A Regency Invitation to the House Party of the Season by Nicola Cornick, Elizabeth Rolls, JOANNA MAITLAND Read Free Book Online

small, upright figure with wariness. The maid had been her closest friend and ally since she was a child, a woman whose sound common sense had guided Cassie more than all the governesses and chaperons in the world could do. From her teachers Cassie had gained book learning and, in one notable case, an understanding of radical politics. From Eliza she had learned good principles and received great affection.
    ‘I know what you are going to say,’ she began.
    Eliza extracted a clean chemise from the chest of drawers beside the window and held it up critically to the light. She tutted.
    ‘This petticoat is creased. It’s not what I am saying that counts, Miss Cassandra,’ she added. ‘Mrs Bell saw you through the window of that inn parlour and she told Mrs Deedes, who told her sister who works in the laundry, who told the upper housemaid who was overheard whispering about it by your chaperon.’ Eliza put the chemise down and shook her head slowly. ‘You’re in a proper state, Miss Cassandra, and no mistake. Your cousins are furious that you’ve compromised yourself fair and square. You will have to get married and no messing.’
    Cassie rolled over and watched Elizabeth as she went to the wardrobe and started to search through the dresses hanging there. The word ‘compromised’ seemed to have a cold and very final ring to it.
    ‘Compromised?’ She paused. ‘Oh, not the blue striped gown, please, Eliza! It makes me look like a lumpyschoolgirl.’ She sat up, clasping her knees and resting her chin on them. ‘That sounds rather harsh. I had not thought of it in those terms. Besides, it is very contrary of John and Anthony to be annoyed when they were the ones who wanted me to marry in the first place!’
    ‘There’s ways and ways of doing these things,’ Eliza said, and there was both exasperation and affection in her tone. ‘You never think about the consequences of your actions, Miss Cassandra.’
    Cassie opened her mouth to dispute this, then fell silent as she realised that there was some truth in Eliza’s assertion. There was the sound of a step outside the door and her maid shot her a warning glance. A second later there was a brief knock at the bedroom door. Cassie sighed heavily as Lady Margaret Burnside came into the room without waiting to be invited.
    Cassie’s chaperon was as immaculately polished as a burnished mirror. Her blonde hair had never been known to permit an unruly curl. Her perfectly plucked eyebrows were like twin crescent moons and her skin was white and smooth. As one of Cassie’s closest relatives on her mother’s side, she was considered by the Lyndhurst cousins to be the ideal person to have charge of Cassie. Unfortunately, Cassie detested her.
    ‘Good morning, my dear.’ Lady Margaret approximated a kiss a half-inch from Cassie’s cheek. She smelled strongly of violets. ‘I hear I am to congratulate you on your betrothal.’ She smiled patronisingly. ‘That was quick work! The Viscount is indeed an ardent lover. One might even say a professional seducer!’
    Eliza, who was folding Cassie’s stockings neatly into piles, muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, ‘You’re a fine one to talk.’
    Lady Margaret turned her head and gave her a sharp glance. ‘What was that you said, Ebdon?’
    ‘Beg your pardon, m’lady,’ Eliza said stolidly. ‘I was thinking that Miss Cassandra needed you to give her a fine talking-to on the subject.’
    ‘You are right, of course,’ Lady Margaret said, with a chilly smile, ‘though it is scarce your place to say so.’ She turned back to Cassie and touched her hand in a gesture of sympathy.
    ‘Do not reproach yourself, however, my dear little Cassie. I was speaking to Lord Quinlan after dinner last night. He is an absolute charmer and easily experienced enough to sweep an innocent like you off her feet. You should not feel ashamed over falling for such practised seduction.’
    Cassie felt the chill inside her increase.