Henrietta by M.C. Beaton Read Free Book Online Page A

her,” he added abruptly.
    Lady Courtney stared at him in surprise. “You are too arrogant by half. Why should I call on a presumptuous nobody from some vicarage?”
    “
Now
, who is being arrogant!” laughed Lord Reckford. “Come now, sis, I hardly ever ask you to do anything for me. I do need your help.”
    She gave him a rueful smile. “I never could resist helping my little brother. I’ll call. But just this once!”
    Unaware that their social life was about to begin, Henrietta and Miss Mattie sat in the morningroom and looked dismally at each other.
    “I don’t think anyone is going to call… ever,” said Miss Scattersworth sadly.
    Miss Scattersworth was a vision in pink sprigged muslin with her grey hair cut in a smart Brutus crop. It was perhaps an embarrassingly youthful ensemble but since no one but herself seemed likely to see it, Henrietta had refrained from comment or criticism. She herself was looking very pretty in all the glory of a yellow silk morning gown with tiny puffed sleeves, its simple lines ending in three deep flounces.
    “I would so love to go to a ball or party,” sighed Henrietta. “We have seen enough of the unfashionable sights from the Tower to the wild animals at Exeter ’Change. What do you say, Mattie? Shall we count ourselves defeated?”
    Miss Mattie’s eyes filled with tears like a disappointed child. “I did so hope to meet the man of my dreams,” she sobbed.
    Henrietta looked at her in consternation. “You, Mattie!”
    “Yes, me!” said Miss Mattie, tearfully and defiantly. “I do not
feel
old, you know, and I thought that there might be some elderly gentleman who would…well…feel the same as I.”
    “Oh, Mattie, I’m sure there is,” said Henrietta soothingly.
    She broke off in confusion as the butler announced, “Lady Courtney.”
    Both women jumped to their feet and had only a second to exchange surprised glances as Lady Courtney came into the room. Henrietta’s heart missed a beat as she saw Lord Reckford’s features set oddly on the small, plump figure of Lady Courtney.
    Lady Courtney quickly took in the details of Henrietta’s appearance and liked what she saw. The girl was no beauty but she looked a gentlewoman. “I believe you have met my brother, Lord Reckford. He told me you were in town for the Season and begged me to call. He will be calling himself on the morrow but I heard such good reports of you, I was anxious to make your acquaintance.”
    Henrietta would normally have been too shy to say more than “yes” or “no” but pity for Miss Mattie made her bold. She sat down beside her visitor and began to eagerly ply her with questions about the London Season.
    “We shall be meeting at the opening ball at Almack’s, no doubt,” said Ann Courtney eventually.
    Henrietta flushed. “I must confess that I have been too timid to apply for vouchers for fear of a rebuff.”
    Lady Courtney decided that Henrietta had been much maligned. She was obviously a pleasant girl with an open friendly manner.
    “I think I can secure the necessary vouchers for you,” said Lady Courtney, after a little hesitation. “I am acquainted with several of the patronesses.”
    “But Lady Belding has put it about that…” Henrietta began to stammer.
    Lady Courtney held up her hand. “My social power is infinitely greater than Lady Belding’s,” she said imperiously. Henrietta thanked her warmly and Lady Courtney rose to her feet thinking that her brother could do worse than marry such a charming, guileless girl. Unfortunately, before she reached the door of the morningroom, Miss Mattie woke from her happy dream.
    “Oh, Henrietta,” she cried. “It’s just like a novel. He has rescued you from social ruin. You will be lifted up into his strong arms and carried to the altar.”
    Henrietta winced and blushed furiously. The warmth fled from Lady Courtney’s face and she made a chilly
adieux.
    Ann Courtney went straight to her brother’s house. “Well, I