Lady Star by Claudy Conn Read Free Book Online Page B

been working the stables, mucking out and sech. It isn’t
right. Ye both should be in London…dancing and laughing.”
    Georgina sighed, “With Mama so ill, tis
impossible. Star and I go on nicely just as we are.” However, she
had a moment of weakness as she imagined Star and herself waltzing
around a ballroom floor. She frowned at herself and said,
“Entertaining, you say?”
    “Aye, two gentlemen,” Dilly dimpled. “One for
each of ye.” This sent the young woman off onto a peal of
giggles.
    “Who are they?” Georgina found she was
intrigued in spite of herself.
    “That very pleasant Mr. Stamford and a
stranger…a Sir Edward and coo …is he ever a looker! Dashing he is.”
    “Where are they?”
    “In the library,” Dilly said and nodded with
her chin. “And that happy, Miss Star will be for your
company…so go on, then.”
    Georgina made her way down the hallway giving
herself a silent lecture regarding Jules Stamford. She must not, would not, think about him. It just wouldn’t do.
    In her usual forthright manner she walked
into the library and pulled up short when she saw him. As always
whenever she saw Jules, he completely took her breath away.
    “Georgie!” Star declared as she crossed the
room in a rush and took her friend’s hands. “How wonderful…”
    Georgie was pulled along and was thankful for
Star’s low combustion personality as it allowed her to recoup after
looking at Jules Stamford which had made her brain turn into
gruel.
    Star pulled at the strings of her friends’
hat and flipped the straw bonnet over to a chair as she said, “Look
at you, all windblown and lovely.” She stood back, “Oh, I don’t
ordinarily like brown, but you look beautiful in this shade.”
     “I hope I am not intruding,” Georgina
said glancing once more at Jules. What was wrong with her? Why did
he make her feel like a silly school girl? She was not. She was a
twenty year old woman with a mind of her own and he was not the
sort she had imagined might take her fancy. He was fashionable, he
was a pink of the ton and she thought probably not very
bookish. She was not fashionable, though Star was forever
telling her she knew how to put clothes together. She was certainly
not one of the haute ton and had no wish to be and she was
most certainly bookish!
    Jules stepped toward her, obvious pleasure
written on his face as he said, “Miss Madison. What an unexpected
delight,” he turned to Sir Edward. “I should like to introduce my
very good friend to you, Sir Edward Danton.”
    She nodded at Sir Edward as Jules went
through the introductions, but Star was yanking on her sleeve,
“Where have you been these past few days?”
    “Buried in a new author’s work. It was
written anonymously, but I have heard that a young woman by the
name of Jane Austin wrote it.”
    “Yes, yes, Pride & Prejudice , or
some such title. I wondered who it was who wrote it. She is very
daring, isn’t she? It is quite a naughty and delightful book. Vern
brought it home for me last week and I devoured it!” Star said as
she tugged her friend along with her to the sofa, plopped down and
pulled Georgina beside her.
    Out of the corner of her eye Georgina noticed
Sir Edward looking at Star with what appeared to be undisguised
fascination. She didn’t look away in time and Sir Edward’s gaze
found her own and he smiled.
     “How is Vern?” Georgina asked and was
rewarded with a warning look from Star, which set her mind busily
trying to figure out what that could mean.
    “Coming along,” Star said vaguely, again
giving her friend a meaningful look that clearly said drop the
subject.
    Sir Edward turned to listen to Jules who was
saying something about the family crest hanging just to the left of
him.
    Georgina glanced at Sir Edward and politely
inquired, “What brings you to Rye, sir?” When Sir Edward had not
answered, she repeated the question.
    He turned to her, “What? Oh yes! Jules of
course,” he managed