Free The Maiden At Midnight by Kate Harper Page B

him?
A nonpareil? Isabella could not help but wonder if that was another
way of saying rogue. Despite the fact that he looked a little like
her ex-beau Willett, there was a slightly rakish air about him that
Willett had certainly never possessed. She would have liked to say
it did not add to his allure but actually, it gave him an edge that
was decidedly attractive.
    Not that she was attracted. No matter what
her nature might dictate, Isabella had decided that she had quite
gone off brunettes.
    Audrey, a little overawed by the presence of
a male escort, had fallen silent, a common occurrence when she felt
uncomfortable and it fell to Isabella to make conversation.
    She set about it with determination. ‘Have
you been enjoying the Season so far, Mr. Carstairs?’
    ‘Tolerably well. Although I often find that
it all starts out well and then devolves into tedium.’
    Hardly helpful. She shot
him a reproving look. The rules of social engagement stated that he
was supposed to make suitably bland conversation when offered an
unexceptional sally. She was the one who did not guard her tongue whereas
more was expected of Mr. Carstairs. ‘How unfortunate for you. Why
tedium, if I may ask?’
    He shrugged. ‘The endless social whirl. And
as time passes, so does the desperation of hopeful females. By
September, a fellow is exhausted.’
    ‘Oh dear me. You are considered such a
catch, then, that you are put upon by hopeful females all day
long?’ She heard Audrey’s gasp at this but ignored it. He had
started this topic, after all.
    ‘I am male and unmarried. It seems to follow
hard upon the heels that such a state creates a certain level of
expectation. Why, a man cannot stand up for more than two dances
with a girl before London Society has him proposing.’
    ‘You are not called to that happy state,
sir?’
    ‘Not quite yet. I hope to have a few years
of peace and quiet before me before I give myself over to wedded
bliss.’
    ‘It is so wearing, having to tolerate the
expectations of others. I felicitate you on your single state.’
    He gave her a slow smile
and a small fillip of something warm and unexpected flip-flopped in
the pit of her stomach, disconcerting her. ‘You understand my
situation completely, but I daresay I shall survive. And what of
you, Miss Hathaway? Have you been enjoying the Season?’
    ‘We have only been in town for a short while
so it is difficult to judge. I believe we are a few dances short of
tedium yet.’
    ‘I am sure you will have a delightful time
of it.’
    ‘Indeed? What makes you so sure?’
    He cast her a sideways glance. ‘The charm of
your personality must necessarily make you exceedingly
popular.’
    Well, really! What a bold
insult from a man who had all but aided and abetted in her
abduction. She elected to ignore the fact that he had only
appeared after the
deed was done. Under the circumstances, she would have expected a
certain level of consideration but his manner was far from
conciliatory. ‘As must yours,’ she told him sweetly, ‘I am not in
the least surprised that you are forced to beat those worshipful
debutantes away. Do you use an actual implement or are your dulcet
tones enough?’
    ‘Isabella!’ Audrey whispered, appalled.
    ‘Be assured, your sister has not offended
me, Miss Audrey,’ Mr. Carstairs spoke in quite a different tone of
voice when he addressed Audrey, giving the girl a reassuring smile,
‘for I have her measure. She is merely full of japes and strange
humors.’
    ‘That sounds positively Shakespearian,’
Isabella observed suspiciously.
    ‘You must bring out the scholar in me.’
    ‘Clearly, I am a great deal
more gifted than I gave myself credit for. You do not strike me as
a scholarly man,’ Isabella retorted immediately. She did not mean
to cross swords with him like this. Of course she did not. The
words just tumbled out as words so often did and he was
ridiculously vexing. Besides, with this man she did not as
constrained by the usual