The Byram Succession by Mira Stables Read Free Book Online Page B

flounces should be caught up with tiny posies of red rosebuds tied with matching velvet ribbon.
    Alethea brooded happily over the thought of the lovely thing as she sat sewing beside the drawing room fire. She and Aunt Maria were to sup quietly together, since Uncle Matthew was gone to Somerset House to a meeting of the Royal Society and this was the night of Tina’s theatre party. She was beginning, she decided, to understand Aunt Maria’s insistence on the importance of line, colour and cut, her scorn of meretricious ornament. In some inexplicable way the bergere gown lent its wearer a suggestion of added height and poise that made all the difference to her confidence. And at that moment, as if in striking demonstration of her mama’s theory, Tina came swiftly into the room wearing the new lilac silk. She had dressed early, since she was engaged to dine with the Graysons, whose party it was, and she had dressed in haste, since she had returned late from an expedition to the Botanic Gardens in Chelsea, an expedition which Alethea suspected to be merely a cover for some assignation which Aunt Maria would not approve, since she could not imagine Tina nourishing a serious interest in herbs and simples.
    Perhaps it was the excitement of a secret flirtation that had put the delicate glow in her cheek, the mischievous curve to her lips, but not even the scrambling haste in which she had dressed could mar the perfection of Madame Denise’s creation. Yet the dress was severely plain, save for the foam of ruffles that fell away from the elbows to focus attention on slim white arms and dimpled hands. The great amethyst which glimmered at her throat was a perfect match for the silk. It was only her own rustic ignorance, decided Alethea, that gave her the uneasy feeling that the whole effect was a little too grand for the occasion, a little too old for its wearer.
    Aunt Maria exclaimed in delight and began to examine and praise the gown in detail, but for once Tina was in no mood for compliments and shrugged them aside brusquely.
    “Very true, Mama. So I am in my best looks—as my mirror has already told me. Of more import, have you sent Lord Skirlaugh a card for our party yet? Since it is but ten days off you cannot in courtesy delay any longer.”
    Mrs. Newton’s happy flutterings and pattings ceased abruptly. She made a brave attempt to assert her authority.
    “I wish you will not tease me to behave so improperly,” she said with dignity. “I am sure I have explained to you half a dozen times why I cannot do so. So vulgar! So coming! I am sure we may hold up our heads with the highest when it comes to breeding. We have no need to fawn upon anyone just because they chance to be of noble rank. And anyway”—coming down a little from this lofty note—“Byram is quite small—almost insignificant for a ducal seat—and his grace is by no means a rich man, while as for Lord Skirlaugh, I believe he was quite shockingly scarred in that tragic business when the baby was burnt to death. You could never endure the sight of such disfigurement—you, who sickened at the mere thought of being obliged to dance with Captain Goldthorpe who had had the misfortune to lose two fingers.”
    “You under-rate my fortitude, Mama,” returned her daughter lightly. “As for Byram’s insignificance—here’s a high flight, indeed! There’s not an ambitious parent in the whole of the ‘ton’ would agree with you. No duke can be insignificant. And if Byram’s holdings do not compare with Devonshire’s, his title is almost as old. As for his son’s scars—he is heir to a duke and he is looking about him for a wife. Which two circumstances, dear Mama, would reconcile me to a degree of disfigurement that would surprise you!”
    At the first mention of Lord Skirlaugh’s name Alethea’s lips had parted. Had opportunity served she would have mentioned her own slight acquaintance with his lordship, have assured her relatives that there was