A Countess by Christmas by Annie Burrows Read Free Book Online

uncomfortable enough knowing that she had made such an error of judgement about the station of the man who had turned out to be her host. And in then betraying her consternation by standing there gaping at him like a nodcock. Now, since the General had one of those voices that carried, several other conversations at the table abruptly ceased, and she felt as though once again everyone was staring at her.
    ‘Are you?’ replied her aunt repressively. ‘I cannot imagine why.’
    ‘I suppose nothing you do ought to shock me any more, Bella,’ said the General witheringly. ‘You still enjoy courting scandal, do you not?’
    ‘Even if that were true,’ Aunt Bella replied with a tight smile, ‘which it most emphatically is not, no true gentleman would even touch upon such a topic in company.’
    Helen had the satisfaction of seeing the General flush darkly and shift uncomfortably in his seat.
    But it was outweighed by the fact that she could also see her aunt’s hands were trembling.
    There was a moment of tense silence, punctuated only by the genteel clink of sterling silver cutlery on porcelain. Then the lady at the foot of the table drawled, ‘The mutton is exceptionally well presented this evening, Bridgemere. You must compliment your cook.’
    ‘I shall certainly do so, Lady Thrapston,’ said the Earl dryly, ‘since you request it.’
    For some reason this comment, or perhaps the way it was delivered, made the haughty woman look quite put out.
    Lady Thrapston, Helen noted with resentment as she recalled the way Aunt Bella had been neglected upon her arrival, could in no way be described as elderly. She was so stylish that if people did not look too closely, they might take her for a fairly young woman.
    There was another uncomfortable pause in the conversation before a few of the younger men, led by a gaudily dressed youth who sat at Lady Thrapston’s right hand, began to discuss the day’s shooting.
    Though the atmosphere had lightened to some extent, Helen was mightily relieved when the meal drew to an end and Lady Thrapston signalled to the other ladies that it was time to withdraw by the simple expedient of getting to her feet.
    Helen hurried to the doorway, and waited for her aunt to catch up with her there.
    ‘I am in no condition to go to the drawing room and face any more of that,’ said her aunt in an undertone.‘Not after the shock of discovering my odious brother is here!’
    Thank heavens for that , thought Helen. But only said, ‘I shall help you up to bed, then.’
    They left the room arm in arm, and were ascending the first set of stairs when Helen said, ‘Would you mind very much if I were to leave you for a little while?’
    Aunt Bella’s brows rose. ‘You surely do not want to face that drawing room without me?’
    ‘No!’ She barely repressed a shudder. ‘I most certainly do not!’
    She chewed on her lower lip, wondering how much to confess to her aunt. She did not want to add to her worries by admitting she had mistaken Lord Bridgemere for one of his footmen and called him an impudent fellow. She cringed as the scene flooded back to her in all its inglorious detail.
    ‘I have decided it would be a good idea if I had a word with that secretary fellow, that is all…’ she began. She wanted to see if she could arrange an interview of her own, through his secretary, and get in an apology to Lord Bridgemere before he spoke to Aunt Bella. She would hate to think that her behaviour might prejudice him against her aunt in any way.
    ‘Oh, Helen, what a good idea! I would be so relieved to learn exactly when I shall be able to speak with Lord Bridgemere. I do not think I shall rest easy until I have laid my case before him. And you are such a pretty girl. I am sure you could persuade the young man to arrange for me to see His Lordship before my brother has a chance to turn him against me. I could not believe hewould be so unmannerly as to attack me like that over dinner! It shook me, I