The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer Read Free Book Online Page A

not?' said his lordship coolly. 'I thought you would all be interested.'
    Lady Amelia finished her negus, and looked across the room towards her hostess. 'Diverting,' she commented. 'Did she think to get Rule?'
    Lethbridge shrugged. 'Why do you ask me? I'm not in the lady's confidence.'
    'H'm! You've a trick of knowing things, Lethbridge. Silly creature. Rule's not such a fool.' Her cynical eye wandered in search of Mr Drelincourt, and presently found him, standing apart, and pulling at his underlip. She chuckled. 'Took it badly, eh?'
    Lord Lethbridge followed the direction of her gaze. 'Confess, I've afforded you some amusement, my lady.'
    'Lord, you're like a gnat, my dear man.' She became aware of little Mr Paget inquisitively at her elbow, and dug at his ribs with her fan. 'What do you give for Crosby's chances now?'
    Mr Paget tittered. 'Or our fair hostess's, ma'am!'
    She gave a shrug of her large white shoulders. 'Oh, if you want to pry into the silly woman's affairs—!' she said, and moved away.
    Mr Paget transferred his attention to Lord Lethbridge.
    "'Pon my soul, my lord, I'll swear she went white under the rouge!' Lethbridge took snuff. 'Cruel of you, my lord, 'pon my soul it was!'
    'Do you think so?' said his lordship with almost dulcet sweetness.
    'Oh, positively, sir, positively! Not a doubt she had hopes of Rule. But it would never do, you know. I believe his lordship to be excessively proud.'
    'Excessively,' said Lethbridge, with so much dryness in his voice that Mr Paget had an uncomfortable feeling that he had said something inopportune.
    He was so obsessed by this notion that he presently confided the interchange to Sir Marmaduke Hoban, who gave a snort of laughter and said: 'Damned inopportune!' and walked off to replenish his glass.
    Mr Crosby Drelincourt, cousin and heir-presumptive to my Lord of Rule, seemed disinclined to discuss the news. He left the party early, and went home to his lodging in Jermyn Street, a prey to the gloomiest forebodings.
    He passed an indifferent night, and awoke finally at an uncommonly early hour, and demanded the London Gazette . His valet brought it with the cup of chocolate with which it was Mr Drelincourt's habit to regale himself on first waking. Mr Drelincourt seized the journal and spread it open with agitated fingers. The announcement glared at him in incontrovertible print.
    Mr Drelincourt looked at it in a kind of daze, his nightcap over one eye.
    'Your chocolate, sir,' said his valet disinterestedly.
    Mr Drelincourt was roused out of his momentary stupor. 'Take the damned stuff away!' he shouted, and flung the Gazette down. 'I am getting up!'
    'Yes, sir. Will you wear the blue morning habit?'
    Mr Drelincourt swore at him.
    The valet, accustomed to Mr Drelincourt's temper, remained unmoved, but found an opportunity while his master was pulling on his stockings to peep into the Gazette . What he saw brought a faint, sour smile to his lips. He went away to prepare a razor with which to shave Mr Drelincourt.
    The news had shocked Mr Drelincourt deeply, but habit was strong, and by the time he had been shaved he had recovered sufficient mastery over himself to take an interest in the all-important question of his dress. The result of the care he bestowed upon his person was certainly startling. When he was at last ready to sally forth into the street he wore a blue coat with long tails and enormous silver buttons, over a very short waistcoat, and a pair of striped breeches clipped at the knee with rosettes. A bow served him for cravat, his stockings were of silk, his shoes had silver buckles and heels so high that he was obliged to mince along; his wig was brushed up en herisson to a point in the front, curled in pigeons' wings over the ears, and brought down at the back into a queue confined in a black silk bag. A little round hat surmounted this structure, and to complete his toilet he had a number of fobs and seals, and carried a long, clouded cane embellished with