the near future, or that she might call
on them.
    ‘For it would be so pleasant to spend some
time together,’ she said earnestly. ‘I do feel we could be the
greatest of friends.’
    It was an echo of Isabella’s own sentiments,
although they did not spring from the purest of motives.
    Isabella suggested that perhaps she might
call the next afternoon. Fortunately Alora’s aunt appeared to be
reassured that the two sisters were staying with Lady Tremourne, a
most respectable lady that she knew quite well and encouraged the
visit. ‘For my dearest Alora enjoys young company, bless her. Far
more enjoyable that spending every spare minute with her stuffy
aunt.’
    Privately, Isabella agreed wholeheartedly
for Elise Fortnum appeared to have no discernible sense of humor.
Her niece denied it immediately, which appeared to be expected of
her and everybody said goodbye, well pleased with the meeting.
Isabella left the park in high spirits although Audrey appeared
quite bewildered by the entire exchange.
    ‘Someone said that you looked like her?’ she
said, as soon as they were alone once more. ‘Who on earth said
that?’
    ‘Nobody. I made it up although I do think
there is a passing resemblance, don’t you?’
    ‘I suppose. But why did you make it up?’
    ‘Well I had to talk to her somehow. And
somebody actually mistook me for her at the masquerade ball the
other night so it seemed a likely possibility.’
    ‘But why do you want to get to know her?’
Audrey demanded.
    ‘Don’t you like her?’
    ‘I do. Of course I do. She
just seems like an odd choice of friend for you .’
    Isabella wrinkled her nose. ‘Am I so fussy,
then, in my choice of friends?’
    ‘No! It’s just… well, you do not go out of
your way to secure them, now do you?’
    Her sister was perfectly right, of course.
Even before the scandal that rocked her family, Isabella had not
been the most social of girls, preferring home and hearth to
gadding about. She knew all that would change when she married and
became Lady Proctor for Willett had told her that they must
entertain. He was planning on a career in politics and his wife
would be expected to play hostess frequently. It was the one bright
light she had been able to find after they had parted; she would
not have to deal with a group of stuffy lords and their equally
stuffy ladies, something she had secretly dreaded when she had
considered her future with Willett. She was more inclined to be
found in a chair with a book in her hand. Indeed, such was her love
of books that Aunt Geraldine had loudly fretted that her niece
might be a bluestocking, a lamentable state of affairs – and a
tragic waste – for a girl as lovely as she.
    ‘I think that Alora Piedmont is delightful,’
Isabella said cheerfully. ‘She has a truly unaffected nature,
wouldn’t you say?’
    ‘Her aunt was alarming.’
    ‘She was indeed. But, that aside, I am sure
that Alora and I are going to be very good friends.’
    Which earned her another puzzled look from
Audrey, but she did not elaborate. Her plan was outrageous, even
she knew that. So much so that it was best she keep it to herself.
What Audrey did not know, could not be relayed to their mother at a
later date.
    They were heading out of the gardens on
their way back home when they had one more encounter of interest.
This one was not nearly