Gamble With Hearts by Hilary Gilman Read Free Book Online Page A

trembled slightly. Lady Northwood, whose tears were always more noisy than real, followed her from the room, pausing only to pat her young niece upon the cheek and recommending to her to bathe her eyes in Hungary water before appearing in the Morning Room.
    If Ruthin noticed any signs of agitation in his hostesses he was far too well bred to betray it. He introduced his daughter, Miss Milverly, to the two ladies with pardonable pride, and was happy to see that Mrs Wrexham immediately drew the girl into conversation while he chatted amicably to Lady Northwood, an acquaintance of many years' standing.
    Although Mrs Wrexham was loath to admit that any damsel could come near to her own daughter for beauty, there was no denying that Miss Milverly was something quite out of the common way. She was as yet only sixteen, but she had little of the shyness common to very young ladies. Indeed, her vivacity was her chief charm. In comparison with the statuesque Charlotte she was but a little dab of a female, but her figure was trim and she was dressed with great propriety and taste. She possessed a heart-shaped face with huge brown eyes and long curling black lashes. Her nose had a regrettable tendency to turn up, but all in all she might pass anywhere for a very pretty girl. What really made Miss Milverly distinctive and had already captivated a good many admirers was her voice, which had a rare and beautiful quality. In her presence most women sounded shrill and she had a way of wishing her admirers good morning that encouraged them to propose upon the spot.
    Mrs Wrexham was by no means impervious to her young guest's fascination and, prepared to like her for her father's sake, she very soon began to like her for her own.
    ‘I believe you have but recently come to town from the country, Miss Milverly.’
    Miss Milverly nodded her dark curls vigorously. ‘Yes, indeed, and it is the most enchanting thing imaginable; for I had left school in Bath last Christmas and the idea of living with my Aunt Wainwright until my coming-out was just too dreary to think about!’
    Mrs Wrexham smiled. ‘You enjoy living with your Papa then?’
    ‘In some ways it is the greatest thing, for Papa is so rich and fashionable, but then he is a lot more strict than my aunt. There is so much too that he does not seem to understand!’
    She gave so much emphasis to this last word that Mrs Wrexham was disturbed. Obviously there had already been some friction between the Marquis and his lively young daughter. She hoped he might confide in her for she could see that Miss Milverly might well become difficult if handled wrongly. She was a headstrong child and although Mrs Wrexham could not but admit that Charlotte was equally so she was older and had never been less than sensible.
    At that moment Miss Wrexham appeared. She was most pleased to see the Marquis again and shook hands with great cordiality.
    ‘You look charmingly, Miss Wrexham. London must agree with you,’ murmured his lordship.
    ‘Thank you, kind sir,’ she responded, dropping a mock curtsey.
    He laughed. ‘Come, allow me to introduce my daughter to you. Amelia my love, this is Miss Wrexham of whom I have spoken. I hope very much that you will become friends.’
    Amelia regarded Charlotte with huge eyes. She thought she had never seen anyone so beautiful and elegant. Moreover, although her father might be blind to the strain in Charlotte 's fine eyes, she was not. It was apparent that Miss Wrexham had a “secret sorrow” and naturally, this made her far more interesting than any other young woman Amelia had come across since she arrived in London.
    Charlotte, in her turn, thought Miss Milverly very pretty and appealing. She felt sorry for her as she had lost her mama at such an early age. The girls smiled at each other and began to make conversation, rather laboriously.
    The Marquis had just risen to take his leave when the butler appeared to announce more visitors. Mrs Carstairs, escorted by